The kit gun

USBP SW · Jul 17, 2025

My first exposure to Smith and Wesson revolvers was in the mid-1960’s, the first experience was with a pre-war 22/32 kit gun, identical to the kit gun pictured at the bottom. The other kit gun pictured is the model of 1953. This is the type of revolver that started it all, I was fascinated by this work of art, the fit, the finish, a perfect combination of blued steel and wood. I have to give credit to DARE, he inspired and encouraged me to post the first photos on my own. I stumbled on the old kit gun (533,… serial range) and felt it appropriate to post my history with it.

Jerry in SC · Jul 17, 2025

Nice, they aren’t easy to find any more.

I had an opportunity to buy a pre war Kit Gun a year ago. Very nice mechanical condition, all numbers including the stocks matched. Unfortunately the front sight had been replaced with a crude ramp type blade (like the 1953) fabricated by a “gunsmith”, likely done many years ago. The barrel finish was dinged and damaged in multiple places by a punch to drive the pin out. Had it only needed a correct front sight, a local gunsmith could have repaired it. But the barrel damage was just too much to overlook. That’s the only one I’ve seen locally for sale in many years.

22shtur · Jul 17, 2025

My S&W collection consists of the kit guns; a prewar kit gun, a pre model 43, a pre model 34, a model 34, and a model 63 ND.
My favorite is the model 43, which I think is overlooked. I was not going to collect a lot of handguns, especially any of the expensive ones. I say I have an active collection since I use all five of my kit guns to harvest forest grouse. I hunt forest grouse about 45 days a year, rotating a gun every time I go. When I'm not hunting I take one along with my kit I am using that day when I go camping, hiking, fishing, mushrooming, etc. I bought the model 34 and 63 brand-new at a LGS. I bought the other three after reading up on them on this forum and after I felt I had enough knowledge on each of them.

USBP SW · Jul 17, 2025

22shtur said:
My S&W collection consists of the kit guns; a prewar kit gun, a pre model 43, a pre model 34, a model 34, and a model 63 ND.
My favorite is the model 43, which I think is overlooked. I was not going to collect a lot of handguns, especially any of the expensive ones. I say I have an active collection since I use all five of my kit guns to harvest forest grouse. I hunt forest grouse about 45 days a year, rotating a gun every time I go. When I'm not hunting I take one along with my kit I am using that day when I go camping, hiking, fishing, mushrooming, etc. I bought the model 34 and 63 brand-new at a LGS. I bought the other three after reading up on them on this forum and after I felt I had enough knowledge on each of them.

I have a total of eight kit guns, probably equally divided blue and stainless, 2" & 4". I only saw one airweight kit gun that interested me, it was an early airweight kit gun, in seemingly perfect condition, in the original red box. However, upon closer examination, I found the notorious frame crack under the barrel. One of my biggest Smith and Wesson disappointments.

sparkyvega · Jul 17, 2025

I can barely hit the side of a barn with my kit guns M63, M34...my meaty clubs-for-hands can't grip J-frames very well. Still...mine aren't going anywhere.

kscharlie · Jul 18, 2025

sparkyvega said:
I can barely hit the side of a barn with my kit guns M63, M34...my meaty clubs-for-hands can't grip J-frames very well. Still...mine aren't going anywhere.

I don't have meaty fingers, but they sure are long. I only have one kit gun, a Model of 1953 square butt. The original "tiny" stocks did not make for a decent grip. So I got a set of J frame target stocks and put them on the gun. That made a world of difference. You might want to try the same thing. Just a thought.

The J targets are a bit longer than the frame on the I frame, but that doesn't matter. They work just fine and, in fact, gives you a bit more stock to grab a hold of.

Mongo Safari · Jul 18, 2025

I did the same on my model 34-1 Kit Gun, as kscharlie by installing J-frame target smooth grips, exotic wood and S&W logo. The grips give that little bit extra length and width. I found them on GunBroker and traded for them. These grips are shootable with my meat hooks but my 617 with large grips fits better.

Hondo44 · Jul 18, 2025

kscharlie said:
I don't have meaty fingers, but they sure are long. I only have one kit gun, a Model of 1953 square butt. The original "tiny" stocks did not make for a decent grip. So I got a set of J frame target stocks and put them on the gun. That made a world of difference. You might want to try the same thing. Just a thought.

View attachment 776922

The J targets are a bit longer than the frame on the I frame, but that doesn't matter. They work just fine and, in fact, gives you a bit more stock to grab a hold of.

View attachment 776923

That’s a very nice package and in superb condition! Kit guns will always be my favorites. I have two pre war and 4 post war KGs.

Just FYI, the model of 1953 I and J frame sq butt style grip frames are the exact same size for as long the sq butt frame was made. So those target grips fit the same on I and J frames.

I and J grip frames are always the same size for the same vintage guns. Before the 1953 models they were the same size as well: both 1/8” shorter than the 1953 rd butt grips/grip frames.

DARE · Jul 18, 2025

Steve, here is the gun you were looking for. My dad had a pair of these. 5601 shipped November 1954. I sold it a gun show. Regret it. 6211 shipped July 1955. Still have it. Dad's notes say he sent the guns to S&W for Red Ramp White Outline sights in 1974. Has 10-74 on the grip frame.
Interesting side note. Dad called S&W and said he wanted new sights. They said they could not do that. Could not put a red ramp on the front sight. The blade was too narrow for the tool they used. My father was an engineer and knew a little about tooling. He suggested a different tool and the sights were installed.
6211 has been refinished. Marked R-S on the backstrap. handejector said that means refinish standard.
Also marked S diamond under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder. Don't know if that refers to the refinish or the sights. No repair records available.
When I posted about this gun, you messaged me and offered to send me a correct box at no charge. Much appreciated.

