Hello all, here are some photo's of a 38/44 with a King rear sight blade. I would guess that about half of my pre-war target guns have a King rear or front sight, seems to have been very popular on these guns. The gun pictured has some of the nicest grips I have seen. John

John,
A really stunning package, John.
Congratulations!
Don

__________________
OGCA Life
NRA Life

BEAUTIFUL !

Very nice grips indeed !

If you are willing I would very much appreciate the serial number of your gun for my files (offline) !

Best Regards,

Jerry

[email protected]

__________________
.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

That is indeed spectacular wood, and the steel the stocks are fastened to is completely worthy of association with them. I must agree with Don and Jerry -- that's one beautiful revolver.

Have you lettered it? I'd be curious to know the date (or at least the first few digits of the serial number, if you'd be willing to share that much).

Are King rear sight blades found often on revolvers with factory Patridge front blades? Somehow I had let myself think of King front sights as the predominant modification on S&W target models, with rear sights left pretty much alone unless the buyer was ordering a full front and rear sighting system replacement.

David Wilson

__________________
David Wilson

Jerry, the serial is 48458

DCWilson, I have to agree with you that I see more front sight changes than rear which I always found a little curious as the rear sight is changed easily with a drop in blade. The front sight on this gun is a gold Call bead. I have another 38/44 OD with a King white bead front sight and a white outline half circle rear blade, it is perhaps my favorite combo as it gives a great sight picture. John SWCA #1586

John, thank you. I couldn't see the bead and rashly assumed that your revolver had a stock Patridge sight.

David

Hello Steve, I completely agree with your comments. I always assumed most of the sight modifications were done post-factory and many done by the individual owner. I have a couple of reproduced King catalogs and all of the sights I have on my guns were readily available. The biggest exception are the full King conversions that were offered through King factory. There was an interesting thread here recently about a King modified 38/44 that shipped to King from the factory. I saw that gun at the SWCA meeting and was mightly tempted. John SWCA#1586

A totally beautiful piece you have there....By-the-way-,, checks in the mail for those grips.....

John

Did you remove that rear sight blade yet ? A King blade should have
King and Pat Pend stamped on the triangular bottom of the blade.
That blade doesn't look like the ones in the catalog.

Later, Mike Priwer

Hello Mike, I did remove the blade and it is marked King. I think the reason it looks different is because the bottom white line is covered by the sight body. John

Sorry all, the correct serial number is 42458. John