King's Conversion .22

[fuzzyrc1]

I recently acquired a SW K frame King's Conversion. Looks like it began life as a .38 and is now a .22. I am not only looking to date this gun, but to learn a bit of history as well. This particular conversion does not seem to be one that the average shooter would make. I had never heard of King's Conversion until just recently. I understand that can be a blessing or a curse with regard to collectability, but I don't care because I bought it for shooter. It was this or a new 617. I thought this one looked interesting so I took the plunge. Serial number on the butt and cylinder is 840721. Number on frame and cylinder arm is 81849. Modifications are obvious and this is the one of the best shooting .22's I have ever fired.
I am also not sure about the sights. While they are clearly a target sight, I don't know if the came from King or somewhere else.

I am posting some pictures and hope I get it right. I appreciate any help with dating and history of this gun. Any and all commentary is welcomed.

 

[Jim Watson]

Does it SAY King's on it anywhere? It does not look like any King I have ever seen.
Please provide clear closeups or detailed reading of the markings.

In the meanwhile, I think what you have is a British Parker Hale or Cogswell and Harrison conversion of a Lend-Lease revolver from .38/200 to .22. There were a lot of these cut up in various ways in the 1950s, the .22 the most elaborate and least common. See a couple more and an old advertisement here at:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/232319-parker-hale-conversion-22-a.html

Further, it looks like somewhere along the way the PH adjustable sight blade got lost and a FDL Wondersight just screwed on over the body of the previous sight.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum. I believe you have a pre victory model sold to the English that was converted by a few very good companies in England that made 22s from WW II surplus revolovers. It does not appear to have any King components. It does have an add on after market "Wonder Sight" in addition to another after market adjustable rear sight.

REVISION: well I see that Jim and I posted at the same time and we are in total agreement. King target enhanced and/or target converted guns are in demand by those who appreciate them which can increase the value.

Those like yours are actually double conversions; caliber and target. These are usually very quality conversions by respected shops, some of the more well known were named by Jim. But the collector value as a wartime revolver is gone. The value as a shooter model is enhanced and I'm glad to hear that you are appreciating for that attribute.

 

[fuzzyrc1]

Evidently not a King, but that's OK

There is a proof mark that appears six times on the cylinder, once behind each flute, on the barrel, and on the frame near the barrel pin. The mark is clearly a crown with the letters BNP below it. That, along with the crown badge on the grips and the fact that it is a conversion led me to the King conclusion. Yes, I am ignorant when it comes to collectables. There are some other proof marks that are rather unique and interesting. I will have to get some better quality pics and post them up. I am sure there is a story in it somewhere. I did hear a tale about the British police having the .38's converted to .22 for range use.

As far as the sights go, I am not crazy about the added-on rear sight. It is a bit unwieldy and I see little or no accuracy advantage over the existing one. Any chance of obtaining a blade? I would hate to think that a nice piece got cobbled up just because someone lost a blade, but what is done is done. It'll drive tacks and that's what's important to me.

Thanks for the help. All is appreciated.

 

[Hondo44]

This is the story: All the stampings you see are import stamps and proof marks by the English government which are common on every gun that entered the UK thru legal channels. They are famous for it. They stamp them somemore when exported, again if the gun went thru regular channels. But yours probably didn't when it left the UK if isn't stamped "Not English Made".

 

[Green Frog]

The rear sight that is piggy backed on over the one from the "original" conversion does indeed seem to be a FDL "Wondersight." If so, it can easily be removed by simply unscrewing the single screw that goes through it and into the top of the side plate. At that point, a clear close-up photo of what remains of the sight below can be taken and one of the members of this forum can probably tell you what it needs to be put right and perhaps where to get it. We have a few readers from the UK and Europe who might be of help there.

As others have said, the crowns you observed have nothing to do with the American firm, King Gunsight Corp, who (IIRC) marked their products with the name in simple block capital letters. If that were a King conversion, it would probably have been done with a sight rib all the way from the rear of the frame out to the muzzle, carrying both sights on that one piece. What you have is almost assuredly a British product, not King.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[Jim Watson]

The PH rear sight leaf was probably just a flat plate cut to shape. A piece of flat stock and some cutting and filing could yield a replacement.

I daresay the Wondersight would fetch a few dollars.

 

[Hondo44]

I expect a Smith rear sight blade could be modified with less labor and better results, rather than starting from scratch on a rear sight blade. You will also need to buy the correct upper side plate screw once the Wonder sight is removed.