Smith & Wesson Model 48

Smith & Wesson Model 48
The 1976 S&W catalog, detailing the Models 36, 38, and 48; the Model 48 is listed at the bottom
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1959
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Produced	1959–1986 1989–present
Variants	Model 648
Specifications
Barrel  length	4 in (100 mm) 6 in (150 mm) 8+3⁄8 in (210 mm)
Cartridge	.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
Action	Double-action revolver
Feed system	6 round (Model 48 or earlier 648)

The Smith & Wesson K-22 M.R.F. Masterpiece Revolver (Model 48) is a six-shot, double-action revolver with adjustable open sights, built on the medium-size "K" frame. It is chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cartridge, which was also introduced in 1959. ^[1]

The Model 48 is based off of the Smith & Wesson K-22 Target Masterpiece revolver (also known as the Model 17) chambered in .22 long rifle (the most notable difference is a .224-inch broach through the barrel instead of a .222-inch one used in .22 LR) cartridges. Most K-22 revolvers were fitted with a 4 in (100 mm), a 6 in (150 mm) or 8+3⁄8 in (210 mm) barrel, but other lengths have been produced. ^{[2] [3]}

First produced in 1959 as the K-22 M.R.F. Masterpiece, it was numbered the Model 48 in 1959 when all Smith & Wesson guns were given numerical model numbers. It is built on the same frame as the seminal Smith & Wesson Model 10 ("Military and Police") revolver.

Derivatives

Model 648

Smith & Wesson Model 648
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1959
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Produced	1989–1996 2003–2005 2019–present
Specifications
Barrel  length	6 in (150 mm)
Cartridge	.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
Action	Double-action revolver
Feed system	6- or 8-round cylinder

The Smith & Wesson Model 648 is a double-action revolver that is chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. Released with a 6-round (later an 8-round) cylinder, it replaced the Model 48 (which as discontinued in 1986) in 1989. The Model 648 was discontinued by 1996, but was reintroduced in 2003; it was soon discontinued in 2005. Even though the Model 48 was reintroduced in 2010 as one of the “Classic” lines, the Model 648 was reintroduced in 2019. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Present state

The Model 48 was discontinued in 1986, but in 2010 was reintroduced as the Model 48 "Masterpiece" due to a resurgence in the popularity of vintage Smith & Wesson revolvers. The company chose approximately fifteen previously discontinued models to produce once again. This was done under the "Classics" category of S&W's current offerings. ^[7]

See also

• List of firearms

References

1. Sagi, Guy J. "Smith & Wesson Model 48: A Classic Rimfire Revolver". americanrifleman.org. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
2. Miller, Payton (13 November 2024). "S&W MODEL 48: A POWERED-UP TAKE ON THE LEGENDARY K22". gunsmagazine.com.
3. Campbell, Dave. "A Look Back: The Smith & Wesson Model 48". americanrifleman.org. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
4. Fitzpatrick, Brad (14 April 2020). "Smith & Wesson Model 648 Revolver Review". handgunsmag.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
5. Hutchcroft, Joel J. (April 2020). "Smith & Wesson Model 648 .22 WMR Revolver Review". shootingtimes.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
6. "Smith & Wesson brings back the Model 648 revolver". all4shooters.com. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
7. Mann, Richard Allen; Lee, Jerry (2013). The Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900-Present. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 214–215. ISBN   978-1-4402-3746-1.

External links

• Smith & Wesson K-22s
• Smith & Wesson Homepage