Every now and then, we firearms folk walk into a gun shop and find something that just grabs us by the eyeballs. That was my experience in early March when I visited Ernie Traugh’s Cedar Valley Outfitters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The gun in question was a Smith & Wesson Model 17, the classic K-22, with the uncommon 8 3/8” barrel.

I got my first K-22 before I got my driver’s license, the early model that S&W called the Outdoorsman when they introduced it in the early 1930s. (Didn’t get it then, though; I just LOOK that old. Would’ve been early 1960s when it came into my eager, then-young hands.)

I already had a few of the six-inch barrel versions of this six-shot .22 Long Rifle revolver, and one of the four-inch barrel versions, the Model 18. I’ve owned the “long Tom” 8 3/8” barrel S&Ws in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum, but never one chambered for .22 rimfire, the most popular cartridge in the country.

Ernie gave me a good deal, as he typically does; I wrote him a check, and he set the K-22 aside until a dealer in my state could get a copy of my Federal Firearms License to him. I spent most of the month on the road, and didn’t get to pick it up at my local gun shop and shoot it until now.

The .22 Long Rifle round has been one of the most useful for rural Americans since its introduction in the year 1887. Ridding the farm of predators, vermin, and uninvited produce consumers, and feeding the family with rabbit, squirrel, head-shot grouse and more for about as long, the .22 LR has earned its place as the most popular American cartridge.  The overwhelming majority of that ammo has been fired through rifles, but over the decades, target-grade .22 handguns have proven that within their range, they can do the same job. And for every .22 round that ever bagged meat, there were probably hundreds if not thousands just fired at inanimate targets for fun.

I didn’t buy the long-barreled K-22 for blasting bunnies to create hasenpfeffer, though. Truth to tell, I bought it for…fun.

Beautifully crafted, it is a song in steel, sung to celebrate American workmanship. This one, “pre-owned,” was fitted by its previous custodian with a pair of Hogue grips. It shot a bit left for me at 25 yards. Well, that’s why they came with adjustable sights. The gentle kiss of the screwdriver will fix that.

With that extra-long barrel, you’d think it would be more accurate than a standard-length K-22. It wasn’t. Balanced nice in the hand, though.

I bought it because it was…cool.

And, in the end, that’s reason enough.

Bet some of you out there have guns you didn’t really need, but bought for similar reasons. Share with the rest of us. The folks who come here understand.

The S&W K-22 under discussion, with eight and three-eighths inch barrel.

Mas writes the check while Ernie, holding the gun he’s selling, does the paperwork. Mas got the better part of the deal, he thinks. 🙂

The first six shots from the K-22 at 25 yards. Yes, a little left, but that’s why they have adjustable sights…

1 COMMENT

  1. Found an H&R 922 9-shot 22lr with a 2.5 inch barrel at ‘the worlds longest yard sale’ on US 127 in KY this past summer. It was made the year I was born, and though it’s well worn, it works well enough – like me, I guess. It was cheap enough, as well!

  2. It was a pleasure to see a guy smile at the sight of a gun he’d like to have….I’ll dig another treat up for you next year Brother Mas…until then remember to keep that K22 fed well and shoot straight!
    Ernie Traugh

  4. Hell, Mas, if I just bought guns I needed, I wouldn’t have very many….. or as much fun. I’ve been looking for a Ruger no 1 in 25-06. Last gun show I want to there was one hanging right across from the door, calling me. Alas, it was a 30-06. The longer I stayed the prettier it got, went home with me.

  5. I do the same thing with any 45 Colt S&W. My wife thinks they are reproducing in the gun vault.

    Jim

  6. In the late 40’s, my dad bought a K-22 six inch. I learned to shoot a pistol with it. Love that gun. Still do, as he left it to me when he died. The gun I bought just for fun was an Enfield .303 jungle carbine. What I hoot to shoot! My son liked it so much I gave it to him.

    Kerry

  7. I feel the same way about my FN Five-seveN, bought about 3 years ago. It’s an incredibly fun little plinker, if a tad on the expensive/exotic side. Along the same vein, I’m really excited about Kel-Tec’s new PMR-30 (.22 Magnum) pistol, and am really eager to get one in-hand to see how I like it.

  9. That’s a beautiful K-22! Always wanted an 8 3/8 barrel, but settled for a model 29 in 6 (Dirty Harry influence). Another want was a recently purchased Daniel Defense DDM4. There’s always something out there to grab your eye!

  10. Mas,

    I do not own a single gun I NEED, however, there is one in particular that was purchased merely to have. A S&W 29-2 with the 8 & 3/8 barrel. Chambered for 44 magnum naturally.

