.455 Second with pre-war target sight. Service dept. addition?

[handejector]

Here is a very simple option. Remove the front sight, do modifications needed to insert a Paine or Lyman blade. The gun would look awsome.

No, it won't look real awesome.
To install that type King front ramp, the front sight base is thinned and squared up with a file or mill. Then, it has two big holes drilled through it for the pins.
King modified guns and guns customized with King sights are a niche collectible in their own right. They deserve to be left as done decades ago.
Following your train of thought, people with cockeyed hammers should be grinding them back to the original width.

 

[glowe]

No, it won't look real awesome.
To install that type King front ramp, the front sight base is thinned and squared up with a file or mill. Then, it has two big holes drilled through it for the pins . . .

Oh well, more reasons not to like King altered S&Ws!!!!!!!

 

[hanover67]

I have an altered 2nd Model .455 which has Micro front rap and adjustable rear sights installed and which has been re-chambered for .45 Colt with the cylinder counterbored. It is one of my favorite shooters - a constant visitor to the range. Mine is covered with British proof marks including the sarcastic "Not English Make."

 

[Rock185]

I know little about these guns, but have enjoyed reading about this one. That King front sight reminds me of the front sight used on the Colt Officers Model Target revolvers. I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Hondo44]

Chris,

That's a spectacular 455 2nd Model. I remember that one from your original thread when you won it but had not taken possession yet: .455 Second with factory target rear sight.

I'm still pretty sure it's 1 of 1105 commercially sold and shipped Dec. 1917 to Shapleigh Hardware.

The crown stamp on the butt sits over the #11 (eleven, not Roman numeral II); a different individual that used the crown stamp over #30.

 

[.357magger]

Seems to me it's a wonderful acquisition that a previous owner, within the time of its original use, used premium materials and a talented gunsmith of the day to modify their revolver for target use.

I love premium vintage modifications and would enjoy it for what it is.

Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I think this is one of the coolest modified sixguns I ever saw here. Whenever the .455 is mentioned I think of Elmer Keith in "Sixguns" writing of clearing a trail of trees with axes when a black bear went after a guy and Keith said his friend on horseback pulled his glove off with his teeth, drew his .455 S&W and shot the bear with heavy handload killing it.

 

[tipoc]

This is a fine gun. King's also likely did some work on the trigger. A previous owner at some point wanted a target revolver and took this to the best place for that at the time.

No letter from Roy is mentioned. Does one exist?

tipoc

 

[Taj]

" I assume it is re-finished due to the sight work, anyone would think it is original without the sight work. "

I worked for George Mathews many years ago and he made many mods on these old guns very similar to what Kings was doing. The old man knew what he was doing and if the finish on the gun was in good condition, it was common practice to only polish the areas (like the top strap) that had been worked on and then throw the whole thing in the bluing tank. I believe that Kings did the same thing. We were very good at matching the factory polish and it was very difficult to tell it had been done. That spared a lot of work and left all the stampings and roll marks with the "raised edges" they came from the factory with.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

" I assume it is re-finished due to the sight work, anyone would think it is original without the sight work. "

I worked for George Mathews many years ago and he made many mods on these old guns very similar to what Kings was doing. The old man knew what he was doing and if the finish on the gun was in good condition, it was common practice to only polish the areas (like the top strap) that had been worked on and then throw the whole thing in the bluing tank. I believe that Kings did the same thing. We were very good at matching the factory polish and it was very difficult to tell it had been done. That spared a lot of work and left all the stampings and roll marks with the "raised edges" they came from the factory with.

Is there anyone out there now putting ventilated ribs on Sixguns as perfectly as they look in pictures oh Matthew's guns? I posted a bunch of pics of his work from a magazine once here but Photobucket probably gobbled up the pictures.

 

[AlanDavid]

Started life as a military gun purchased by Canada and is Canadian inspector marked on the base of the strap with the crown over 11.
The more encountered stamping is crown over 30. Also seen is a crown over 0.
It has been modified after its military service.

Regards

AlanD

 

[Jack Flash]

... Mine is covered with British proof marks including the sarcastic "Not English Make."

It does seem a little odd that a mark telling where it was NOT made is required, but I don't think the Brits meant to be sarcastic with that marking.

Many of us here in the US want to know where a product was made (so much so that we have laws requiring the country of origin has to be identified) but I see that more as we want to support the home team, so to speak, and give preference to products made by our countrymen. I would never fault the Brits for doing the same thing.