I have always been a fan of these handy little revolvers. The two I owned have long since departed me. So I'm hoping you guys can supply some eye candy and maybe a story of two where yours has come in handy for you.
Old school Kit guns- pictures and stories thread
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Wyatt Burp
Member
I bought a 4” square butt at a pawn shop in 1983 for $189. It was a real fun gun that I took camping and woods loafing. But the pawn shop called and needed it back because it turned out to have been stolen. So they gave me $450 credit in the store. I chose a short nickel Colt SAA .357. I soon got a Model 18 to replace the Kit Gun and still have it.
LEO918
Member
My first kit gun was a Model 63 bought at an Ace Hardware store in East Phoenix in 1979. As I recall the tab was about $125. Long gone now and some missed.
Mine, which is really the Boss Lady's, started life when it was shipped on May 11, 1955. Very shortly after that, it was subjected to a house fire---and emerged somewhat "finish challenged". I bought it in that state, and turned it over to a Mike Cirnkovich---a St. Louis police sergeant who moonlighted as a pretty fair country gunsmith. It reappeared as a thing of beauty (or not---depending on personal choice) sporting a new finish of chrome, and black Fitz "Gunfighter" grips----with nary a clue to its checkered past. I don't recall if it was my idea or the Sergeant's to do the chrome deal----pretty much had to have been his, but it has worked out well over the years as a girl's gun----a girl who spends very little time---no time at all actually, cleaning and polishing it. That aside, it has and continues to serve her well as a tool used to dispatch sundry critters with the temerity to invade HER gardens. I'm okay as long as I stay out of the gardens.
Ralph Tremaine
And the gun's okay too---because I keep it cleaned and polished----looks pretty much like new actually.
Ralph Tremaine
And the gun's okay too---because I keep it cleaned and polished----looks pretty much like new actually.
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I've had model 34's in the past, both 4" and 2", but they've all managed to slip through my fingers. The only one that's managed to stick around is my Model 63-3 that I bought new many years ago. It's my keep around the house to take care of the pests gun and it sees a lot of use. It's one of my favorite S&W's. 
My kit guns, left hand side only:
1st 4” Kit Gun Model of 1953 New I frame (Pre Mod 34), 4 screw, 3rd (last) style FL, large Rd butt grip frame and trigger guard, 1955,
2nd 4” Kit Gun Model 34 (pre dash #) New I frame, 3 screw, large sq butt, modified factory Target Stocks, ~1962,
3rd 2” Kit Gun Model 34-1 J frame, large sq butt, 1969,
4th 4” Kit Gun Model 34-2 J frame, large sq butt, modified factory Target stocks, Aug1989, and unmodified Targets beside it,
NOTE: compare length of frame in front of the trigger guards and the cylinder lengths of the New I frames (1st and 2nd) to the J frames (3rd and 4th).
My favorite shooter, #2 above. Added the optional .400" target trigger. It had been refinished but not a factory re-finish so not that collectible, therefore it seemed a good candidate for me to 'massage'.
4" barrel replaced with a M 43 Kit Gun Airweight 3 1/2" barrel, a more preferable length for me. Fortunately the M 43 barrels are not roll-stamped Airweight.
And a few retro parts replacements like the pre war relieved, 'double pinch' thumb-piece in place of the flat latch, and pre war 'barrel' style extractor rod/knob (required the single step notch I milled under barrel) replacing the straight rod. Both ergonomic improvements.
And with modified I/J frame Target stocks:
Pre war Kit Gun with orginal pre war target grips. Recently found this on Gunbroker and was surprised at the lack of bidders. There's a gold bead on the Patridge front sight blade.
I picked up this mid '20s era .22/32 Heavy Frame Target cheap as a shooter.
Cut barrel to 3 3/8" to eliminate a barrel bulge and re-blued. Just to have another shooter for the grandkids and save my nicer and more original shooters for the adults. Pointer Sambar stag RB grips for the kids' small hands. It's a nice little package, a terrific shooter, and the last acquired:
And my homemade .32 'Kit Gun', 4" J frame Model 30-1, a non-factory target model, 1966 vintage. Target features added on are:
adj rear sight,
taller ramped front sight w/sight base,
.400” trigger,
and modified post war factory I/J frame target stocks.
Never liked the flat cyl latch so changed to a pre war "double pinch" latch.
I also reamed a spare cyl to 32 H&R Mag for it.