  11. mas,
    love the 22 caliber smith, i just picked up the model 317 a light weight little plinker 8 shot, was looking for the 17 hard to find used. you got lucky !! enjoy

  12. I inherited a 6″ K22 from my dad. I learned to shoot with it as a kid in the ’50s.

    Two weeks ago I acquired a mint Ruger Speed Six, blue, .38 at what it cost in 1984. I don’t need it but I couldn’t resist.

  13. Over the years, I’ve purchased several “fun” guns but the first was a stainless steel Ruger single-six in .22/.22 magnum. I sold it in 1988 and used the money to buy a Stainless Ruger Mark ll. I still have and love the Mark ll, but after all this time I still regret selling that Single-six.

  14. I didn’t have a S&W auto in my stable, so when a sweet 4516 mysteriously appeared in front of my face…..yep, I bought it!

  15. Nice trophy,Mas. My dad had a 6″ Model 19 which he used for bullseye competition,and she was a tack driver at 50 yds every time. He equipped the gun with standard Pachmayrs, but I’ve always preferred the Hogues. Gotta find me one like yours, I should think. Great article.

  16. I wish that articles like this would make their way to those who think, as Lynerd Skynerd once sang-that handguns are made for killin,aint no use for nothin else. Perhaps they would begin to realize that the relationship we have with firearms is complex and multi-tiered.
    I think that K-22 is one of the best looking handguns I’ve seen recently, it just oozes with those qualities that make for pride of ownership.
    By the way, L.S. was wrong, my family has used handguns for a number of uses other than killing, from breaking up dog fights to warding off intruders.
    I don’t know if anyone here remembers the old call for help-three shots in a row…

  17. I bought my current carry gun (Beretta PX4 Storm) simply b/c I love the PX4 platform. I already own the Sub-compact and love it to death (no pun intended), so that covers the gun needed for highly-concealed carry. I have a 4th Gen Glock 17 that shoots well and I like, so that covers normal and discrete-concealed carry. And I have a Springfield XD45 4″ which is getting refinished currently and that is essentially a nightstand gun. Big round, good sights, perfect for putting a light and laser on it for when I may need to put big holes in something that makes things go “bump” in the night. The Px4 full size was a “I just love this gun, and it’s too cool not to get.” It IS practical and it has turned the GLOCK 17 into my “unnecessary” pistol, but it was bought simply out of sheer love for Beretta’s PX4 series.

  18. The last “fun gun” I bought was a Model 91/30 Mosin-Nagant. It’s totally impractical these days for anything more than punching paper, making pop cans dance and remembering those who fell fighting the Nazis. The rifle is long enough to be a pike with its bayonet attached and has an action that isn’t even in the same ballpark as my pre-64 Winchester 70 Featherweight when it comes to smooth manipulation. But for a war time gun, 1942, it’s in extremely nice condition and all numbers match. I like it a lot.

    My next “fun gun” will be the upcoming Kel-Tec PMR-30, a .22 WMR pistol holding a 30-rd. magazine. Look out water jugs at 100 yards!

  19. I’m glad Mas’ newest toy is one of the older S&Ws without the ridiculous internal (infernal?) lock. The only rimfire S&W I have is a non-lock model 317 which is a fine trail gun and survival tool. My latest fun gun is a Ruger Number 1 in .450/400, not very tactical or practical, but a lot of fun to shoot.

  20. Bought one of the 8-3/8″ bbl K22s in 1984 or so. Love it, and it has a definite preference for Remington Target ammo (box with the pale blue stripe). Recently bought the Mod 317 lightweight “kit gun” with 3″ bbl, hi-viz front sight, adj V-notch rear sight, and it likes CCI Green Tag. Try some different brands of standard velocity ammo in yours, Mas. But you know which gun is my favorite “fun shooter”, even if the ammo is a bit pricey? My DCM ($125 in 1982!) M-1 Garand. Arsenal reconditioned in 1950s, shoots 2″/100yd groups all day, no recoil even shooting prone. John Garand built a winner.

  21. Nice shooter. When I moved to Iowa a few years ago, Ernie was the most frequently recommended dealer. I’ve yet to make it up to CVO, but I’ll be planning a trip before the summer’s out.

    Ernie, are you guys planning any special events this year? Perhaps to celebrate our new shall-issue law when the governor signs it?

  22. Mas:

    A neat story, and a neat gun. With ammo prices the way they are, a person would do well to get a huge supply of 22 ammo and a 22 version of everything.

