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Just Got a Nice Model 22 - Date of Manufacture?
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kilowatt3
Lake Charles, LA
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May 4, 2019 - 6:39 pm
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Greetings All!

I'm a DW fan, and a Forum member of almost 10 years, but afraid I don't make it by here very often!

This morning, I picked up a very nice Model 22.  I already have a half-dozen DW revolvers in .44 Mag and .357, but this is my first .22 LR.  Been trying to learn a little more about it, and I'm hoping you guys can help.  It's a Monson gun, which puts it as 1990 or earlier, and it's my understanding that the Model 22 first came out in 1979(?).  I'd like to pin it down a little tighter!

It has a low, 4-digit Serial # (43xx), so I'm thinking probably no later than '80 or '81, but I'm just guessing.  I've tried browsing a lot of the threads, but I'm not coming up with much.  Can anyone shed a little more light on the subject?

TIA!

Regards,

Jim

DW-.22-Left-2_R.jpgImage Enlarger

Regards,

Jim

2xDW44, 6xM15-2, 2xM14, 2xM22, D11, Valor, Valkyrie CCO, Vigil Commander, ECO, Heritage, Bruin, Specialist 10mm

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LeonardC
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May 5, 2019 - 7:53 pm
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My 22 is SN 14XXX (five numbers).  Vapor paper is Dec1979.  I think I bought it in 1980, maybe as late as '81.

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Ole Dog
ocala, fl

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May 5, 2019 - 8:31 pm
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Jim, I think your gun dates from 1979 or early 1980. Monson was made up until 1991 but the changed the serial number format in 1986. Of course, large frames were always made at Palmer but roll marked Monson until sometime in 1991.

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kilowatt3
Lake Charles, LA
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May 5, 2019 - 10:18 pm
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Ole Dog said
Jim, I think your gun dates from 1979 or early 1980. Monson was made up until 1991 but the changed the serial number format in 1986. Of course, large frames were always made at Palmer but roll marked Monson until sometime in 1991.  

LeonardC said
My 22 is SN 14XXX (five numbers).  Vapor paper is Dec1979.  I think I bought it in 1980, maybe as late as '81.  

Thanks, guys, for the info!  I was having trouble getting onto the site yesterday & early today, but it seems to have cleared up now.  From the Serial Number archive, it looks pretty definite that my M22 was 1979 production.

I have another big question, though!  The M22 has a very nice finish, but it looks more like the newer "Duty Treat" on my Valor than the older blue.  Looks nothing like the bluing on my original 1980-vintage M44!

Anyone know if they used a black coating on any of the original M22's, or should I assume it's been refinished?  If so, they did a heck of a job!  There's no trace of buffing or polishing wear on the roll marks - marks on the shroud & frame are as crisp as can be!  The finish appears very uniform on the frame, shroud, hammer, trigger, etc.  No sign they "missed a spot" anywhere.  If it's a refinish job, I'm guessing it was factory.  Fact is, the gun shows virtually no signs of wear of any kind, except for a couple of really tiny scratches & bumps!

Your thoughts???

Regards,

Jim

2xDW44, 6xM15-2, 2xM14, 2xM22, D11, Valor, Valkyrie CCO, Vigil Commander, ECO, Heritage, Bruin, Specialist 10mm

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rwsem
SOWELA (Southwest Louisiana)

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May 8, 2019 - 7:13 pm
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Meet you in Ragley and we'll figure it out....DW didn't use a coating on any 22s that I'm aware of.  Picture in cloudy light may help us out a bit and we have plenty of those days coming up...  

Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....

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carbineone1964
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May 26, 2019 - 8:28 am
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I would guess it was duracoated or something similar. Only can speculate why someone would do something so stupid. But maybe the Blue was damaged somehow. And this was what they thought was the best option. Maybe they just hated blueing,LOL

I could be wrong, but surely it is non original finish.

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jertex
Fort Worth, TX
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May 31, 2019 - 10:52 am
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Awesome! I've been on a shooting/gun buying sabbatical the last year or so because of my wildlife photography focus, but today is my return to my other favorite shooting hobby and a Dan Wesson model 22 is high on my priority list. I'm going to sell off some of my other guns that I never shoot to fund a purchase & I hope to get one as nice. Congrats!

Jerry
10 Dans and counting...

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Cameron Potter
Fort Worth, TX
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August 23, 2019 - 9:27 pm
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20190305_094314.jpgImage Enlarger

I also have an early 22. Serial number 21xx. Can I assume it's a 1979 gun? First year?

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