I have a revolver I need help in identifying See attached photos.
I know it was modified by Kings gun works but that is all I know. SN is 550xx . 38 S&W special Ctg and inside on the frame where you should normally find a model is marked 14433

Looking forward to what you can tell me

Attached Images

	King Super Target 3.jpg (48.9 KB, 110 views)
	SW King 5.jpg (64.4 KB, 98 views)
	SW King .jpg (62.5 KB, 92 views)

Welcome to the forum!

It's hard to tell a barrel length from the pictures, but I'm guessing it's 6" or 6.5". It looks like an "Outdoorsman" revolver. I think it is circa 1938-39 and has a gorgeous looking set of pre-War magna stocks. Very nice.

Looks like someone gave it the King Super target treatment!

Very nice indeed! What a way to make an entrance bud!

__________________
On the Oak Savannah

No expert and someone will correct me but it looks to me like a pre-war "Outdoorsman" 38/44. A 38 Special built on the heavy N frame. The rear sight and barrel rib appear added so it may have started out as a 38/44 Heavy Duty which was the fixed sight service model. It was a desirable collector gun before it was modified reducing its value. Although if it was actually converted by King those are collected.

In 1957 the Outdoorsman was designated the Model 23 but very few were made with the number stamped on them. The HD was assigned number 20.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Welcome to the forum.

If it didn't have target sights from the factory it would be a 38-44 Heavy Duty.

The serial # indicates a 1938-39 production. But the medallions in the stocks if they have a curved surface, look like early post war as in pre 1950. Also if it has the post war sliding bar safety, that would make it a post war Transitional Model Outdoorsman or Heavy Duty from 1946 thru 1949.

If a pre war gun, the serial # on the butt is right side up with the muzzle pointing to the right and is centered (if no lanyard ring).
If a post war gun, the serial # on the butt is right side up with the muzzle pointing to the left and is offset to the rear.

Does it have the post war sliding bar hammer block safety that you can see in the hammer channel when slowly cocking the hammer?
And a notch in the hammer face just below the hammer nose (firing pin)?

It also depends on whether or not the stocks are original with a matching serial # stamped on the inside of the right side stock.

This marked #, 14433, is a random production assembly # and of no help.


SERIAL # LOCATIONS: To confirm all parts are original, one can check for the 6 matching serial # locations for fixed sight pre war Hand Ejectors and all post war Hand Ejectors thru ~1956 and a few as much as 3 years later.
NOTE: Observing serial #s for accuracy or even existence, especially on penciled stocks, requires magnification, bright light, and an attitude that it is there!

1. Grip frame butt (prefixed by the letter S following WWII)

2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud, (Triple locks have tiny #s stamped in front end of the shroud; sideways/vertical if over 3 numerical digits, otherwise horizontal).

3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight (except the .32 Model 1896 and no doubt a few others)

4. Extractor star - backside

5. Cylinder - rear face

6. Right stock only - on back, scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material, stamped after 1929, (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required.)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Very likely a .38/44 Outdoorsman, appears to be of the immediate pre-WWII era. Is that SN 555xx on the butt? If so, that would date it to the 1937-38 period. The King Gun Sight Co. was originally in Colorado, later moved to the San Francisco area, and specialized in custom gunsmithing usually involving handgun sights and hammers. They even did custom work for the manufacturers. King-modified guns are fairly desirable items as King was so well known for quality work. I understand King did a lot more work on Colts than S&Ws. The .38/44 designation means it is a .38 Special revolver built on the .44 N-frame. It was designed for use with a more heavily loaded high velocity .38 Special cartridge, usually called the .38-44. Of course, any .38 Special cartridge can be used in it.