    Thus, every shooter should have a K22, the J frame 22, a 22 conversion for the 1911, and 22 conversions for the Glock, SIG, CZ and Beretta. Someone should do a 22 conversion for the M&P auto pistol. Oh, I forgot the Ruger MKIII, the S&W Model 41 and the Ruger Single Six.

    The M&P 15/22, the 10-22, and the Marlin Model 60 cover the AR, and the regular “sporting” rifle types.

    This group of 22s allows practice with most every weapon type and across the lines of several shooting disciplines.

    Shawn McCarver

  23. Mr. Ayoob, good story.

    I walked into a Gander Mountain store one day to see if there was any ammo available. You know how it is these days. Of course I had to check out their new stuff. As I passed the used gun display case, I saw a Walther P01. An old room mate of mine always kept one in his glove box, and I’ve always wanted one. So I asked the fellow behind the counter if I could take a look at it. It was in fairly good shape, it had a little holster shine on it and a couple of small nicks. But the store’s policy is that each used gun is “gunsmith certified” and carries a one year warranty. I looked at it, I wanted it, but I didn’t buy it. I had just bought a GLOCK G32, in .357 SIG. and I didn’t feel right spending the money on it.

    I went home and at dinner time, I told my wife about it. She asked me why I hadn’t bought it. I told her I felt a little selfish spending the money right after making a gun purchase.

    She told me “Go buy it, it’ll be my anniversary present to you.” We were about to celebrate our 25th year together.

    So I drove back and bought it. It’s just a cool gun. 9MM of course. So the ammo is relatively inexpensive and usually available. It also came with a black leather flap holster that was in pretty good shape.

    I don’t carry it concealed, my carry pieces are usually a 1911 in .45 ACP as primary, and my GLOCK G 32 as back up. But the Walther is just fun to shoot, and younger shooters at the range usually ask if they can take a look at it. I usually let them fire a few rounds.

  24. Mostly my fun guns are M91 Moisin Nagant variants. It’s an intriguing design, with an interesting history and available as shooters and collectors. I like them because they are old, sturdy, homely and reliable, just like me! The carbine variants make dandy knock-around rifles if you can use the iron sights or mounted with an LER scope.

  25. I am new to guns, but my firearms instructor just helped me choose a CZ-75. I’m having a great time learning, and hope to own a few more. Thank you for your articles… they are always so easy to read (esp good for us beginners).

  26. Mas, you ARE funny… and I love it!!

    Just having bought, and put on layaway, a new Springfield XD 9, I was not in the market for another handgun, as I’d just bought my carry weapon. Or so I thought. Ran across an older (late 1980’s) Browing High Power, and had recently read up on John Moses…. it looked to pretty I HAD to buy it….. by the time I bailed out the XD 9, I didn’t want it any more. I sold it, still brand new, never fired a shot. I’ve now got at least a half dozen BHP’s, and my farourite carry weapon is a BHP in .40 SW.

    The most recent “love at first sight” purchase, though, was pure fun. Visiting a relative in another part of my own state, we were told of a gunshow a few miles up the river. On a lark, we went. I think there were eight, count em, EIGHT tables all up. A few interesting things, the old crones standing about were more so. Nothing jumped up and grabbed me….. intil the last table but one. A 6.5 Swede, WITH original bayonet, in pristine condition, All numbers matched, bore was near new, no wear on the bolt or action, chamber was clean, wood excellent. Cleaning rod was where it belonged. I hadn’t brought much money, though, and my companions were also pretty low. The gent agreed to take what cash I had and a personal check for the balance….. and so I walked out with it. He had five boxes of original Swedish ball ammo, gave me one box and sold me the rest at ten bucks the box. Back at the “homestead” that afternoon, we set up targets at a hundred yards, the sighting was off, shooting a few inches right, and on inspection I noticed the front sight was off centre… tapped it back, it was still off an inch or so, but presented a nice group (1.5″) on original open sights. The others took their turns, as well, and we all agreed I’d found a sweet piece of history. The action dates to 1943….. and I’m the guy who said on the way up the river I was not buying anything…….. sigh. Funds were tight for the next couple of weeks, but now I am glad I bought it.

  27. All my guns are for fun as well as other purposes, and 2/3 of them are .22LR. Probably my favorite at this time is my SMLE Mk3*, also my favorite for elk. At the top of the list of guns I want to have for the fun and cool factor would be a Walker Colt.

