Lust.

 

Lots of options. I’d probably look for a set of nice S&W target grips on eBay.
K frame square butt is what you need.

 

Beautiful gun. If you can’t locate a pair of S&W target grips, the
Pachmeyers (sp?) are good too. .

 

Nice, Extra Nice.

 

Pachmeyers Presentation grips, or the other ones they make that have finger notches: think they are called Grippers. I have large hands too and have both styles: both make those pistols feel very nice in the hands.

 

Beautiful. If you don’t mind me asking. How much did it cost in 1973?

 

It has a sticker on the side of the box that shows $115.50. What I thought was the receipt is the registration paperwork. So if you go by the serial number, it was manufactured in 1971 (3KXXXX). I was told by my friend he only paid $79 dollars for it when he bought it new in 73.

 

Of all the guns that I had had and let go over the years, the pair of K revolvers are my biggest regret. K-38 and K-22 Masterpieces with 8-3/8" barrels. Exactly the same weight and balance. The 38 would put 6 shots into a single ragged hole inside at 50'.
Treasure that revolver and never let it go!!

 

I had the good fortune to buy at reasonable price a S&W .357 police something or other.
a little big in my hand but super comfortable and easy to shoot.
If that 22 as anything like my 357 I am envious.

 

Any recommendations?

As to grips, there's recent discussion here on the Model 18 (exactly the same as your gun but with 4" barrel) where we go into a good bit of detail on grips and what you're looking for with them. I recommend you read it, lots of good stuff:

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/s-w-model-18-3.1291661/#replies

Yep, Just this morning I ordered a set of Altamont grips for my pre-18 K frame mentioned in that link. I ordered these Roper style in Santos Rosewood. They should fill large hands quite well. The Coke Bottle style would work well also.

P.S. You are fortunate indeed to be the recipient of such a very nice gift, enjoy!

 

Yes, read the other thread as Snake45 suggests.
however, here is my vote for grip.
My 17 and it’s Hogue Grip.

 

I love the look of those grips...wish it had the medallion too. I dislike the plastic or rubber grips but they may fit my hand. Of all the recommendations, these are the ones I am attracted to. Will they fit large hands? I mean seriously large hands. I am 6'5" tall and size 15 shoe and when gloves fit, at a minimum are 2X Large.

 

Awesome gift. I love Smith 22 revolvers

 

Nice

 

Very nice. I have my Dad's 17-2 that looks brand new. Wish I had the box. They do shoot great.

 

Very nice gift! The model 17 is a great shooter. Look on ebay and pick up an original S&W Target grips for K-frame. Then you will have the 3T's. Target Trigger, Target hammer, Target stocks.
Once you have switched to a larger stock option to fit your hands be prepared that the revolver won't fit in its original box anymore. You need another box for it while it is wearing larger grips.

 

What a gift! You are a lucky fellow. These really are what I think of when I close my eyes and think of the image of a revolver. Iconic. And Iconic for a reason. These revolvers are capable of great accuracy too. When I got one years ago RFC's wood refinishing guru, Noremf, sent me an illustrated article about the S&W manufacturing process back in the day. The article cites over 2.000 separate operations that went into the manufacture of each of these revolvers. These are precision machines.

If you ping me on the PM's with an email address, I will send you a copy of the article Noremf sent me.

 

The Hogue grips as pictured are great to have as long as your hand fit in the finger groves. Otherwise I have just used S&W K-frame grips and they work well too. If you really want special grips you can get a set of Herrett custom grips made specific for your hand size. They are quite nice, but pricey. I had a Model 17 and liked it a lot, but it was a pain to keep clean, six holes instead of just one, so I eventually sold it. The money went into a Model 41 which was much easier to clean.

Rick H.

 

I have a set of walnut hogues with finger grooves on a 17 and they fit well and feel great. I you do not like the finger grooves the exotic hardwood grips from hogue come in many styles with and without finger grooves.

