Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-06-2012, 08:56 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,499
Likes: 913
Liked 6,389 Times in 1,310 Posts
Default Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller

Here is a factory pair of K-frames, specially made up for factory superintendent Fred
Miller, and presented to him in 1940. Other than the caliber, the guns are identical.
The upper gun in the pictures in a 2nd-Model K-22; the lower gun is a .38 M&P Target,
from the middle-to-late 1930's .

Both guns have undercut Patridge front sights, and special Roper stocks. There is some
additional decorative carving on the grips.

I bought this pair from the auction of the estate of Rex Applegate. It was part of his
collection of "Guns of Famous Shooters". I think the auction was in 2000.

Marvin Huey, of Huey Cases, just completed this case. The first picture is the outside
of the case.



This next picture is looking into the case, with the top open.



This next picture is a closer-look at both guns. Notice the attention to detail, in the
fitting of the guns to their cutout in the case.



This next picture is a close-up look at the 2nd Model K-22.



The last picture is a close-up look at the .38 M&P Target.



Regards, Mike Priwer
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-06-2012, 09:46 PM
bamabiker bamabiker is offline
Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Near Birmingham
Posts: 7,174
Likes: 4,857
Liked 8,176 Times in 2,161 Posts
Default

That case is outstanding. The guns ain't bad either.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-06-2012, 09:58 PM
paplinker paplinker is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: pa
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 3,929
Liked 5,232 Times in 1,423 Posts
Default

I really really like the tight fit. Would the rear sight difference prevent switching top or bottom gun if you wanted? Are the ropers of equal size? Very classy
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-06-2012, 10:19 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,499
Likes: 913
Liked 6,389 Times in 1,310 Posts
Default

Each gun is separately fit to the case, so any - any - dimensional differences would make it impossible to switch the position of the guns. Even something such as the positioning of the forged front sight base, or the O.D. of the barrel, would be enough to prevent switching.

To my eye, the Ropers are the same size. One of the two guns is a zero-gun, the .38 as I recall, and it is a few years earlier than the K-22 2nd Model. There could be subtle differences in the dimensions of the grip frame.

Mike Priwer
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-07-2012, 12:04 AM
bmg60's Avatar
bmg60 bmg60 is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: big sky country montana
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 720
Liked 6,410 Times in 545 Posts
Default

mike
Great guns and Great case,
Jim
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-07-2012, 10:24 AM
RKmesa's Avatar
RKmesa RKmesa is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 27,584
Liked 45,310 Times in 4,759 Posts
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmg60 View Post
mike
Great guns and Great case,
Jim
Plus 1!

Thanks for sharing,
__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-07-2012, 12:55 PM
Danny Abernathy Danny Abernathy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Memphis,Tn. USA
Posts: 227
Likes: 9
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default

Great guns and a beautiful case. That they belonged to Col. Applegate only adds to the set!!!
Did you happen to get any other guns of his, I greatly admired Col. Applegate and would love to see photos of any of his other firearms or his "edged weapons". A true American Hero!!!
__________________
Danny A.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-07-2012, 04:07 PM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,362
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
Default

This especially impresses me for two reasons. First, I had lunch with Applegate a few years before he died and mentioned that my father had bought an early edition of his book, "Kill or Get Killed", printed in 1944.He laughed and said, "Well, I was certainly thinner in the photos back then."

Secondly, I wrote to S&W in the 1960's and Fred Miller replied to two letters, one about when the conventional cylinder release replaced the flat sort on J-frame .38's and one about using .38-44 ammo in an M&P/Model 10. His title then was Sales Director. I had no idea that he had been with the company for so long.

Both the guns and the case are wonderful! The Roper grips look very likely to be a terrific fit in one's hand.

Thanks for the photos.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-07-2012, 04:17 PM
steveno steveno is offline
Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minden , Nebraska
Posts: 2,850
Likes: 1,194
Liked 4,318 Times in 1,420 Posts
Default

what is a "zero gun"?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-07-2012, 04:38 PM
smitholdtimer smitholdtimer is offline
US Veteran
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: N.C.
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 5,920
Liked 1,822 Times in 810 Posts
Default Col. Applegate revolvers, Roper Stocks

Nice Guns Mike, very "Tastefully" done case too.
__________________
Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-07-2012, 05:22 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,499
Likes: 913
Liked 6,389 Times in 1,310 Posts
Default

A zero gun has a serial number that starts with zero. They are also called Club guns, as
they were sometimes given to shooting clubs. Generally the guns involved the service
department in their manufacture.

Yes - I did acquire several of Col Applegates guns. And of the ones that I did not
initially buy, I ultimately bought most of them a year or two later.

Regards, Mike Priwer
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-07-2012, 09:56 PM
Club Gun Fan's Avatar
Club Gun Fan Club Gun Fan is offline
S&W Historian
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 5,942
Likes: 3,380
Liked 11,295 Times in 2,882 Posts
Default

Mike
Great Guns!!!!! I went to that auction as did other SWCA members. I held both of those, along with the other Smiths. I did buy a few of Bill Jordans personal pieces, not guns, but stuff like id's he had, luggage id's and other Border Patrol items. I do have a Fred Miller business card.
Again, those are two great guns.
__________________
Don Mundell
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-07-2012, 10:12 PM
Old TexMex's Avatar
Old TexMex Old TexMex is offline
Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: South of the Nueces
Posts: 9,273
Likes: 23,812
Liked 20,090 Times in 5,871 Posts
Default

Spectacular. Great, thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-08-2012, 10:49 AM
Danny Abernathy Danny Abernathy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Memphis,Tn. USA
Posts: 227
Likes: 9
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default

I'd love to see photos of the items that went in the Applegate auction.
Guns, knives, leather, personel items any other things that went.
Photos, please!!!
This would make a great thread!!!
__________________
Danny A.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-08-2012, 12:52 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
SWCA Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 5,499
Likes: 913
Liked 6,389 Times in 1,310 Posts
Default

Don

Thanks for the comments. That was one of the great S&W auctions, although Rex
Applegates interests were much broader than just S&W's . To this day, its rare to
see so many great guns , from one person, being sold all at the same time.

Regards, Mike
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 11-08-2012, 11:02 PM
Cooter Brown Cooter Brown is offline
Member
Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller Factory pair of K-frames for Supt. Fred Miller  
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 1,315
Liked 1,830 Times in 701 Posts
Default

That's a knockout of a set--the guns are obviously top drawer, and the case is terrific, down to the timed screws!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
An Old Pair of N Frames DocB S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 8 12-20-2016 09:00 AM
Fred Miller 1917 JSR III S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 13 10-14-2014 02:04 PM
Pair of 3½” 357 Magnums – Factory Engraved & Factory Two Tone (Pintos) 230grfmj S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 18 08-22-2009 07:41 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:34 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)