King Triplelock

B

bracebeemer

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
716
Reaction score
7,913
Location
southeast michigan
Just returned from the big Tulsa Arms show. I went there with the express purpose of purchasing this gun from Marvin Huey the case maker. It's a King Super Target Triplelock with Roper stocks. It has a 7 1/2" barrel in .44 Special. The gun has an asterisk after the serial number and a rework date of 9-13. I don't know what was done at that time but it was most likely sent to the King Gunsight Co. of San Francisco sometime in the 30's and they most likely refinished the gun at that time. Serial number is 4153 and David Carroll said that there was a group of Triplelocks in that serial range that had 71/2" barrels. This is my first Triplelock and first S&W full King Super Target. It's a very big and impressive revolver. Bill
 

Attachments

  • F746323E-505D-41B4-B4FF-7317CBFE0EC4.jpg
    F746323E-505D-41B4-B4FF-7317CBFE0EC4.jpg
    53.1 KB · Views: 328
  • 7C294E19-2D6F-45E8-8E6D-AA864147463A.jpg
    7C294E19-2D6F-45E8-8E6D-AA864147463A.jpg
    44.2 KB · Views: 687
  • A461B225-097E-40BA-9AC4-B3B3106F3A91.jpg
    A461B225-097E-40BA-9AC4-B3B3106F3A91.jpg
    45.3 KB · Views: 226
  • C21C816C-B916-48C0-9821-3670BE55AD88.jpg
    C21C816C-B916-48C0-9821-3670BE55AD88.jpg
    50.2 KB · Views: 215
  • 2286C3C4-3F76-4235-AE40-2ADE6E94ABAC.jpg
    2286C3C4-3F76-4235-AE40-2ADE6E94ABAC.jpg
    58.9 KB · Views: 186
Register to hide this ad
bracebeemer said:
... It's a King Super Target Triplelock with Roper stocks. It has a 7 1/2" barrel in .44 Special. ...This is my first Triplelock and first S&W full King Super Target. It's a very big and impressive revolver.

attachment.php


Bill
Click to expand...

Bill:

That is a BEAUTY!!!! Congrats on running that one down. There is just something special about the King Super Target treatment that makes the edges of your mouth curve up into a smile that is hard to shake.

... and I think that KSTs, to be complete, are almost required to sport Ropers :D;)





Thanks for sharing,
 
Last edited:
This may be heresy, but I have to ask something. I must confess first that I am a "original configuration" kind of guy and not a King fan, so not all that impressed by a modified N frame - except those stocks are v-e-e-e-ry nice.

Here is what I see, a refinished and modified Triple Lock 44 Special with a rib added (barrel damage) and a modified top-frame (not restorable). To me that greatly reduces the value from original TL . . . but what do I know?? :confused:

Could someone tell me what the change in value would be over an original TL and why all other modified vintage S&Ws out there greatly suffer from changes made to them?? Is it more of a group of King collectors who specialize in King alterations and not so much a S&W thing? To me there is nothing prettier than a fine condition factory original first generation Triple Lock Target 44 S&W.
 
glowe said:
This may be heresy, but I have to ask something. I must confess first that I am a "original configuration" kind of guy and not a King fan, so not all that impressed by a modified N frame - except those stocks are v-e-e-e-ry nice.

Here is what I see, a refinished and modified Triple Lock 44 Special with a rib added (barrel damage) and a modified top-frame (not restorable). To me that greatly reduces the value from original TL . . . but what do I know?? :confused:

Could someone tell me what the change in value would be over an original TL and why all other modified vintage S&Ws out there greatly suffer from changes made to them?? Is it more of a group of King collectors who specialize in King alterations and not so much a S&W thing? To me there is nothing prettier than a fine condition factory original first generation Triple Lock Target 44 S&W.
Click to expand...

My opinion is that King is the exception because their work is exceptional. Maybe you have to shoot a gun that has been worked over by them to realize the difference but it DOES make a difference. It may be just my personal preference and it is hard to top an all original gun and I know your not alone in not wanting a gun modified by anybody. If you ever get a chance to shoot a King modified gun I suggest you at least try it out to see for yourself if any difference is made. You may not be impressed and just prefer the guns just as they came from S&W.
 
In my opinion the KST conversions are some of the finest conversions ever done. And considering the few that show up occasionally for sale, I sure don't see them selling for lower prices than most original configuration S&W equal models.
I think they're a great revolver, and would enjoy owning one myself. I own only one modified S&W, as I don't seek modified guns out either. But I'd make an exception for a KST if I saw one at the right price. They're just great looking guns!
 
glowe said:
... I must confess first that I am a "original configuration" kind of guy and not a King fan...

Here is what I see, a refinished and modified Triple Lock 44 Special with a rib added (barrel damage) and a modified top-frame (not restorable). To me that greatly reduces the value from original TL . . . but what do I know?? :confused:

Could someone tell me what the change in value would be over an original TL and why all other modified vintage S&Ws out there greatly suffer from changes made to them?? Is it more of a group of King collectors who specialize in King alterations and not so much a S&W thing? To me there is nothing prettier than a fine condition factory original first generation Triple Lock Target 44 S&W.
Click to expand...

