The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson.38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity.In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot,.38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights.Over its long production run it has been available with barrel. However, S&W made 927 steel frame Model 39s in the mid 1950s. They didn't assemble or sell any of these until 1966 plus the steel frame Model 39s fall into three different serial number ranges. That is why Smith & Wesson collectors 'never say never' when asked if S&W ever made a certain configuration or variation.

Smith & Wesson Model 48 (K-22 MRF Masterpiece) .22 Mag. Revolver

By the Guns and Shooting Online Staff

1. Your serial number indicates that your Smith and Wesson model 59 was made from 1976-1977.The serial number range for that time was A295,001-A385,000.I can say that with your serial number I would place production in the year 1977. Aug 06, 2013 manufacture year of S&W.
2. Smith & Wesson Model Factory Registered.357 Magnum: Smith & Wesson Model Pre-war.357 Magnum: Smith & Wesson Model 27 (.357 Magnum) Smith & Wesson Model 627: Smith & Wesson Model 627 Pro Series: Smith & Wesson Model 327 Night Guard: Smith & Wesson Model 28 (Highway Patrolman) Smith & Wesson Model 29 (.44 Magnum) Smith & Wesson Model 629.

The Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece .22 LR revolver was Smith & Wesson's finest double action (DA) rimfire revolver and, along with the Colt Diamondback .22, probably the best rimfire target revolver available anywhere. A version of the K-22 Masterpiece revolver is still offered today, as the Model 17 Classic.

This article is about the Model 48 K-22 Masterpiece, which was simply a Model 17 chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 Mag.) cartridge. Most gun manufacturers do not change model numbers when the same gun is chambered for a different cartridge, but S&W does, creating some confusion about their line. Incidentally, S&W called the .22 WMR the '22 M.R.F.' (Magnum Rim Fire) and stamped the barrels of their Model 48 revolvers accordingly.

Winchester's original .22 WMR ballistics called for a 40 grain JHP or FMJ bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1550 fps and muzzle energy of 213 ft. lb. from a 6.5 inch barrel. This made the .22 Mag's JHP bullet a devastating small game, varmint and small predator handgun cartridge out to around 100 yards, with a flat trajectory to match. Compared to the .22 LR, it had the punch to anchor larger and tougher animals, such as jack rabbits, marmots, foxes and coyotes, much more reliably and at longer range.

When Winchester/Olin introduced the hot .22 Mag. cartridge to the public in 1959, they apparently did not consult with S&W. However, for years the Springfield, Mass. USA firm had been building and selling their fine Model 17 K-22 Masterpiece target revolver, chambered for the .22 LR cartridge.

Like the K-32 and K-38 centerfire target revolvers, the K-22 Masterpiece was built on S&W's .38 caliber size K-frame, so strength was not an issue. It was only necessary to lengthen the Model 17's cylinder chambers to accept the longer (and slightly fatter) .22 WMR cartridge and increase the barrel's bore diameter from the .22 LR's .222 inch to the new .22 Magnum's .224 inch. (The same bore diameter as centerfire .22 cartridges.) The Model 48 was otherwise identical to the Model 17.

The Model 48 K-22 MRF Masterpiece was introduced in May 1959 and, presto, S&W had a first rate .22 Magnum hunting revolver on the market. It was offered with a four, six, or 8-3/8 inch barrel, with six inches being the most popular length.

All S&W Masterpiece models were carbon steel target revolvers with a 1/8 inch wide Patridge type front sight on a raised and grooved, full length barrel rib and a micro adjustable (for windage and elevation) rear sight. They came with carefully fitted actions, a double latch cylinder, grooved target trigger, grooved front and back grip straps and checkered walnut Magna grips.

S&W initially cataloged a convertible M48 with an extra .22 LR cylinder. However, swapping cylinders on a double action revolver is not accomplished in seconds without using any tools, as it is with a single action Peacemaker type revolver, and the convertible option was quickly discontinued with very few produced.

The Model 48 Masterpiece was manufactured from 1959-1986. During that time there were five minor engineering changes and the revolvers are stamped accordingly on the frame inside of the cylinder crane (Model 48, 48-1, 48-2, 48-3 and 48-4).

