1905 barrel maker question?

[dwh]

I've recently come across a (1910-1913) 1905 32-20 semi target with a 12-inch barrel marked C.M. King. My question to the collective is. Does anyone have knowledge of King as a barrel maker or a gunsmith? My searches have turned up little to nothing on King. Unfortunately, I can't send pictures.
Thanks for your help.

 

[mikepriwer]

The King Gun Sight Company was founded by Dean W King, who was a gunsmith. I don't recall seeing any barrels for sale in the King catalog. I have no knowledge of a C M King barrel.

Mike Priwer

 

[Alk8944]

If it had been an H.M. Pope barrel I could have given you some information, but other than Mike's comment about The King Gun Sight Company I have no idea. Possibly C.M. King was related to Dean King?

 

[Truckman]

The CM King name rings a bell, but I just can't place it in memory......

 

[glowe]

Here is a CM King gun with fixed rear sight blade and 12" barrel. No knowledge of who CM King was? I have to wonder if that is an unmarked Pope barrel and may CM King was the owner of the revolver??

 

[2152hq]

C.M King was a custom gunsmith located in Oakland, Ca.
I don't know a lot (much!) about him.
He was active in the 1920's to the late 1940's IIRC
An old notation I put in an old gunsmithing book gives an address for him early on as 617(?) Tenth St, Oakland, Calf.

He did beautiful work and was a highly skilled craftsman and machinest.
He designed several 'one-of' sporting type firearms and built them from scratch.
Always used high quality wood. Everything finished top quality.
I don't know if he did his own engraving, checkering but many of his guns were usually complete with both.
Color case hardening sometimes included as well.

 

[dwh]

C.M King was a custom gunsmith located in Oakland, Ca.
I don't know a lot (much!) about him.
He was active in the 1920's to the late 1940's IIRC
An old notation I put in an old gunsmithing book gives an address for him early on as 617(?) Tenth St, Oakland, Calf.

He did beautiful work and was a highly skilled craftsman and machinest.
He designed several 'one-of' sporting type firearms and built them from scratch.
Always used high quality wood. Everything finished top quality.
I don't know if he did his own engraving, checkering but many of his guns were usually complete with both.
Color case hardening sometimes included as well.

The knowledge here is truly astounding.
Thanks gentlemen.

 

[glowe]

The major issue here is that hardly anyone can forge a gun barrel. It takes a huge forge to do that, so King would have bought the barrel from someone, maybe Pope. I see that the barrel lug appears to be soldered on the gun in the picture, but the front sight base looks forged or welded to the barrel. Still guessing that we are looking at a Pope barrel. The barrel appears to be rough, unpolished steel and poorly blued. The ejector rod knob is not tightened on the rod. Appears the lug has a brass pin, not steel. Wonder what else is not right about the modification???