King Equipped Pre-War Kit Gun

[Modified]

I don't buy guns very often these days. So I am pretty jazzed about this one.

S/N 531103 so it should be a real one, and not another virtual like my other 4" 22/32. Of course, I say that, and I have a Diamond B under the barrel and on the Frame. So maybe I ended up with another Virtual that just happens to fall right into the correct range for a real one.







The front sight is totally butchered, and the rear sight blade seems...extra wide. I'll need to sort that out.

If anyone has any extra King I frame blades they aren't using, I would love to acquire one. Also a rear to match if possible.

Should be a hell of a shooter. The Ropers are real, but I think they were originally for a colt. They have been reworked pretty extensively inside. Feel awesome though.

Please pardon the poor pictures, kids keep me from spending much time setting up the right lighting, I'll try to sort out better pictures as time permits if there is interest.

 

[paplinker]

Nice pick up! Especially like seeing the marked King cockeyed hammer in I frame.
Might be a first for me to see. Would have to look through some pics I saved.

I think the rear blade is right, I have a king blade on my kit gun.
Mine does shoot high with it. Put a old pic below for comparison.

Look forward to seeing some more pics when time allows!

 

[Muley Gil]

Contact forum member George_in_SD for sights.

 

[Green Frog]

Oh my… like you, I've tried to slow down on my gun buying as I "get a little older", but given the opportunity, I think I'd have to jump on that one with both feet! If we could jump in a time machine with a pocket full of cash and return to those pre-War days of the thirties, that would be high on my list of special order guns (along with a couple of others with sights and mechanics by King and stocks by Roper).

I'm curious though. Which Model of Colt do you think those stocks were originally made to fit, and what kinds of alterations are visible inside?
As usual, I pressed the "LIKE" button because there isn't one for "ADORE AND LUST AFTER".

Froggie

 

[RKmesa]

Looks like a very fun Kit Gun!!!

Thanks for sharing,

 

[younggun22]

Glad that one went to you! The Ropers look great on it

 

[Modified]

Oh my… like you, I've tried to slow down on my gun buying as I "get a little older", but given the opportunity, I think I'd have to jump on that one with both feet! If we could jump in a time machine with a pocket full of cash and return to those pre-War days of the thirties, that would be high on my list of special order guns (along with a couple of others with sights and mechanics by King and stocks by Roper).

I'm curious though. Which Model of Colt do you think those stocks were originally made to fit, and what kinds of alterations are visible inside?
As usual, I pressed the "LIKE" button because there isn't one for "ADORE AND LUST AFTER".

Froggie

Pocket Positive.

On the back you can see a different color of wood where the colt outline was carved out to add the S&W stock circles. They also go nicely on a pocket positive, but of course don't fit.

 

[DCWilson]

First rate score! Congratulations.

I agree that the front sight adds nothing to the package. Replacing it wouldn't harm the gun's authenticity while continuing on a previous owner's desire to increase its ease of operation and accuracy. If the bottom of the rear sight notch is as high as I think it might be, you might have to get a taller than normal front sight. There's a chance the height adjustment on the rear would bottom out before it got low enough.

Love the Ropers, which on that gun are a perfect example of what City Planners call "adaptive reuse."

I too would like to see further photos when the gun is equipped the way you want it. I'm betting that with those stocks, that hammer, and adjusted sights the revolver will turn in some pretty tight groups at plinking distances.

 

[Green Frog]

I just checked with Altamont and they don't list their Roper style grips in J frame size. I'd be willing to add a pair to one of my Is or Js just for grins, but can't justify the custom high end ones available now.

Froggie

 

[S&W ucla]

Is that one of the transition guns with sliding bar safety?

 

[Modified]

 

[Hondo44]

Is that one of the transition guns with sliding bar safety?

No it's a prewar. The serial #531103 is quite a bit too early to be a post war transitional Kit Gun. Also it does not have the post war four line address on the right front frame.

 

[Modified]

No it's a prewar. The serial #531103 is quite a bit too early to be a post war transitional Kit Gun. Also it does not have the post war four line address on the right front frame.

Also, Roy gave me a ship date on the gun:

.22/32 HFT serial 531103 was shipped in September 1938. I hope that this helps. Roy

Although, I am a bit curious about the Heavy Frame Target label. Was that used for the kit guns still?

