Have you seen a Kit Gun like this?

handejector · Oct 11, 2011

Model marked.
Square Butt I frame.
Nickel.

I have not seen many square butt I frame Model 1953's. I don't remember ever seeing another that was model marked and nickel.
Have any of you seen one?

Roy says the change from I frame to J frame was authorized in Oct, 1960 at #70000.
This gun shipped in Aug, 1962.
It either laid in the vault for quite some time, or the unfinished frame hung on a rack a long time!
This helps my thinking that there aren't many.

mikepriwer · Oct 11, 2011

I am sure that there is less than 100,000 of these.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Babalooie · Oct 11, 2011

Sweet! Gotta be worth at least fifty bucks

.

DCWilson · Oct 11, 2011

Novel to me. But then I sometimes forget S&W made Kit Guns after WWII.

If that one had shipped in August of 2011, says this California resident, you would be reading a PM from me right now instead of this joky post.

Very nice 34.

Green Frog · Oct 11, 2011

SWEEEET!

But, why do you guys have to keep posting these new variants to make me add yet another item to my want list?

I thought I was going to be satisfied with a small assortment of 6" and 2" I-frames, but now I have to look for 4" adjustable sighted guns too. What's next?

Froggie

Dragon88 · Oct 11, 2011

Babalooie said:
Sweet! Gotta be worth at least fifty bucks .

I'll do $60 cash right now.

Green Frog · Oct 11, 2011

Dragon88 said:
I'll do $60 cash right now.

Heck, I'll go $75 and a future first round draft pick!

Froggie

Retired LTC USAR · Oct 11, 2011

Why is it called a "kit gun"?

duckloads · Oct 11, 2011

It's beautiful whatever it's called.

perrazi · Oct 11, 2011

very neat gun. many years ago i bought one in the 63,000 range along with a nickel 5 screw 357magnum. had them for a while then decided to pursue blued guns and sole them. this was around 1977-78. i think they weren't finished and some were held back for special orders,like nickel and other options. no evidence to that, but is just my opinion

Camster · Oct 11, 2011

Retired LTC said:
Why is it called a "kit gun"?

These small frame guns were often considered,back in the day.as something destined for a pack,or fishing "kit".

cgt4570 · Oct 11, 2011

Retired LTC said:
Why is it called a "kit gun"?

Do a search on previous posts. It's been explained to infinity and beyond.

Cary Williams · Oct 11, 2011

neat kit gun

I frame or improved I frame ?

I don't see a strain screw

Cary

handejector · Oct 11, 2011

Cary Williams said:
I frame or improved I frame ?

I don't see a strain screw

Cary

You won't see a strain screw on a Model of 53 with the large guard.
They are all coil spring guns.

Cary Williams · Oct 11, 2011

kit gun

does that mean it is not an improved I frame ?

cary

JSR III · Oct 11, 2011

Yes it is an improved I frame. The 1953 models and the model marked 34's are all improved I frames. Those produced before 1952 were just the regular I frame. Just to make it more confusing, the 34-1 was produced on the J frame.

handejector · Oct 11, 2011

Cary Williams said:
does that mean it is not an improved I frame ?

cary

Before WW II the I frame is a flat spring gun with a strain screw.
The post-war guns of the late 40's looked basically identical to pre-war guns and had the same spring. Somewhere around 1950, the gun was 'Improved' with a coil spring, but it still looked the same, having the short gripframe and the smaller, nearly round trigger guard.

In 1953, the "Model of 1953 Kit Gun" was introduced. It had the longer grips, OVAL shaped larger trigger guard, no screw in front of guard, and a coil mainspring.
Some people call them the "2nd Improvement", but I just prefer Model 1953. It is different in so many ways that it stands alone in my mind, and is not a continuation of the earlier design.
Large guard, redesigned cyl stop with no screw, long gripframe, ribbed barrel, and different frame forging make it the "Modern I frame" in my mind.
To some degree, just a semantics game.

Have you seen a Kit Gun like this?

handejector

mikepriwer

Babalooie

US Veteran

DCWilson

Green Frog

Member

Dragon88

Member

Green Frog

Member

Retired LTC USAR

US Veteran

duckloads

Member

perrazi

Absent Comrade

Camster

Member

cgt4570

Member

Cary Williams

Member

handejector

Cary Williams

Member

JSR III

handejector

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