38/44 King 'Super Target'

DHENRY · #1 06-23-2009, 09:01 AM

This 38/44 Outdoorsman's Revolver left S&W on July 20th, 1937...it went to the D. W. King Sight Co.
Modified by King to fill a special order, it features the King ventilated and top-grooved rib, with an integral reflector base for the Sheard red-bead front sight.
Rear sight is a King deep-'U' notch with the white outline.
A trigger-stop (similar to the later S&W model) was also installed.
The original magnas, numbered to the gun, had a relief cut into the horn area.
In 1969 this gun went back to Smith & Wesson for a magnificent refinish.
A really neat old gun, from the days when target shooters had companies like King make their guns 'individualized'.
Don

JayCeeNC · #2 06-23-2009, 09:44 AM

What a grand old shooter!
That gun is a fine example of what "gunsmithing" was once all about.

hsguy · #3 06-23-2009, 09:48 AM

Don, great looking gun! Is that the one from the SWCA meeting? If so I am glad you bought it and removed temptation, I looked at it a couple of times but you saved my wallet! Very interesting and good looking piece. John

GLL · #4 06-23-2009, 10:21 AM

Don:

BEAUTIFUL !

It is the classic target revolver ! I would love to shoot that one !

Great photo !

Jerry

RKmesa · #5 06-23-2009, 10:32 AM

Don:

Beautiful revolver. I had a chance to buy a King Super Target modified OD for a very reasonable price. At the time I did not know much about the King Sight Co and every time I see a Super Target, I kick myself regularly for not scooping it up, because it had been "modified" and was not "original".

Oh well, at least I can enjoy the photos of others... Thanks for posting.

29aholic · #6 06-23-2009, 10:39 AM

Now that is cool. I am not sure I'd have gone with the rib myself, but cool nontheless.

DCWilson · #7 06-23-2009, 10:39 AM

Until this moment I did not even know that such a gun existed. Now I have the serious hungries for one. Time to get out the wish list and re-prioritize.

David W.

Nightowl · #8 06-23-2009, 08:57 PM

Is that a 6" or a 6 1/2" barrel?

Jebus35745 · #9 06-23-2009, 09:16 PM

That is a totally awsome gun Don. Too bad I missed the annual meeting. Guess fathers day was more important. It was so close too. Larry

j38 · #10 06-23-2009, 11:06 PM

Neat gun, Don! From the photo it looks like the stocks were modified also ...yes ?

Thanks for the post,

Jerry

DHENRY · #11 06-23-2009, 11:12 PM

She's a 6-1/2", and the relief on the l.h. grip is mighty comfortable, if a bit sad .
Don

GLL · #12 06-24-2009, 03:34 PM

Don:

Could you please show us a close-up photo of the barrel and ejector rod ?

Jerry

Troystat · #13 06-24-2009, 03:56 PM

That is one really neat revolver. Looks like it would be great fun to shoot.

Thanks for the post

Troy

Dan M · #14 06-24-2009, 04:00 PM

Hi Don,

Thats a beauty for sure. I for one love the old Kings Super Target ribs, I really like those reflector sights in front? Absolutely the perfect Target Pistol.

thanks for sharing

Dan

DHENRY · #15 06-24-2009, 05:22 PM

OK, Jerry...
Here you go, barrel and ejector rod, plus front sight.
You can see (obviously) that when S&W re-did the gun in the 60's, they replaced the original ejector rod with a more contemporary model.
The barrel is, I'm sure, a replacement, but I note that while it has the later, 'post-transitional' ejector-rod lug (w/out the cutout), it's also a non-ribbed barrel.
My guess is that it's a 6-1/2" postwar HD barrel.
Somebody, sometime, spent an awful lot of time and money on this gun.
Go figure.
Took it to the range today, and it's so good it's scary!
Don

mtb1bkr · #16 06-24-2009, 06:04 PM

I have a set of K Square grips that are modified like yours. Not quite as nicely done, but the same style. They are in the garage right now being refinished as they were without finish when I got them.

Bill

GLL · #17 06-24-2009, 06:43 PM

Don:

Thank you very much for the extra photo !

I am VERY envious ! They did a great job of putting that package together !
Was the serial number restamped on the barrel?

I would love to have that one myself ! Enjoy !

Best Regards,

Jerry

1Aspenhill · #18 06-24-2009, 09:49 PM

Don,
Nice gun-a real beauty! Thanks for sharing!
Bill

Gatorbaiter · #19 06-28-2009, 06:40 PM

Here's another King Super Target, this one is a K frame Hand Ejector in 32-20:

DCWilson · #20 06-28-2009, 07:20 PM

You guys have got to stop posting pictures of these revolvers! Neither my heart nor my budget can stand the stress, which in this case is just another word for envy.

David W.

DHENRY · #21 06-28-2009, 08:06 PM

Gaitor,
Neat gun and neat grips, too!
Don

GLL · #22 06-28-2009, 10:22 PM

Gator:

VERY NICE !

Sanderson grips I presume.

Jerry

Gatorbaiter · #23 06-29-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLL

Gator:

VERY NICE !

Sanderson grips I presume.

Jerry

Jerry,

I don't know who made the grips, they are old & are unmarked. They have a palm swell and fit my hand perfectly.

pace40 · #24 06-29-2009, 06:59 PM

I just hope you don't start a cult following and drive the prices up on these too. I have come to like em a lot.......

29-1 · #25 06-29-2009, 07:11 PM

Here's a K-22 with the King conversion that I once owned. Nice litle gun just didn't make big enough holes.

Chuck

digi-shots · #26 06-29-2009, 07:38 PM

Those "King Super Targets" are really cool.... I may have to add it to my list.

Chuck, you didn't happen to keep those Ropers, did you??

Vulcan Bob · #27 06-29-2009, 10:35 PM

Pardon the pun but that's a super nice revolver! Thank's to you and the other posters for shareing.

Dan M · #28 06-29-2009, 10:43 PM

might as well add this 1917 to the picture trail

Dan

DHENRY · #29 06-29-2009, 11:13 PM

Now THAT is about the best-looking M-1917 I've ever seen!

29aholic · #30 06-29-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHENRY

Now THAT is about the best-looking M-1917 I've ever seen!

+ like one million Dan that is a WAY cool 1917!!!! Glad that one survived. Although the rib has still got me on the fence, y'all are beginning to win me over

Gatorbaiter · #31 06-30-2009, 02:08 AM

Go browse thru a 1939 Kings Gun Sight Co. Catalog:
http://www.histandard.info/King/King..._1280_960.html

Love those prices, a Colt Officers Model Target for $41.50 & a Colt Single Action Army for $37.50!

A10ACN · #32 06-30-2009, 06:30 AM

I own Chuck's K22 pictured a few posts back. Still has the Ropers and the box. Still shoots tiny holes= nice and tight, tiny holes! I also have a 1917 that visited King, but there's something wrong with it, for some reason it says C-O-L-T (must've been some guy's name) on the side and the cylinder release works plumb backwards!!! King must've done that, too.....!!!!! I've got a King Reg mag that some of y'all saw out at Tulsa. A few more more, too. I love em!

DCWilson · #33 06-30-2009, 09:43 AM

Gator, can you post the full link to the 1939 King catalog? The one you printed is missing some characters in the middle and can't be followed.

DW

Gatorbaiter · #34 06-30-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCWilson

Gator, can you post the full link to the 1939 King catalog? The one you printed is missing some characters in the middle and can't be followed.

DW

OK, it's fixed!!