 

I bbought one in 1969, paid $70. A year earlier just prior to college graduation I found two K 38's at a K Mart, one had target hammer and trigger, I took it for $5 extra, total then $68, I still have both. I just picked up a nice 18-4, basically a .22LR Combat Masterpiece, or K 22 with 4" barrel and ramp front sight. $600 for it, inflation, inflation.

 

I have a set of walnut hogues with finger grooves on a 17 and they fit well and feel great. I you do not like the finger grooves the exotic hardwood grips from hogue come in many styles with and without finger grooves.

Came with the box, original sales receipt from 1973, tools, etc. Looks like it is in great shape. I cannot believe how solid and the fit/finish of this revolver. TT and TH are checked on the box which from my research means Target Trigger, Target Hammer. It feels like a 2 lb pull on single action, crisp break. I was ready to buy a Ruger GP100 and now....I don't think so.

I have huge hands, it feels a little small and pinky definitely slides under. So I am looking at Target Grips for it. Any recommendations?

I just orderd a set of these for a M 18-4 Ijust got.
164000000 Smith Wesson K & L Frame Pistol Grips Square Butt Factory | eBay

I have two sets, much older that I acquired back about 1970 when in the USAF for my K 22 and K 38. I just ordered a set for a little 18-4 I purchased this week. My hands are not what you would call large, but those big grips feel much better.

 

congratulations that is a very nice revolver

 

My 1st K22 I got in 1964 on a deal with local Gunsmith. I’m thinking retail was around $90 at the time.
I didn’t buy another one new to about 1969 and I paid about $90 out the door. Nothing irritates me more than charlatans taking the stock grips off S&Ws, replacing with aftermarket’s so they can sell S&Ws separate. A nice set of S&W Targets start at $100. There are lots of decent wooded aftermarket’s
at $50 up.
I hate rubber grips, don’t care who makes them. I won’t put a revolver on my table at shows with rubber grips. I watch on forums for used wooden aftermarket’s. Sometimes S&Ws that need refinished can be had $50 range. There are also many plastic and acrylic grips available. The Square Butt K frame has the most choices of any S&W revolver. Check out Altamont site they have large selection.
I still have my original K22 but not the box. Mine came with S&W Target Grips which have no serials. I would need box to see if label designates that. All my others over the years have had S&W Magnas.
Have several K22 & K38 now but all came with Magnas or some low life put Pachmeirs on them.
I shoot them with target grips but if I have the original grips they are set aside to go back on gun if traded or sold.

 

A nice set of S&W Targets start at $100. There are lots of decent wooded aftermarket’s
at $50 up.

I went to a lot of gun shows in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. I'd buy used or takeoff Smith K and N square-butt Targets whenever I'd see them. I don't think I ever paid over $25 for any of them. Most were checkered walnut but I'd buy smooth ones and Goncalo Alves, too. I've a couple sets of the Diamonds but I think only one set of Coke Bottles. One set had obviously been on a cop's duty gun because the right-hand one is worn to where the checkering is almost flush. I've refinished a couple sets, and had to re-cut the checkering on them and they came out pretty good.

 

What a beautiful piece!

 

Beautiful gun and great acquisition. When people talk about value and price I always look back to gold prices. You could still buy an ounce of gold for $70 in 1973. Today that same ounce of gold would cost you around $2,000.

On the grips I'm sure the magnas were the original grips but you want to find a set of Target grips IMHO and keep the originals. Here is a model 19 with target hammer, target trigger and target grips.

 

I had a beautiful early Mod. 17 #K350xxx that I unfortunately had to sell many years ago. I had the S&W target grips, and a set of Pachmayr Bill Jordan grips that he designed because he had big hands. They're kind of ugly but quite functional. I don't think they make them any more, but you may be able to find used.

 

If you don't mind rubber grips and can find them, Bill Davis made a great grip for the K-frame Smith & Wessons. I have them on all my Smiths and wouldn't use anything else. They are great for all hand sizes.