Our sample is a Model 48-4. The -4 was the last numbered engineering change and it moved the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder. This change was introduced in 1977. The first years of M48-4 production were the last when S&W revolver barrels were both screwed and pinned in place. Our gun was made in 1980 and S&W dispensed with pinned barrels in 1982, as an unnecessary manufacturing expense.

Our test gun was acquired from a casual collector in the box, unfired, just as it was originally sold. He apparently bought the gun, put it on a shelf and never got back to it. It came with the paperwork, all accessories (cleaning rod, a small screwdriver, etc.) and still coated with factory preservative. It was quite a find!

Specifications

• Type: DA revolver
• Caliber: .22 Magnum
• Cylinder capacity: 6 rounds
• Barrel length: 6 in.
• Sights: Fully adjustable, Patridge type
• Sight radius: 7-9/32 in.
• Metal finish: Bright bluing
• Grips: Magna style checkered walnut
• Wood finish: Lacquer
• Overall length: 11-1/8 in.
• Weight: 39 oz. (6 in. barrel)
• Country of origin: USA
• 1980 MSRP: $209
• 2016 Fjestad's value: $895 (100% condition)

The first order of business, once our K-22 MRF Masterpiece was in hand, was to rid it of the long since gummed-up factory oil and grease. This was accomplished, as best we could without complete disassembly, by removing the two grip panels and thoroughly sluicing the action with Prolix (a potent cleaner, lubricant and protectant). After cleaning, the cylinder opened and turned freely, a considerable improvement.

Careful inspection confirmed that the frame is straight and the barrel is true to the frame. (Sadly, not always the case with S&Ws of this vintage.) The barrel has a gentle, straight taper from frame to muzzle. It measures 0.715 inch in diameter immediately in front of the frame and 0.593 inch at the muzzle. The muzzle is crowned to protect the bore, without undue tool marks.

Like all S&W double action revolvers, the cylinder rotates counter clockwise, or out of the frame. This is why they need double cylinder latches, one at the front of the ejector rod and the other at the rear of the cylinder.

When cocked, the bolt locks the cylinder firmly in place, without play. Indexing is precise and the barrel to cylinder gap is consistent and very tight. The chambers are recessed to fully enclose the cartridge case rims.

The hammer is powered by a long, flat mainspring inside the grip frame. There is a small tensioning screw located in the lower part of the front grip frame. Screwed all the way in at the factory, we loosened this screw about one full turn to make the hammer slightly easier to thumb cock.

Our RCBS trigger scale measured the single action (SA) trigger pull at five pounds with one 'tick' of creep and almost no over-travel. It actually feels lighter, but that is what it measured. Modern auto pistol shooters would think this trigger is wonderful, but as experienced revolver shooters, we know better.

The trigger pull of a fine target revolver should be about half that weight and completely smooth. Unfortunately, by the time this revolver was assembled (1980), internal action parts were no longer finished and fitted to the standards observed when the Wesson family owned the Company.

The DA pull was unmeasurable, since our scale only goes to eight pounds, but it is probably on the order of 13 or 14 pounds. The DA trigger pull is actually immaterial to a hunting revolver, as it is manually cocked before firing.

A firm push on the hand ejector rod lifts fired cases well clear of the cylinder. The firing pin impression on fired cases is uniform and positive, without being excessive. Functionally, everything works as it should.

All of the external metal surfaces of the barrel, cylinder and frame are highly polished and S&W bright blued, with the top of the frame and barrel rib matte finished to prevent glare. This is one of the best finishes in production handguns. However, with the cylinder swung open, one can see that the inside of the frame window only got a coarse polish; ditto the underside of the barrel normally hidden by the ejector rod when the cylinder is closed.

In traditional S&W fashion, the hammer and trigger are attractively color case hardened, rather than blued, for a bit of subtle contrast. The top of the hammer spur is aggressively machine checkered, with the tip of the diamonds left sharp. Flat topped diamonds would be less abrasive to the pad of the cocking thumb.

Model 48-4 revolvers came with S&W's Magna grips, one of the poorer attempts at revolver grip panels. They do not fill the space behind the trigger guard and they do not enclose the grip frame. The grip shape in cross-section is essentially a square with rounded corners, which is a poor match for the oval shape of a partially curled human hand. Fortunately, the .22 WMR cartridge does not kick hard enough to make the poorly shaped grips a problem. For a high volume shooter, a set of Pachmayr Presentation grips is the easy solution.

