A neat little .22 Kit Gun

[BlackAgnes]

Hondo--

I checked and you are correct--the Models of 1953 have the longer grip frame and also the smaller "window", and the Transitional Model has the shorter grip frame. Interesting...

My 2" gun has a flattened firing pin and does have a flush-polished second pin, although it is not visible when the hammer is cocked. Since I know the history of this gun, I know it has not been refinished. So.. the gun has the forward pin proud and the firing pin retainer pin polished flush. Also interesting...!

Tim

 

[Hondo44]

Tim,

Thank you for that information. Then since the serial number of your gun was out of Greystonedog's data base serial range for kit guns with the rear pin polished flush, it extends the range!

If you look at the firing pin with hammer cocked most guns have gunk covering the pin. Flush it with cleaner, use some 10x glasses and good light and you can see the pin.

I need to revise my earlier post; I forgot to mention the round vs sguare firing pin striking tip.

 

[BlackAgnes]

Jim--

I looked a bit closer--the pin is there--it looks like the upper portion of the fiting pin at first glance!

Also, for your records, the firing pin tip is shaped like this: l, not round.

We are really getting down in the weeds with these I and J variations--which I really enjoy.

Tim

 

[JSR III]

My brain hurts!!!

 

[Hondo44]

I've decided to do a separate post and survey on this pin issue.

 

[Hondo44]

Dang, Tim. That IS neat!

I still don't have a postwar transitional or Model of 1953 Kit Gun. If I saw one like that at my LGS, I'd whip out the checkbook immediately.

The only design aspect of the 1953 design that I haven't particularly cared for in the past is the ramp front sight. But the rest of that package is so attractive that I could probably get past that blade.

Does the adjustable rear sight really serve a major purpose on a gun with a two inch barrel?

Nice score. Envious.

David,
I, like you, always had a problem with that big 'sailboat' front site. So I sold my 1st one, a Mod 34-1 with both 2" and 4" barrels in the box and bought a Mod 63 SS 4". As shown in Tim's photos, it has a nice base under the front site and I wished the blue guns did too. But when I bought my 1st Mod 1953 4 screw I frame, I forgot all about not liking the front site and sold the 63. I just like early blue guns. Now I have 5 post war I and J frame kit guns and never looked back. I didn't like the pre war patridge front site at 1st either but now have 3. Funny how tastes change!

My little 2" shoots as good as my 4" guns for as far a distance as I can still site the gun. With the adjustable site I can make it shoot to the same "site picture" or "point of hold on target" as my others.

 

[Hondo44]

P.S. Having said all that.....I have a 3 1/2" airweight barrel (and as you know they are not stamped 'airweight') so don't be surprised if one of these days you see one of my I frames (the refinshed one) with that barrel and a front site sitting on a S&W base milled to proportion. I'm still looking for a host base.....

 

[twaits]

Love it! I think one of these when up at the poulin auction a few weeks ago.

 

[BlackAgnes]

Jim--

With all our info, maybe we need to start discussing finishes--the early 50s saw the change from the soft blue to the polished blue--I'll bet there is some overlap on that as well.

Tim

 

[Hondo44]

Jim--

With all our info, maybe we need to start discussing finishes--the early 50s saw the change from the soft blue to the polished blue--I'll bet there is some overlap on that as well.

Tim

Tim,

Yes, but I don't recall seeing any kit guns with anything but the nice gloss blue, which I think became the norm before the Mod of 53. Have you seen any with the post war dull satin finish? Greystonedog suggested a chart in my survey thread. I'll ask my sis to set up an Excell spreadsheet for us.

 

[BlackAgnes]

Hondo---

Yes, my transitional Kit Gun, shipped in 1954, has the post-war soft finish.

Tim

 

[Hondo44]

Hondo---

Yes, my transitional Kit Gun, shipped in 1954, has the post-war soft finish.

Tim

I agree the transitional kit guns had the soft satin blue. I should have been clearer; I haven't seen any Mod 0f '53 Kit guns with the satin finish, only the gloss blue. But I'll keep looking....

I would imagine your transitional shipped in '54 might have been built some time before it was shipped.

 

[BlackAgnes]

My 4" Model of 1953, shipped in 1953, also has the soft blue finish.

Pic:

Tim

 

[Hondo44]

My 4" Model of 1953, shipped in 1953, also has the soft blue finish.

Tim

I love to be wrong and find out something new! Do we have the serial # of that one for the database?
Thanks,