This just came in today for my wife: a Model 34-1 kit gun that was manufactured in 1973. It's a clean little gun--not perfect, but pretty clean. It's just about the perfect condition for a gun in our family, because we like to shoot them. Came with the original box; cleaning kit; and all the paperwork.

The really cool thing is how excited she is. When she came home from work today (she wanted a little extra exercise today so she walked the extremely hilly two miles each way) I had it laying on the kitchen table. We spent about 10 minutes together going over it, checking how well it fit her hand, etc. This is one of those guns that is a definite keeper for us.

Have a great weekend,

Paul Moore
Colorado Springs, CO

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Very nice gun! That is an excellent gift.

Thanks, Jeb. I can't wait to take her to the range. She's going to love shooting it.

Paul

I have a M34 and my wife has a M43. They are handy and fun to shoot. But the best part of shooting them is .22 shells are CHEAP. Larry

Sweet! I'd like to find a nice m34 to compliment my m63.

Well done.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Nice Revolver.
I'm sorry, but I have to ask. What is a Kit Gun. I have seen it on here before, but don't quit understand the meaning.
Thanks,

Kit gun refers to a gun that was designed to go in your "kit"--backpack, survival kit, etc., for protection, small game hunting, etc. At least that's what I've always heard it defined as.

Paul

They are one of the "funnest" guns you can have. Those small grips can be a deterrent to good accuracy, which is easily solved by a grip adapter. There are also target grips available for it. My 63 is exactly the same size and I use the target size grips. It goes to the range with me often.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Now all she needs is a nice holster!

My wife and I started dating 39 years ago. Way back then I took her out shooting as she quickly figured out that guns were a big deal in my life (young deputy sheriff and competitive handgun shooter). That first outing I laid out all the handguns I had, from a 22 to a 44 Mag. She went to the middle of the line-up and pointed to the Government Model 45 ACP and said that was the one she wanted to try. Seems her dad served on a PT Boat in the Solomon Islands in WWII and brought home a Government Model. I tried to steer her to the 22 first but she was insistent. She loved the 45 ACP and ended up graduating from Jeff Cooper's Gunsite with an Expert certificate.

Down through the years I have bought her several J-frames and K-frames, thinking she might like one for a change. She always was very grateful for my thoughtfulness, tried them once and went back to her 45 Autos.

To this day she can't be interested in revolvers and the only gun other than the several variations of 1911 she's been willing to keep is a Beretta 97 Chettah 22. She likes it because it's small, holds 10 rounds and can be carried cocked-n-locked...like her 45s.

Can't figure out what's wrong with this woman? (big smiley face goes here)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

great looking gun enjoy

We have a Model 36 snubbie in transit that I bought her to be a carry gun. It has a Tyler T on it. Once it arrives, we'll play with that and the stock J frame round butt and see which fits best. Most J frame's I see are round butts. I'd love to try a sq butt J frame and see how much difference there is.

Paul

I began teaching my wife to shoot several years ago. The stock (RB) grips of my model 36 fit her hand perfectly so I bought her a 4" model 34 and later a 632. She loves both guns. The 34 is great for plinking and with 32 mag loads the 632 is a viable defense round with minimal recoil.

Skyraider,
That is pretty! You both will enjoy shooting that little kit gun!

Dave T: “…and pointed to the Government Model 45 ACP and said that was the one she wanted to try. Seems her dad served on a PT Boat in the Solomon Islands in WWII and brought home a Government Model.”

We need to know the rest of that story about his service. Those men are our heroes.
Frank

You are a gentleman sir. Gotta take care of the ladies. NICE JOB!

I've looked for a 651 or something S&W chambered in .22 mag and just can't find any. The few I've seen are hideously expensive. The only one I've personally seen was in a LGS here on consignment. It was in excellent condition, but didn't have both cylinders, didn't have the original box and the owner wanted $1100 for the gun.

That's great to hear about the stock grips. We've also got a 3" nickel Model 36-1 round butt, but it's so nice I hate to see it used as a carry gun. Just like this 34-1, it's got everything--box, papers, cleaning kit, etc.

I may do some more looking for a .22 mag.

Thanks,

Paul

You're probably right--we'll both enjoy it. The J frame grips don't fit my had at all, though. The only J frame that fit my had was a Model 60 Pro Series 3" we bought new. It had grips that I haven't seen on any other S&W and they were really nice. However, I didn't like the way it shot, and it had that stupid ILS. A friend wanted it, so I traded it to him.

Thanks,

Paul

Thanks, Cowboy45. My hometown is Dallas, TX. One of those towns in Texas I always intended to visit was Mexia. Maybe someday I'll get to.

Paul

Well Paul, you came up with a great example of a great little gun. And for a great life's partner.

The Kit Guns have always been my favorites of all my Smiths and the sq butts as well. They are scarcer, especially in the I frames of the 50's which are what I collect the most.

It's always nice to get the "full Monty" too with box paperwork and tool kit. Your cleaning rod is unique and I don't think I've seen one like it in all my years of collecting Kit Guns. I'm not saying it isn't the original for your gun, but unusual. But then Smith does unusual things sometimes. Did it come with a SAT (sight adjusting tool) a.k.a. screwdriver? Do you know any of the history or former owners of the gun?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The only history I know is that the (original?) owner traded it in to a long gun importer towards a high dollar long gun. It had sat in the original owner's safe for years--he said since the early '60's, which we know is not the case, since it was manufactured in '73.

There was no screwdriver that I saw, but I'll look again. Like you, I wish it was a sq butt, but it's still a pretty nice gun and will work well for my wife.

Thanks,

Paul Moore