The Smith & Wesson K-Frame in .38 Special was a resounding success from its inception. In 1931, they introduced the K-22 Outdoorsman, a 6″ K-Frame in .22. The platform was an immediate hit, and its utility and popularity have never waned.
The K-22 was designed for the “high velocity” .22 rounds that were in vogue at the time. There had been concerns over the possibility of case head failures, so D.B. Wesson counterbored the cylinder with recessed chambers. This approach would also be used on the company’s Magnum caliber revolvers until the late 20th century, when stronger metallurgy (and better ammo design) rendered it unnecessary.
For many collectors, the recessed cylinder is a symbol of a bygone era of better craftsmanship. I’m not sure I agree, but given the choice, I’ll certainly take a revolver with pinned barrel and recessed cylinder over one that doesn’t have those features. I don’t know why; perhaps it’s just the allure.
The year after its introduction, the K-22 would see service on the American Olympic pistol team. After a few slight changes, the K-22 Outdoorsman became the K-22 Masterpiece in 1940. In 1957, Smith & Wesson assigned model numbers to their pistols, and the K-22 became the Model 17. Despite its demotion in nomenclature, affectionate shooters continued to refer to it as the Masterpiece, and with good reason.
The K-22 became a wonderful training tool for those who carried the .38 Special (and later, Magnum) K-Frames. Like the Ruger 22/45, it allowed folks to practice with a gun that matched the feel of their duty weapon, but at lower cost and with less recoil. The only significant difference was the barrel length. Most duty .38’s had 4″ barrels, while the K-22 had a 6″ one. In 1949, Smith & Wesson rectified the discrepancy by introducing the Model 18.
Also known as the K-22 Combat Masterpiece, the Model 18 was an exact duplicate of the K-38 Combat Masterpiece (or, Model 15). It was produced until 1986 and replaced with the 617, a stainless model with a full underlug.
A friend pointed out that I could have just picked up a 617, but I love the weight, balance and aesthetics of the K-Frame, and let’s be blunt: the triggers on the newer L-Frames don’t hold a candle to the smooth and consistent action of the older guns. Observe:
Six-shot groups, 25″, double action. Oddly enough, it seems the bargain-basement Remington stuff was just as consistent as the Eley. However, the top group was shot first, so getting to know the gun may have something to do with it.
It’s worth mentioning that, within 12 shots, I did know the gun. I’ve been shooting K-Frames for years, and with the exception of the mild recoil, this was no different. It does have the wider target trigger and hammer, which are unusual in K-Frames, but I have a Model 66 with this same setup, so the learning curve was negligible.
A friend also has one of these, and he claims he’s able to split business cards end-on at twenty feet with it. I don’t doubt that in the least.