It's been a while since I've posted here. I remember some wonderful information I collected from some posters too. By odd chance I have been given an assignment to write an article for publication on the .224 Harvey K-Chuk. Not that I am anyone special but I love to tinker and have been given the opportunity. No money involved (as of yet and I don't expect it), just the challenge and love of the old S&W.

I have most of the historical basics of Mr. Harvey and his Lakeville Arms but could still use the details of who owned what, Mr. Cassavant's involvement, and who the Bennett Gun Works folks were.

Also one quick detail; Were there specific, special reamers made up for the Kay-Chuk std. (also called the Jr.?) and later "K"ay-Chuk based on the K-hornet? I'm wondering if they simply used existing .22 Hornet and K-Hornet reamers and tools? I have a 1957 K-22 converted to centerfire with a fantastic barrel that looks factory and simply marked ".22 Hornet". There are also some makers marks that I cannot track down and "61" that I assume is the year the work was done. My example may not have been an original "Harvey" but did chamber full length Hornets that protrude.

I'm working the outline now. I hope to accomplish a concise compilation of the most important historical info to include reproducing the old loads (I have some original SISK 37 gr. HP's) as well as see what can be done with modern powders and bullets. Of course pictures, load data, some chrono and accuracy, expansion info. Also I wish to pay homage to Mr. Goerg who promoted the ctg. quite a bit. I think I can pull it off and make it interesting and entertaining. NO, I'm not going to shoot any bears!

In frustration I re-chambered my old S&W beater to K-hornet specs so I shoot full "Kay-Chuk" loads. The short Hornet did not satisfy at all. It barely beat out .22 WMR loadings and locked up frequently, even using all my tricks.

You guys are too good a source of facts I simply must ask for your assistance. Any information you would care to share for the sake of accuracy on this work would be really appreciated. I have a chance to put something together here that could really help folks in the future. That's my motivation.

Post here or shoot me an e-mail. God Bless!

You might Google "Kent Bellah". He was a well-known gunwriter of the 50s - mid-sixties. Bellah died in '66. He worked closely with Harvey, promoting many of Harvey's handgun & loading projects of that era.

Thanks Rockquarry! I'll look in the back issues of Handloader to see what I can find. There was a bullet called the "SISK-Bellah" too.

A couple buys that post on here really had a bunch of knowledge on the Kay-Chuk.

Waterboyark - welcome back to the Forum. It appears from your post that you have re-registered as new member.
The google search at the top of the page works well and there are many threads about Kay-Chuck

http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchr...Kay-Chuk&sa=Go

Thanks so much VM! Sorry for my floundering around, just need to spend more time here. I have several odd 'Smiths that others might find interesting. Nothing worth all that much but a bit different.

The K-Chuk info and posts are very useful!

SB

I'm so sorry to have discovered this so late. I don't know whether you've finished/published your article, or have followups planned, but my stepfather is Jim Harvey's son and may be able to answer questions about the firearm or stories about it.

He also has one he's interested in selling, but that's a completely separate discussion. Please contact me if you'd like me to put you in touch with him.

The Harvey Kaychuck used a Hornet case shortened about 1/10" and then blown out at the shoulder. Only reamer I've seen came from Clymer's. I have a blue print of reamer and case dimensions if you'd like I try and email them to you? I, also, have a K22 (reamed for this)cylinder if someone can use it
Steve

There was an article published in the now-defunct PRECISION SHOOTING magazine around 2004 or '05 about the prominent gunwriter Kent Bellah. Many of Lakeville Arms products were mentioned. There was a photo (not a close-up) of Bellah's S&W K-Chuck, converted by Harvey.

I don't know if production figures on these guns are available, but I doubt there were many conversions done. Bellah spent his entire life in the Saint Jo, Texas area (100 miles north of Dallas, just below the Oklahoma border). Sisk Bullets (premier varmint bullet maker of the day) was just a short distance away (about 65 miles) in Iowa Park.

IIRC, Hornady made some 35 grainers lately also. You have to have lite bullets to get the velocities Al Georg got.
Steve

I used to read Al Georg occasionally a few years back in GUN WORLD. He may have written for other publications as well. I was unaware Georg did any work with the Kay-Chuk.

Kent Bellah wrote an article for the November, 1958 edition of U.S. HANDGUNNER. In the article he mentioned these points:

Bullets in some loads would shoot through 1/8" mild steel.

Zeroed at 100 yards, a maximum load with a light bullet (presumably the 37 grain Sisk Revolver Bullet) would drop 3" at 150 yards.

2400 powder was recommended and lab-tested pressure loads generated between 21,000 and 29,000 psi.

In another reference, Bellah mentions the above as a 2,200 fps load.

However, discrepancies, at least in print, exist. Bellah updated W.H.B. Smith's classic BOOK OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS in the mid-'60s, shortly before Bellah's death. In the book, he states that Harvey recommended a maximum load of 11 grs. #2400 with the 37 gr. Sisk-Bellah HP. Reported pressure was 41,400, muzzle velocity, 1900 fps in an 8 3/8" barrel.

Bellah was an advocate of "hot" loads and even he recommended backing down to 10 grs. for 1,800 fps at 34,100 psi and calling it maximum.

In his book Pioneering Handgun Hunting. He's been gone for decades. Last I knew, his son that acconmpanied him on his Brown Bear hunt in Alaska, posted on GBO.
Steve