HKS Speedloader history question.

[Andy Griffith]

When did they hit the market exactly?
Who started the company? Know anything about them?

Does anyone have an original list of the types of loaders that they made at first?

What does a number 10-M fit? Is it simply a 10-A labeled for .357 Magnum?

Wasn't the "second six" marketed by them?

Inquiring minds need to know.

 

[Andy Griffith]

When did they hit the market exactly?
Who started the company? Know anything about them?

Does anyone have an original list of the types of loaders that they made at first?

What does a number 10-M fit? Is it simply a 10-A labeled for .357 Magnum?

Wasn't the "second six" marketed by them?

Inquiring minds need to know.

 

[OKFC05]

"A" series HKS hold the cartridges tightly.
"M" series HKS let the cartridges "jiggle."
http://www.hksspeedloaders.com/SpeedloaderPage.html

Been buying them for over 30 years, which is about when they started.

 

[paladin42]

The model 10 fits all six-shot .38/.357 K-frames.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Thanks for the information.

I obtained one today that is market "10 M" with a knob on it about twice the normal size...

Not that it's special or anything, I do like the larger knob. It must be a much earlier variation.

All new .38 Special K-frame loaders are in the "A" variety, and are no longer marked "10-A" but just "10".

I've also noticed that the variations in the way the machines mark the top of the knob have changed over time- from what looks like a simple stamping (roll stamping) to some sort of electronic dot style of engraving.

Not that I am starting to collect these things, but there are some interesting variations.

 

[rburg]

They used to be in Dayton, KY. A few miles upstream. The also had an office in Bellevue, also upstream from me. I think they made the things in a machine shop in Dayton (on 5th Street?), with the office, just from memory, on O'Fallon. For the fun of it about 30 years ago I went over to see if I could visit and get a tour. They weren't open when I was there, but there was the aforementioned 10-M lying on the gutter outside. No one around, so Dick stole it!

OK, I cleaned up the litter on the street. I don't know if it was a defective one, but it wasn't in a package. It works just fine on my M19s, M66s, M12, etc.

 

[Guest]

The current packaging says Florence KY. I know they have been around since the early '70s but I can't tell you much more than that and the fact that they do work. One of the guys at our local WAC Gun Show displays one he made up for .50BMG!!!