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LOT 3567
Scarce, Special Order
Smith & Wesson
Model 19-2 “Combat
Magnum” Double Action
Revolver with Desirable
“Pinto” Finish, 3 Inch Barrel,
Rare Square Butt and Factory
Letter - Serial no. K621062, 357 Magnum cal., 3
inch solid rib bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1966, this is a very attractive
example of a Smith & Wesson Model 19-2 “Combat
Magnum” with a very desirable 3 inch barrel and factory two-
tone “pinto” finish. The included factory letter lists the revolver
with a 3 inch barrel, red ramp front sight, white outline rear
sight, serrated target trigger, smooth target stocks, two-tone (nickel and blue)
finish, and square butt when it shipped to Jerk Brothers in Greenfield, Massachusetts
on 11 March 1966, and that it was specially built for that distributor. The scarce 3 inch
barrel has the Smith & Wesson marking on the left and the caliber marking on the
right. The right side of the frame has the trademark and the four line address. The
matching serial number is on the butt and the frame, and the matching assembly
number is on the frame and crane. It is fitted with a ramped blade front sight with
red insert, adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of smooth target grips with “S&W”
monogram medallions. One of only a very small few 3” Combat Magnum’s ever built
on the square butt frame!
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the original blue finish and 98% of the
original nickel finish with a few scattered very small patches of light spotting and a
cylinder drag line. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3566
Rare Documented Factory Prototype
Serial Number “X34” Smith &
Wesson K-22 “Combat Masterpiece”
Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter -
Serial no. X34, 22 LR cal., 4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1946, this is an extremely rare, documented factory
prototype of what would later become known as Smith & Wesson’s K-22
Combat Masterpiece. The included factory letter notes that this was one
of the experimental prototype K-22 Model revolvers that was produced by the
Experimental Department in November of 1946 and is listed in the prototype
notebook. It goes on to state that the revolver was designed by Joe Norman and
featured a 4 inch ribbed barrel, a click adjustable rear sight with single plunger in the
sight screws and a grooved sight leaf, a low Patridge blade front sight with grooved ramp
base, magna 1946 model grips, a 1944 style hammer block, grooved barrel rib, grooved grip straps,
brushed Carbona blue finish, and an incorporated back lash eliminator. The letter also notes that
the first three prototypes were built with 6 inch barrels in October 1945, along with a K-38 and K-32
prototype. It states that this revolver, serial number X34, was the first of the four inch barreled examples produced,
and originally it was planned to introduce the K series “Model of 1946” with both 4 and 6 inch variations. It
notes that only the 6 inch variation was initially cataloged and manufactured until 1949, when the K-22
Combat Masterpiece was introduced. Finally the letter states that this revolver was charged out to Chief
Engineer Harold Sibley in 1975 and remained in his collection before being purchased at auction in 1999.
The barrel of the revolver has the Smith & Wesson marking on the left, while the caliber marking is on the
right. The right of the frame has the large trademark and “MADE IN U.S.A.” The matching serial number is
on the butt, rear face of the cylinder, bottom of the barrel, and hand-marked inside both grip panels in
pencil. It is fitted with a low Patridge blade front sight on a ramped base, an adjustable notch rear sight,
and a pair of diamond pattern checkered magna grips.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original blue finish and 95% plus of the vibrant original case colors
on the hammer and trigger with some very slight handling evidence and a cylinder turn line. The grips
are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An
extremely rare, documented Smith & Wesson factory experimental prototype in extremely high condition!
Provenance: The Smith & Wesson Factory Collection; The Smith & Wesson Chief Engineer Harold
Sibley Collection; The Ray Brazille Collection; The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3565
Extremely Rare
Stainless Steel Smith &
Wesson Model 15 K-38 Combat Masterpiece
Double Action Revolver with Box and Factory
Letter - Serial no. K397827, 38 S&W Special cal.,
4 inch solid rib bbl., stainless finish, walnut grips.
Originally manufactured in 1960, this is one of only
20 examples of the Smith & Wesson Model 15 K-38 Combat
Masterpiece revolver ever produced in stainless steel and
reportedly one of only five that were ever shipped from the
factory. The included factory letter indicates that the other four
revolvers that were shipped went to two presidents of the Smith & Wesson
company and two large distributors for the company. The letter lists this
specific revolver as having been delivered to the Smith & Wesson advertising
account on 20 May 1965, from where it was taken by President of Smith & Wesson Bill Gunn,
who presented the revolver to Fred Cannon, who was the Police Commissioner on the Island of St. Lucia
in the Caribbean. It further notes that this revolver was in fact one of the 20 previously mentioned, which were produced in 1960 to test the feasibility of manufacturing a stainless steel revolver. It was later
decided to produce only the Model 60 Chiefs Special in stainless steel, and the Model 15 test efforts were shelved, making these revolvers incredibly rare. The left side of the barrel has the Smith & Wesson marking, while the caliber
marking is on the right. The right side of the frame has the trademark and four-line address. The matching serial number is on the butt, frame under the crane, and stamped inside the right grip panel. “1 SS” is marked on the left of
the grip frame and on the crane, and the bottom of the barrel is marked “S” at the breech. It is fitted with a ramped blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of checkered walnut magna grips with “S&W” monogram
medallions. Includes a correct factory box that is hand marked “Stainless/Steel” on the bottom where the serial number would normally be.
CONDITION: Excellent, the metal remaining bright overall with only the slightest handling marks and a light cylinder turn line. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. The box is fair with extensive staining/discoloration and some light wear. A extremely scarce and desirable variation of Smith & Wesson’s K-38 Combat Masterpiece!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
Serial
Number X34