  28. My last fun gun was a Saiga 12, I bought it, paid $200 more for pistol grip conversion parts, spent a few hours working on it and once it was together, realized I had zero practical use for it. But it sure is fun to blast away at the range with! Gets lots of comments and looks from the Fudds….
    I plan on using it next turkey season so I suppose it will have a practical use after all…

  29. Massad, how true! Most of my guns were bought just for fun and the enjoyment of possession. I especially like S&W revolvers, one of America’s truly classic artifacts, still displaying beautiful workmanship, perfect operation, and the finest trigger in all gun-dom. Wish I had a rifle with a trigger as good as any run-of-the-mill S&W DA revolver, and I certainly have many, including a Remington 40-XB.

    I still shoot up several thousand rounds of .22 rimfire every year, most of it through S&W DA six-guns.

  30. I won’t own any weapons that don’t “work” for a living. I see no sense in owning a gun that sits in the safe, unfired. That said, fun is a definite way of having a gun earn it’s spot in the lineup. I have 3 22’s; a Romanian Training Rifle ($40), an old Winchester Model 55, and a Colt Huntsman. The Huntsman is almost exclusively a plinker, while the Romanian and the Winchester are mostly varminters, which is also fun. Shooting the 22 is a cheap way of maintaining your skill with a rifle without the expense of centerfire ammo.

  32. I understand emotional purchases. Many years ago I bought a Hammerli 120 sport pistol… single shot .22, l-o-n-g barrel, and a trigger which could be adjusted down to grams. It was used for free pistol competition before those guns got really high tech with electronic triggers, etc. I bought it because of the test target which came with it… 5 round groups from 50 yards shot with various .22 ammo. The Eley Tenex group put all 5 into 1 hole, as did the Federal Gold Medal, and RWS Pistol Match. It’s at least as accurate as any of my .22 rifles.

  33. I always knew I’d have this rifle. It was my Christmas present to myself. Finally took it to the range yesterday. Now I’m a mediocre rifle shot at best, and this was the largest caliber I’ve ever fired more than once, but I put about 1/3 of the rounds I fired through the bullseye ring at 100 meters. This was right out of the box.

    Then I pulled out my old AR and was putting rounds all over the target. That M1A actually makes me a better shot. Can’t wait to see what happens as my skill improves.

  34. The only gun that I own PURELY for fun is my Single Action Army replica by Uberti. It’s got what they call their old west “finish” and it’s in 45 colt.

    It is homely as far as SAAs go, but I affectionately think of it as the gun that I would have owned if I had lived back in the 1880s.

  35. While always admiring guns I was not raised with them. When I was about 19 or 20 I traded a knife for a single shot shotgun. Then purchased an 878 that kicked so much it bruised the heck out of me. Next was a 22 Ruger Super Single six. Of those still have the Ruger and 878, don’t know whatever happened to the single shot shotgun. For some reason or another had not shot since the late eighties. On occasion I missed it. I had been kicking around the idea of getting a new gun and go shooting every now and then. To my surprise my wife said lets take her christmas bonus an go gun shopping. (she had no idea what she was getting for)Ended up with a 9mm XDM. Being new to shooting we took the intoduction to shooting and safety. Next was a Walther P 22 so we could practice trigger control cheaply. Came into a few bucks and had to have an AR. Felt like a little kid singing Barry Saddlers AR 15 song.(With this purchased thought I better take lessons and they have been worth every dime and am continuing) My instructor mentioned maybe this summer trying a three gun compitition. So I was keeping my eye out for a shotgun. Well found one and while checking out I asked to see this Glock 10mm I had been looking at whenever I went in the store. Well to get back to getting something you don’t need the guy made me a deal on the shotgun and the 10mm I could not pass up. Now I have no need for the G20 but it a hoot to shoot. Even brought a little smile to my wifes face when she shot it. Now I am still in the dog house but at least there is a roof over my head. I am hooked with shooting and cannot get enough. I already have a list of guns that I know I will not be able to live without. Not counting all the stuff that can be added and done to them. I apologize for the longevity of the story but I have not enjoyed an activity like this in a very long time.

  36. I know the feeling.

    For me, it was a North American Arms mini revolver chambered for short, long and long rifle. Fits right in the palm of your hand. (I couldn’t resist).

  37. Truth be told.

    I have a GP-100 for serious work, a Savage 110 in 30-06 to feed the family, and a lot of guns because guns are cool and a whole lotta fun.

    Everyone needs a .22 to just enjoy. Mine happens to be my grandfather’s Remington TargetMaster.

  38. Spotted a stainless Ruger Redhawk 5 1/2″ barrel in the shop one day and didn’t think much of it till I spotted the caliber; .45 Colt
    Had to have it.