chiefdave
US Veteran
Does anyone know the time frame when King Gunsight Co. was receiving direct shipments from S&W for modification and sale in their catalog/showroom?
King custom
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
I seen so many revolvers with the king options are they worth more?
Muley Gil
US Veteran
They would be to most collectors. Others want their S&Ws as they left the factory in Springfield, Mass. Of course, some received their King modifications as part of their order.
It would be difficult to put anything close to specific dollar value for such work. It's totally subjective. Personally, I like the King work. After D.W. King (?) passed away, some employees left and started Micro Sight Co. , doing similar and equally high quality work.
Desire and taste will ultimately dictate value.
In any case, it beats the heck out of collecting Count Chocula cereal boxes...
Jim
My 38/44 Heavy Duty shipped directly to King in 1938
I looked at a gun 9 numbers away from mine that is also a King Super Target. Guessing they may have both shipped there.
I looked at a gun 9 numbers away from mine that is also a King Super Target. Guessing they may have both shipped there.
I'm a fan of King's work, I've owned one Colt Officer's Special that had received Kings full treatment and it is one of the firearms that I am sorry to have let pass through my hands. I also owned a H.D. that had a Micro style rear sight with King front sight installed, possibly by the later company that became Micro.
I do understand the value of a firearm that has only been treated to the factorys touch, as opposed to one that has been "altered" by an outside firm. Having King work on your firearm back in the day would be akin to having Bowen, et al. work on yours today. I can see no harm done by anyone of that stature, as long as the piece worked on is not on the highly collectible list like an original R.M. But as I mentioned I like the work they do and value it for it's intended purpose. I have very few handguns that have non adjustable fixed sights because my eyes must be screwed up, my brain has to adjust by shooting to the right. That works fine if handed a piece with fixed sights and given a couple shots to see where I need to hold or remember because its been awhile. I would much rather install an adjustable sight, crank in right windage and shoot to point of aim.
I do understand the value of a firearm that has only been treated to the factorys touch, as opposed to one that has been "altered" by an outside firm. Having King work on your firearm back in the day would be akin to having Bowen, et al. work on yours today. I can see no harm done by anyone of that stature, as long as the piece worked on is not on the highly collectible list like an original R.M. But as I mentioned I like the work they do and value it for it's intended purpose. I have very few handguns that have non adjustable fixed sights because my eyes must be screwed up, my brain has to adjust by shooting to the right. That works fine if handed a piece with fixed sights and given a couple shots to see where I need to hold or remember because its been awhile. I would much rather install an adjustable sight, crank in right windage and shoot to point of aim.
Hondo44
Member
It wouldn't be after 1955; that's when King closed its doors.
My Dad shipped his .357 Magnum Colt New Service to them in 1938/39 for adjustable sights and trigger work.....
handejector
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Some ex employees started Micro when King was still in business. King sued them for using his ideas. He won the suit and was awarded ONE dollar.
rct269
Member
--
It was indeed "during the 1930's"----at least when it started---as witnessed by their 1931 catalog which is chockablock full of nothing but gunsights; and will bore you to tears. It started after that, and was going full tilt boogie by 1939------when the catalog is chockablock full of all kinds of goodies---accessories and services------all manner of guns, both stock and modified (with myriad modifications also available for your aftermarket needs.
That's the end of what I know---aside from the name of a fellow who was able to tell me when S&W started and stopped doing business with Herbie Harris (H.H. Harris & Co.)----------1949-early and 70's, near as I recall; but you can ask him about King yourself------Jinks, Roy Jinks.
Ralph Tremaine
And it occurs to me Bill Cross (SWHF) may very well have access to similar information.
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rct269
Member
I just remembered something else that may help------the rib on my Super Target was one of those carrying a patent date (8/23/38----pretty sure). I remember looking it up, and the patent application had been received by the patent office/entered into their system sometime in 1936---just looked it up again---November 11. Figure maybe a couple of years in the development stage, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn S&W started shipping guns to King a year earlier---call it early 1935.
As an aside, I found the patent drawing this time, and the entire assembly is covered----rib and sights both.
Ralph Tremaine
As an aside, I found the patent drawing this time, and the entire assembly is covered----rib and sights both.
Ralph Tremaine
handejector
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I cannot give a definitive answer on when S&Ws were first shipped directly to King.
I'll GUESS that it began one of three ways-
1- someone wanted a gun with King sights and had S&W ship it directly to King
OR
2- King ordered a gun for a customer
OR
3- King ordered a gun for inventory
I think any of the three above could have occurred before 1930. I have recently come into possession of the letter pictured below which proves that King was definitely in business in 1927. Read the letter- he is replying to a letter received in Dec, 1927 from France, and had already been advertising somewhere, but I don't know what publication the ad is cut from.
I'll GUESS that it began one of three ways-
1- someone wanted a gun with King sights and had S&W ship it directly to King
OR
2- King ordered a gun for a customer
OR
3- King ordered a gun for inventory
I think any of the three above could have occurred before 1930. I have recently come into possession of the letter pictured below which proves that King was definitely in business in 1927. Read the letter- he is replying to a letter received in Dec, 1927 from France, and had already been advertising somewhere, but I don't know what publication the ad is cut from.
Attachments
Muley Gil
US Veteran
"...had already been advertising somewhere, but I don't know what publication the ad is cut from."
If someone has a collection of early American Rifleman magazines, that would be a good place to start looking.
If someone has a collection of early American Rifleman magazines, that would be a good place to start looking.
I have a 1940 Edition of Stoeger's Catalog that contains three full pages devoted to "King Modern Gun Sights and Accessories" for comparison Marble's has five pages, Redfield also contains three full pages.
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