Or do these stamps mean this one was re-barreled...even though its right in a block of other Kit Guns?

In any case, I have to pop the letter in the mail and be able to get my SWHF inquiry in. I'm excited to see if there is anything to be found on this one.

 

[Hondo44]

Also, Roy gave me a ship date on the gun:



Although, I am a bit curious about the Heavy Frame Target label. Was that used for the kit guns still?

Or do these stamps mean this one was re-barreled...even though its right in a block of other Kit Guns?

In any case, I have to pop the letter in the mail and be able to get my SWHF inquiry in. I'm excited to see if there is anything to be found on this one.

The stamp under the barrel is supposed to be a B for blue. However it's double stamped because the die 'jumped' by accident when struck. We see that occasionally. It has nothing to do with a barrel change. It would have a diamond stamp after the serial # if the barrel was changed by the factory and it would have a date and diamond on the left side of grip. The date is sometimes left off but usually that didn't happen after 1938. I do see a diamond though. If it's a Heavy Frame Target, the frame serial # would be on the front grip strap instead of the butt. Where is the # stamped? But also on the grip strap of a Kit Gun that came with the factory two screw Target grips.

And not changed by someone else, the barrel would not have a matching serial # or if it did the font would not match.

The Heavy Frame Target reference is interesting. Let's see what the letter says when you get it. If it lists a 6" barrel, then it's a HFT and you request the work order for the barrel change.

A King Kit Gun is rare. In fact it's the first one I've ever seen in 60 years of collecting Smiths.

 

[Modified]

The stamp under the barrel is supposed to be a B for blue. However it's double stamped because the die 'jumped' by accident when struck. We see that occasionally. It has nothing to do with a barrel change. It would have a diamond stamp after the serial # if the barrel was changed by the factory and it would have a date and diamond on the left side of grip. The date is sometimes left off but usually that didn't happen after 1938. I do see a diamond though. If it's a Heavy Frame Target, the frame serial # would be on the front grip strap instead of the butt. Where is the # stamped? But also on the grip strap of a Kit Gun that came with the factory two screw Target grips.

And not changed by someone else, the barrel would not have a matching serial # or if it did the font would not match.

The Heavy Frame Target reference is interesting. Let's see what the letter says when you get it. If it lists a 6" barrel, then it's a HFT and you request the work order for the barrel change.

A King Kit Gun is rare. In fact it's the first one I've ever seen in 60 years of collecting Smiths.

My pictures are poor, but there is a diamond under the grips on the left side of the frame, but no date, and a diamond under the barrel.

The s/n is on the butt.

 

[Hondo44]

I saw the diamond on the grip. How about on the bottom of the barrel near the frame?

With the # on the butt it can't be a HFT. We can never say never with S&W but I've haven't ever seen an inconsistency with the HFT # on the front grip strap.

 

[Hondo44]

I ran across this in my notes and may explain why your gun was listed as a HFT:

Kit Gun #529652 lives in a serial number range where specimens letter either as a .22/32 Kit Gun or as a .22/32 Heavy Frame target with a four-inch barrel. It's as though the company hadn't yet decided what to call the model by the time it began shipping them. Here's two four-inch prewar .22/32s:

#529453 letters as a HFT,
#529488 letters as a Kit Gun.

 

[Nimrod44]

I noticed the location of the serial number discussed on the HFT and Kit Guns. I have serial #533480 that letters as a Kit Gun with "checkered walnut extension target square butt grips". The serial number on this one is on the butt. Shipped 1-20-41.

 

[DCWilson]

I ran across this in my notes and may explain why your gun was listed as a HFT:

Kit Gun #529652 lives in a serial number range where specimens letter either as a .22/32 Kit Gun or as a .22/32 Heavy Frame target with a four-inch barrel. It's as though the company hadn't yet decided what to call the model by the time it began shipping them. Here's two four-inch prewar .22/32s:

#529453 letters as a HFT,
#529488 letters as a Kit Gun.

I'm the current caretaker of 529488, the lowest number on a KG in my collection. It has been my impression from serial number grouping analysis that any KG numbered 529501 or above will letter as a KG (but of course we are dealing with S&W, so even the seemingly hard and fast rules may show some inconsistency.) I know there is some variety in the classification of lower serial numbers, with some being identified as Special Order 4" HFTs and some as .22/32 Kit Guns.