I too love original configuration S&Ws. They are beautiful and very collectible. But I ALSO love well-modified S&Ws and I don't think that those two loves are mutually exclusive. When it comes to modifications - the King modifications are as close to "Factory mods" as you can come, as many of the RM's came from the factory with King sights. The King mods are period correct for pre-war guns. The execution is outstanding and the Super Target modifications did not require a refinish. None of my three KSTs are refinished. You are correct in that they did require a wider sight groove in the top strap of the frame.

Just for reference, in the mid to late 1930's, a KST K-22 Outdorsman retailed for $62.50, while a factory .357 Magnum (registered Magnum) retailed for $60.00. The KSTs were highly valued in the 1930s and in my opinion even more so today - due to the laws of supply and demand.

I for one am glad that not everyone likes the KSTs, that makes more of them available for some of us that find the craftsmanship that went into the mods to be something that turned a great product into a superior product. :):cool:
 
Pretty much all of us can make do without the best of whatever the topic may be----as long as it does what it's supposed to do. Then there are those of us who want the very best. That's where King came in to the world of guns.

A Super Target bought new from King cost more than the base gun for good reason: They were better. In addition to what you can see (rib/sights), they came with "Hand Honed Actions, Adjusted Trigger Pulls, and Balanced Mainsprings"----and I have no idea what a "balanced mainspring" is but if King did it, it has to be special----and I want one. Here are a few more King goodies for those who want the very best: "Cockeyed" Hammers, Short Actions, "Skeletonized" Hammers, Non-slip checkering for your hammer spur, special checkered wide triggers, checkered grip straps.

Did you ever wonder how S&W came up with short actions, target triggers and hammers, grooved grip straps, micrometer adjustable sights and the like?

Ralph Tremaine
 
Last edited:
rct269 said:
...Then there are those of us who want the very best. That's where King came in to the world of guns...

Ralph Tremaine
Click to expand...

Ralph:

You have to throw a photo of your KST triple lock up on this thread. It is one of a select few that I recall at the moment... And the only one that I know has been taken down to the itty-bitty parts - and THEN (impressively) reassembled.

Links:

A couple of KST TL's here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...et-44-hand-ejector.html?449773=#post138828782

Ralph's thread on his beauty:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...rget-post139929731.html?550123=#post139929731
 
Ok, I know this saying gets thrown around sometimes when it's not warranted but those King revolvers are truly works of art.

wow! and oh man!

Best Regards,

Kobsw
 
Last edited:
Back to the topic at hand, I believe "bracebeemer's" 7 1/2" KST Triple Lock is the first/only I've ever seen/heard of. I have a 7 1/2" TLT, but it's a regular everyday S&W version. And as far as that goes, given the rather significant time span between the Triple Lock's time and the introduction of the KST conversion, it pretty much stands to reason there weren't that many KST Triple Locks put together to begin with. That said, just exactly when did the KST conversion come to be? (Mine carries the "8.23.38" patent date. That patent was applied for about two years earlier (11/11/36), but I don't know diddly about how long before that they started selling/using them. As near as I recall, our friend Mr. Garner ("RKmesa") has several KST's---none of which carry the patent date.

The next thing I don't know is how long they continued to sell that particular product. King ended their production in 1955---having started the company in 1913. I say "that particular product", there was more to it than that. You could buy any number of different (new) handguns with the KST conversion already installed/performed. Similarly, you could send your handgun in to have the conversion installed/performed, but there's nowhere in my one and only catalog (1939) offering just the hardware.

The bottom line of all this is we (I at least) don't know all that much about the King Super Target conversion, and I for one would most certainly like to learn more.

Ralph Tremaine
 
I very much like the OPs Super King Triple lock.

The rib looks so long and elegant like the Golden Gate bridge was mounted on top of that bbl.:D

That rib has five gaps in the rib. First rib I have ever seen with five. I am surprised they made a rib that long to begin with. Must have been a rare build back then.

Does it have a patent number on the rib?
Reason I ask is it might help narrow down how early King did the work.


N frame Super Kings are my newest addiction and expect will be one of the last guns I ever part with.

CdlIlRY.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
For Sale 2 Collector Grade Colts - 1976 Nickel 4” Diamondback and 1988 Bright Stainless Steel 4” King Cobra
Replies
1
Views
572
SBU11
S
RM Vivas
Archival Observations: A Man Who Knows What He Wants; The Queen Of Kings
Replies
4
Views
437
RM Vivas
RM Vivas
boykinlp
EXTREMELY Interesting Colt, To Me!
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
JohnRippert
JohnRippert
moosedog
  • Locked
Colt "King Super Target" / TC Encore 209x50 FS
Replies
4
Views
4K
moosedog
moosedog
P
New 2 Me 27-2
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
66fan
6

Latest posts

Back
Top