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Smith & Wesson Model 22
Throughout the last century of military history, .45 caliber guns seem to rate the most respect when it comes to sidearms.
By Stan Trzoniec
The Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol has endured for almost 100 years now, and looking closely at recent catalogs indicates that old age has everything to do with popularity.
But what about wartime revolvers? At the onset of World War I, we did not have enough guns to supply the men in the trenches. The Model 1911 was, of course, the issue sidearm of choice, but with the war intensifying both government and military officials searched for a stopgap method to either increase production of the semiautomatic or find an additional line of military weaponry.
Smith & Wesson got on top of the situation and, working with Springfield Armory, developed the.45 Ejector Model of 1917 and later the Model 22 made to chamber the .45 ACP. To make matters simple, a half-moon clip was designed to hold the rimless .45 ACP cartridges within the confines of the cylinder.
The Model of 1917 was discontinued in the late 1940s, and Smith & Wesson's .45 caliber revolvers have gone through many changes since then.
Smith & Wesson's current classic series Model 22 looks like any other large N-frame revolver but without all the bells and whistles we are accustomed to. In fact the plain basic nature of the gun makes it perfect as a home defensive weapon, where a finely tuned gun is not needed, or as a trail gun, where your chances of using it target style are pretty slim.
This plain-Jane model has its merits. There are no adjustable sights. A square cut rear notch is machined into a gutter cut right up to the end of the frame. The front sight is basic and comprises a rounded blade, pinned in place much like World War I models.
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SMITH & WESSON -- MODEL 22 |
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| Manufacturer |
Smith & Wesson, www.smith-wesson.com, 800-331-0852 |
| Type |
double-action revolver |
| Caliber |
.45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim |
| Capacity |
6 |
| Barrel Length |
5 1/2 |
| Overall Length |
10 3/4 |
| Weight |
38 oz. |
| Sights |
fixed |
| Grips |
Magna checkered walnut |
| Finish |
polished blue |
| Price |
$1,000 blue, $1,090 nickel, $1,185 case hardened |
While many may consider the system very basic, Smith & Wesson did its homework back then to ensure a swift, positive sight picture. The width of the front blade has enough mass to fit the notch of the rear sight and leave just enough light around it for positive acquisition.
The cylinder release is on the left side of the frame behind the recoil shield. Pushing it forward unlatches the cylinder and allows it to open. The cylinder holds six rounds of ammunition and turns to the left upon cocking the hammer.
Unfortunately, Smith & Wesson's revolvers are not immune to government mandates. An internal lock mechanism is activated by a special key that comes with each gun.
The single-action trigger pull on my test sample is about five pounds and clean, with no slack before the sear released. On the other hand, double action was nothing to write home about, peaking at 11 pounds with pretty typical stacking.
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