The Magna grips are adorned with very coarse, machine cut checkering surrounded by a border cut so deep it is better described as a trough. The gloss lacquer finish is attractive, but not very durable. The Magna grips only redeeming feature is that, being made of walnut, they look nice.

Since 1965, when the Wesson family sold the Company to Bangor Punta Alegre Sugar Corp., S&W has gone through several management and ownership changes and their manufacturing precision and quality control has been variable, to say the least. Unfortunately, not all S&W revolvers, even top of the line models, are created equal. Fortunately, our Model 48 appears to be one of the good ones.

The Model 48 was discontinued in 1986, by which time Smith & Wesson had definitely fallen on hard times. Product quality, and most of all quality control, had declined alarmingly, along with sales. Bangor Punta had essentially run the Company into the ground and in 1984 Bangor Punta and its subsidiaries, including Smith & Wesson, was acquired by Lear Siegler Corp., primarily an aerospace and automotive firm.

Two years later, at the end of 1986, Lear Siegler became the victim of a leveraged buyout led by Forstmann Little and Company and Smith & Wesson became the property of the new Lear Siegler Holdings Corporation, which quickly looked to divest itself of 'noncore' assets, including S&W.

Nevertheless, in 1989, the stainless steel Model 648 was introduced with a six inch, full under-lug barrel reminiscent of a Colt Diamondback. (A '6' prefix denotes stainless steel construction in S&W model numbers, so the Model 648 is a stainless steel Model 48.) This variation was produced until 1996.

In 1997, S&W was purchased by Tomkins PLC, a British owned conglomerate. In 2000, Tomkins signed the notorious agreement with the Clinton administration that made Smith & Wesson the pariah of the US firearms industry and sparked a consumer boycott of S&W products that endures to this day among shooters old enough to remember the betrayal. However, Tomkins did attempt to improve S&W's product quality, which by this time had been a festering problem for over a decade, by instituting improved production methods, improved product testing and better quality control.

In 2001, Saf-T-Hammer Corporation purchased Smith & Wesson from Tomkins. The following year, Saf-T-Hammer restyled itself as Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.

In 2003 the Model 648-2, a Model 648 version with an internal safety lock that was heartily disliked by shooters, was introduced. The 648-2's short production run ended in 2005.

The new Smith & Wesson Corporation has been racked by successive management scandals, turnover, controversy and patent infringement suits, while simultaneously attempting to license (some would say 'whore') the S&W name to products totally unrelated to firearms. However, they have also attempted to expand and improve the S&W firearms line.

Part of the latter effort was the introduction of the Classics line of, 'coveted models . . . Pop ups for mac. enhanced with modern advantages.' The Model 48 Classic revolver was introduced in 2010. This is essentially a re-creation of the Model 48 K-22 MRF with a four or six inch barrel (sans under-lug). To our rather jaded eyes, the traditional Masterpiece guns, without the under-lug, are how a Smith & Wesson revolver should look and the Classic is in this mold. The Model 48 Classic remains in the line in 2016, as these words are written, so at least a clone of the original K-22 MRF Masterpiece lives on.

Note: An expanded version of this article, including shooting results, is available on the Product Reviews index page.

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a six- or seven-shot double-actionrevolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson and chambered for the .357 Magnumcartridge; it will also chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges. Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1981. It is the stainless steel version of the Model 586, which featured a blued steel finish. They are available ported and unported with a choice of 6- or 7-round cylinders.^[1]

The Model 686 is based on S&W's L (medium) revolver frame. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson developed its L-Frame line of .357 Magnums: the Model 581, Model 586, Model 681 and Model 686. The Models 581 and 681 have fixed sights, whereas the 586 and 686 use adjustable sights.^[2]

Variants of the 686[edit]

The 686 has been available with 64, 76, 102, 127, 152, and 211 mm (2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.325 in) barrel lengths as standard models and other barrel lengths either by special order from S&W's Performance Center custom shop, or acquired from or built by after-market gunsmiths. The Performance Center made a limited number of Model 686s chambered for .38 Super cartridges for competitive shooters.^[1]

The 686 features a 6-round cylinder. The 686P variant, marketed as the Model 686 Plus, has a 7-round cylinder. The 686PP variant, with PP designating PowerPort, has an integral compensator (also known as a muzzle brake).

The 686 has been made with pistol grips having a squared or rounded end (colloquially, 'square butt' or 'round butt'). The grips on the pistol can be changed, and multiple after-market options are available.

