I have this strange M&P pre model 10 I am trying to figure out. It looks as if someone went to a lot of trouble at one time to install some long ago lost adjustable target sights on here. They also installed a Kings front sight that is now missing the blade. I think the stocks are a matched set that somebody didn't finish modifying both sides of. Was this something commonly done to these back in the day? What was a common rear sight to add to these back in the day, and can I still find some to put back on here? Is the round shiny part of the front sight to reflect light onto the sight blade? Can I find a front sight blade to add to this? Also, about what is this gun worth in this condition?

From the reflector in the front sight base, I expect this originally had a gold bead front sight. I read about that type of sight, this is the first one I've actually seen. The rear sight was most likely also by King's Gun Works in California. SFAIK, they've been out of business a long time.

It is a .38 Military & Police, from 1948. It has a King Reflector (I think) front sight and the milling on the top strap appears as though a standard factory post-war K frame Target sight would fit but I am not sure the factory put the more rearward hole to mount it. There are several King fans here that can advise you about replacing the front sight blade.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Definately some King gun sight company parts on the gun. I do believe though that they had already gone out of business and we're in court battles in the mid to late 40's trying to enforce thier patents with companies replicating thier products.I specifically know they were in court about thier cockedeyed hammer being made and sold by another sight company. The C series serial numbers begin in 1948 so your gun is most likely a 1949 made gun. Parts are still floating around and maybe sometime in the past someone had the sights and we're trying to replicate what King did. They were known for absolute top quality workmanship. They would mill groves in the top straps to allow for rib and or rear sight attachment. Looks like the top strap also had some checkering on the sides kind of like a model 27 but not complete. I am no expert but have seen a lot of pictures of king guns and I own a pre woodsman with full King treatment but I have never seen the checkering or single lines in a topstrap before on any of ther work. This gun is a mystery and I am sure more fella's will be along to speculate.

Unfortunately, it won't have much value as-is and it could get expensive to add the sights and make them adequate to use. It was probably shipped around mid-1948.

Looks to me like a home gunsmith found some King parts and thought they might see about putting them on the gun.

If it were mine... I might see if a hobbyist gunsmith, or someone with a machine shop, could make a rear sight that wasn't adjustable. Some sort of custom sight, maybe like an express sight (the shallow V with a line down the center). Then put a large round bead on the front.

It's never going to be "right". Turning it into something unique and fun would elevate it as much as it ever could be elevated. Plus it would be fun.

Well I tried a factory post war K frame rear sight assembly on this and it does not fit. So it was a custom job for sure. That is to bad as it is in pretty good condition otherwise and I would liked to have used this gun on the range. I guess my best bet is to try to sell it as is.

That's probably the best thing to do. It could end up costing you somewhat more than it's worth to put it back in usable condition. Better to make it someone else's problem.

The front blade would have been a (King) Patridge with a luminous red (most likely), white, or gold bead. The rear would have been a King, and the workmanship evident on this revolver most assuredly was not from King.

As an aside, King ceased production in 1955, after 42 successful years, and their (best known) lawsuit was against Micro (a firm started by ex-King employees as I recall)----and, again as I recall, they won.

Ralph Tremaine