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Historic, Well-Documented, Award Winning Smith & Wesson K-22
Outdoorsman Double Action Revolver Shipped To and Used By
Legendary Exhibition Shooter Ed McGivern with 2015 N.R.A. Silver
Medal and Plaque - Serial no. 633255, 22 LR cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1931, this is a historic example of a
Smith & Wesson K-22 Outdoorsman revolver that is documented as having
shipped to the legendary exhibition shooter Ed McGivern and as having
been used extensively by him in exhibitions and training seminars. The
included factory letter lists the revolver with a 6 inch barrel, blue finish,
and a McGivern gold bead front sight when shipped to Ed McGivern in
Lewistown, Montana on 22 December 1931. Interestingly, an included
copy of a letter from Donegan Wiggins, another famous exhibition shooter,
as well as a Smith & Wesson repair department invoice documents this
revolver as originally shipping to him before making its way to McGivern.
The letter is addressed to D.B. Wesson and is discussing a K-22 revolver
that was ordered for a man named Smedley Butler, who appears to have
been a member of the Oregon State Police, an organization Wiggins was
closely linked with. Wiggins notes in the letter that the revolver shoots
as well as one could wish, but that there was a slight imperfection/dark
spot in the bore and that the cylinder chambers seem to lack the typical
polish of some of the earlier revolvers he had ordered. This letter indicates
that Wiggins was returning the revolver to the Smith & Wesson factory to
remedy the issues, which is documented on the copy of the 11 May 1931
dated return invoice. The invoice lists the revolver by serial number and
has the notation “Returned for exchange D.B.W.”, as well as an additional
date of 13 May 1931, indicating that D.B. Wesson quickly exchanged this
revolver for a correctly finished one. The revolver then appears to have
remained at the factory for a few months, likely having its issues remedied,
before shipping again, this time to Ed McGivern as stated in the factory
letter. Also included is a copy of a letter from McGivern, dated May 1936,
addressed to D.B. Wesson, in which he notes that this gun had been
used for four years by eight policeman (presumably for training) and had
fired 300,000 rounds. In the letter, McGivern is asking Mr. Wesson for the
production date of the revolver, presumably to include in his book which
is also mentioned in the letter. The letter also mentions that McGivern
had returned this revolver to Wesson, likely in 1935 given the noted four
years of use, and it is believed that it was at this time that the revolver had
its barrel shortened to 4 inches as it is currently. This revolver is positively
the K-22 revolver that is mentioned on p. 166 of “Fast and Fancy Revolver
Shooting” by McGivern, where various serial numbered targets shot with
this revolver are shown, and noted by serial number on each of the target’s
in the photo, to demonstrate that the accuracy was not effected by the
immense amount of shots fired. In the book, McGivern notes that the
revolver, at that time, had been fired over 200,000 times. This revolver was
awarded an N.R.A. silver medal as one of the Ten Best Firearms at the 2015
annual meeting, with the medal and a presentation plaque also included.
Ed McGivern (1874-1957), “the World’s Fastest Gun,” was fascinated by
fast shooting after witnessing a shootout in Sheridan, Wyoming. He
lived in Lewistown from 1924 until 1949. Even after gaining fame for his
shooting, he earned much of his living painting for Graham’s Sign & Poster
Shop and later his own business called McGivern Outdoor Advertising.
He is easily one of the most famous and renowned exhibition shooters
and handgunning authors of the 20th century and also trained law
enforcement officers locally as well as the FBI. He published “Fast and
Fancy Revolver Shooting” in 1938. He held many records in his day for fast
and accurate shooting and still holds some, such as drawing and firing 5
shots into a 1 inch group at 20 feet in less than half a second (recorded as
9/20th of a second in August 1932). He could shoot dimes thrown into the
air and preformed fast shooting demonstrations with guns in each hand.
He preferred double action revolvers and claimed he could shoot faster
with a revolver than any semi-automatic pistol could keep up with. In fact,
his rate of fire is said to be faster than an AK-47. One of his recorded stunts
was hitting a can thrown roughly 20 feet in the air six times with a Colt
double action revolver before it hit the ground. Elmer Keith said McGivern
was “the fastest and finest double-action revolver shot that ever lived and
probably ever will.” Some of his handguns are on display in the National
Firearms Museum, and very few of his guns are in private hands today.
The barrel of the revolver has the two-line address and patent dates on
top, Smith & Wesson marking on the left, and the caliber marking on the
right. The frame has the trademark on the left and “MADE IN U.S.A.” on the
right. The matching serial number is on the butt, rear face of the cylinder,
and on the bottom of the barrel. The matching assembly number is on the
frame and crane. The inside of the right grip panel is numbered “666950”. It
is fitted with a pinned McGivern gold beaded blade front sight, adjustable
notch rear sight, and a pair of period replacement checkered walnut grips
with “S&W” monogram medallions.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 75% plus of the factory blue and casehardened
finish with some mild holster and handling wear, as expected on a well-
cared for revolver documented as having fired 200,000 to 300,000 training
shots. The grips are also fine with some light wear, a few light handling
marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A fantastic piece of
exhibition shooting history, well-documented and strongly linked to two
famous early 20th century exhibition shooters, including the legendary Ed
McGivern!
Provenance: Donegan Wiggins; Ed McGivern, The Roy Jinks Collection;
The Col. Rex Applegate Collection; The Bill Powell Collection; The
Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 10,000