The Model 686 has an adjustable rear sight, and until 1992, the 152 and 211 mm (6 and 8.325 in) versions had the option of an adjustable front sight. Radiohead ok computer album download. They had Goncalo alveshardwood grips until 1994, when the grip was replaced by a rubber Hogue grip.^[1]

Through the years, there have been several variations on the Model 686. The Model 686 Classic Hunter was introduced in 1988 and has a 150 mm (6 in) barrel and a non-fluted cylinder; the Model 686 Black Stainless was introduced in 1989 and has either a 100 or 150 mm (4 or 6 in) barrel with a black finish, with production limited to 5000; the Model 686 National Security Special was introduced in 1992 and has a 76 or 102 mm (3 or 4 in) barrel; the Model 686 Target Champion was introduced in 1992 and has a 150 mm (6 in) match-grade barrel, adjustable trigger stop, and walnut grips; the Model 686 Power Port was introduced in 1994 and has a ported 150 mm (6 in) barrel; the Model 686 Plus was introduced in 1996 and has a 64, 76, 102, or 152 mm (2.5, 3, 4, or 6 in) barrel, adjustable sights, 7-shot cylinder, and Hogue rubber grips. As with all current Smith & Wesson revolvers, the 686 Plus now has a key lock integral to the frame of the gun.^[1]

Engineering and production changes[edit]

• 686 (no dash), 1981 Introduction model
• 686-1, 1986 radius stud package, floating hand
• 686-2, 1987 changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts
• 686-3, 1988 new yoke retention system
• 686-4, 1993 change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Hogue grips
• 686-5, 1997 change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, MIM hammer and trigger, change internal lock.
• 686-6, 2001 internal lock
• 686-7, 2003 Performance Center .38 Super, 6-Shot unfluted cylinder, 4' barrel, Stainless Steel, 250 Made

Gallery[edit]

Users[edit]

• France – Used by GIGN during amphibious operations.^[3]
• Norway – The 3'-barreled version with Goncalo alveshardwood-grip was used as a sidearm in the alien immigrant-branches of the Norwegian Police Service by individual plainclothes officers during the early 1990s.^{[citation needed]}
• United States – Used by U.S. Border Patrol.^{[citation needed]} Used by legacy U.S. Customs Service.^{[citation needed]} Used by the legacy U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service^{[citation needed]} Used by U.S. Navy SEALs during waterborne missions.^[4] Used by some smaller police departments and by individual officers in larger departments, especially in marine environments.^[5]
• Luxembourg – Used by the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Police as duty weapon from the 1980s through 2017 when it was replaced by the HK VP9.^[6]
• United States - Used by the Oso Grande 4x4 Posse as an approved weapon for posse members preferring a revolver. Some twenty revolvers were acquired in the early 2000's as issue/approved weapons.

Recall[edit]

In 1987, seven years after the release of the Model 686, there were reports of cylinder binding with some types of standard .357 Magnum ammunition for L-frame revolvers manufactured before August 1987. S&W put out a product warning and authorized a no-charge upgrade to make modifications to the revolver. All recalled and reworked guns were stamped with an M marking, signifying that they had been recalled and fixed; thus it is known as the M modification for all 686, 686-1, 586-1, and 586-2 revolvers.^[7]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdSupica, Jim; Richard Nahas (2007). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3 ed.). F+W Media, Inc. pp. 331–363. ISBN978-0-89689-293-4.
2. ^Boorman, Dean K. (2002). The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms. Globe Pequot. p. 119. ISBN978-1-58574-721-4.
3. ^Jim Supica (2011). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd. Iola, wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 343. ISBN978-1-4402-2700-4.
4. ^Chalker, Denny; Dockery, Kevin (2009). One Perfect Op. New York: Harper Collins. p. 104. ISBN978-0-06-175129-5.
5. ^Sweeney, Patrick (2011). The Gun Digest Book of Smith & Wesson. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 104. ISBN978-1-4402-2714-1.
6. ^'So sieht die neue Pistole der Police Grand-Ducale aus'. L'Essentiel. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
7. ^Product Warning, Popular Mechanics, January 1988, p. 11.

Smith And Wesson Model 48 Serial Numbers

External links[edit]

Smith And Wesson Model 48 Serial Numbers 22