USBP SW · Jul 18, 2025

DARE said:
Steve, here is the gun you were looking for. My dad had a pair of these. 5601 shipped November 1954. I sold it a gun show. Regret it. 6211 shipped July 1955. Still have it. Dad's notes say he sent the guns to S&W for Red Ramp White Outline sights in 1974. Has 10-74 on the grip frame.
Interesting side note. Dad called S&W and said he wanted new sights. They said they could not do that. Could not put a red ramp on the front sight. The blade was too narrow for the tool they used. My father was an engineer and knew a little about tooling. He suggested a different tool and the sights were installed.
6211 has been refinished. Marked R-S on the backstrap. handejector said that means refinish standard.
Also marked S diamond under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder. Don't know if that refers to the refinish or the sights. No repair records available.
When I posted about this gun, you messaged me and offered to send me a correct box at no charge. Much appreciated.

View attachment 777139
View attachment 777140 View attachment 777142 View attachment 777143 View attachment 777143

I remember, I still wish that the condition of the box matched the condition of your airweight kit gun, it is a beautiful example. In my opinion, being refinished is easily outweighed by the family history.

toroflow1 · Jul 18, 2025

Here's a few of my kits; top to bottom: 60-4, 43, 51, 63, 34, and 631...

MajorD · Jul 18, 2025

My 34-1 2” is my most used gun by far. A great shooting square butt, the standard stocks and a T grip make it perfect for me. With it a 1/2 uspsa steel target at 50+ yards is cake, and it doesn’t suffer the tight chamber problems so common on S&W 22’s. I almost didn’t buy it as I really wanted a blue one and it is nickel, but as I had been searching for one in my price range for years, I went ahead and am glad I did. The search continues to give it a blue brother.

Muley Gil · Jul 18, 2025

"Interesting side note. Dad called S&W and said he wanted new sights. They said they could not do that. Could not put a red ramp on the front sight. The blade was too narrow for the tool they used. My father was an engineer and knew a little about tooling. He suggested a different tool and the sights were installed."

I bought a 4" blue round butt M34-1and I too wanted a red ramp insert in the front sight. I found a tool that would achieve that result.

The hardware store called it a file.

Jerry in SC · Saturday at 4:01 PM

DARE said:
Steve, here is the gun you were looking for. My dad had a pair of these. 5601 shipped November 1954. I sold it a gun show. Regret it. 6211 shipped July 1955. Still have it. Dad's notes say he sent the guns to S&W for Red Ramp White Outline sights in 1974. Has 10-74 on the grip frame.
Interesting side note. Dad called S&W and said he wanted new sights. They said they could not do that. Could not put a red ramp on the front sight. The blade was too narrow for the tool they used. My father was an engineer and knew a little about tooling. He suggested a different tool and the sights were installed.
6211 has been refinished. Marked R-S on the backstrap. handejector said that means refinish standard.
Also marked S diamond under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder. Don't know if that refers to the refinish or the sights. No repair records available.
When I posted about this gun, you messaged me and offered to send me a correct box at no charge. Much appreciated.

View attachment 777139
View attachment 777140 View attachment 777142 View attachment 777143 View attachment 777143

Great story, I don’t recall ever seeing an Airweight Kit Gun with a factory red insert front.

I no longer have the gun but do have the dealer flyer, it’s not a reprint.

DARE · Saturday at 4:25 PM

Nice ad. Thanks for sharing. Would not mind having a copy of it to put with my package. You could probably take a picture and email it to me. Also love your signature. [email protected]
I'm guessing that my dad's pair were the first J frames with factory RRWO sights since they told him they could not do it. Have always wondered if him telling them how to do it made it available going forward.

Jerry in SC · Saturday at 4:56 PM

DARE said:
Nice ad. Thanks for sharing. Would not mind having a copy of it to put with my package. You could probably take a picture and email it to me. Also love your signature. [email protected]
I'm guessing that my dad's pair were the first J frames with factory RRWO sights since they told him they could not do it. Have always wondered if him telling them how to do it made it available going forward.

Let me figure out how to get a good image of it and I’ll be glad to get one for you. I had it professionally framed years ago. I have a 1970 catalog with all the Kit Guns illustrated I’ll see if I can get a good scan of that as well. The catalog only listed target stocks and triggers as options, the red inserts and other front options were for 1/8” front sights. But I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them on later Kit Guns with the 1/10” front. Kits were my favorites for years, I owned almost all the 70’s era variations of them at one time or another in the early to mid 70’s.

H Richard · Sunday at 9:19 AM

I've always enjoyed my Kit Guns, 63-1 and 34-1 and were great teaching tools for the youth. My Granddaughter liked the 34 with the smaller grips, I always grabbed the 63 with the larger Target grips.

45NUTT · Monday at 3:03 PM

While I would like a 4" S&W 22LR, I wish they would have made them with 8 or 9 shot cylinders as opposed to 6 shot. I do have a 6" K22 (1948) & 48, a 4" 22 would be nice. I can't bring myself to fork over what kit guns are going for these days.

Birdhunter6 · Tuesday at 8:18 PM

sparkyvega said:
I can barely hit the side of a barn with my kit guns M63, M34...my meaty clubs-for-hands can't grip J-frames very well. Still...mine aren't going anywhere.

Try Ergo's Delta grip. The J frame round butt answer for MY big ol' hands. They are strange looking and Glock ugly, but they turned my Js into great shooters.

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