1st 4” Kit Gun Model of 1953 New I frame (Pre Mod 34), 4 screw, 3rd (last) style FL, large Rd butt grip frame and trigger guard, 1955,
2nd 4” Kit Gun Model 34 (pre dash #) New I frame, 3 screw, large sq butt, modified factory Target Stocks, ~1962,
3rd 2” Kit Gun Model 34-1 J frame, large sq butt, 1969,
4th 4” Kit Gun Model 34-2 J frame, large sq butt, modified factory Target stocks, Aug1989, and unmodified Targets beside it,
NOTE: compare length of frame in front of the trigger guards and the cylinder lengths of the New I frames (1st and 2nd) to the J frames (3rd and 4th).
My favorite shooter, #2 above. Added the optional .400" target trigger. It had been refinished but not a factory re-finish so not that collectible, therefore it seemed a good candidate for me to 'massage'.
4" barrel replaced with a M 43 Kit Gun Airweight 3 1/2" barrel, a more preferable length for me. Fortunately the M 43 barrels are not roll-stamped Airweight.
And a few retro parts replacements like the pre war relieved, 'double pinch' thumb-piece in place of the flat latch, and pre war 'barrel' style extractor rod/knob (required the single step notch I milled under barrel) replacing the straight rod. Both ergonomic improvements.
And with modified I/J frame Target stocks:
Pre war Kit Gun with orginal pre war target grips. Recently found this on Gunbroker and was surprised at the lack of bidders. There's a gold bead on the Patridge front sight blade.
I picked up this mid '20s era .22/32 Heavy Frame Target cheap as a shooter.
Cut barrel to 3 3/8" to eliminate a barrel bulge and re-blued. Just to have another shooter for the grandkids and save my nicer and more original shooters for the adults. Pointer Sambar stag RB grips for the kids' small hands. It's a nice little package, a terrific shooter, and the last acquired:
And my homemade .32 'Kit Gun', 4" J frame Model 30-1, a non-factory target model, 1966 vintage. Target features added on are:
adj rear sight,
taller ramped front sight w/sight base,
.400” trigger,
and modified post war factory I/J frame target stocks.
Never liked the flat cyl latch so changed to a pre war "double pinch" latch.
I also reamed a spare cyl to 32 H&R Mag for it.
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LEO918
Member
Ranger514
Member
I have a couple in that category: A 1983 S&W 63, .22 cal. with a 4-inch barrel, and a 5 1/2- inch barrel Ruger Single Six .22 cal. with fixed sights. Of the two, the 63 with its adjustable sights is more accurate for me to shoot than the old Peacemaker style Ruger with fixed sights. I have a feeling it's not the Ruger's fault. I just need to shoot it more, to adjust to the sights better.
I have two, I found this one at the Lakeland, Fl. Rifle & Pistol Club show and then found the Heiser flap holster at the same show the following year.
Regards,
turnerriver
Regards,
turnerriver
... no stories, but a few photos:
Transitional Kit Gun:
Pre-34:
Transitional Kit Gun:
Pre-34:
I had a 4" M63 and later a 4" M64 and both had S&W factory combat grips. I also had a Colt Diamondback that was really accurate but would not fire 100% of the time so I traded it. For some reason I like a Bersa .22 Thunder for a Kit gun than better than the revolvers.
I've had this pair of 34 & 63 for several years, and they are the best for teaching new shooters.
My Granddaughter with the 34 having a ball.
My Granddaughter with the 34 having a ball.
Walter Rego
Member
So could you fine boys and gurls define kit gun? I've got a 4" model 18 and too many 32's. Also a 6" barreled Taurus. I'm wondering which guns qualify. I know that "kit" is Brit speak for "stuff" and a kit bag is a back pack.
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The ones I owned were both J frames in both four and two inch barrel.22 cal or 32. I frame and M frame represents older models.They were tagged as kit guns because they would fit into an emergency style kit or tackle box
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The "kit gun", as referenced here, started out pre-WWII as a 4" barreled .22 built on the .32 I-frame revolver. I believe the marketing strategy was to sell small, handy revolvers that could easily be placed in your camping/fishing/hunting kit. After the war, the gun was continued in various iterations on the I frame, Improved I frame, New I frame, and finally, J frame. When S&W began assigning/marking model numbers on the guns, they became the Model 34 and Model 43 Airweight. Later Kit Guns were also made in stainless steel.
Over the years, the term "Kit Gun" has become somewhat synonymous with any small frame revolver. But it was S&W that developed and marketed Kit Guns.
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