Looking for a true "kit gun", Please advise

[TACC1]

Thank you all. Looks like we're down to a round-butt 43 with 4" bbl or less, or a 317 with 3" bbl.
I'd best be taking some pics if I'm going for any kind of swap.
TACC1

 

[Pontiaker]

My favorite couple of pre war guns are pictured below below but I also have a model 651 3 inch which is a stainless steel .22 Mag with the ultra cool three inch barrel length and no adj sights and round butt grip frame. Both the guns pictured below and the 651 make great camp and carry kit plinkers and small game getters....
Matt

One of these below has been modded with a King front sight, king rear blade and a modded believed to be King hammer(not for sure though)

 

[HAM]

TACC1, I have been told that a M63 is identical to a M34 except that the M63 is stainless whereas the M34 is not stainless. Therefore I don't see any advantage for you if you sell your 63 to buy a 34. I have a M34-1 4 inch and it looks identical to a M63 4 inch, at least comparing mine to photographs of a M63. Also the 2 inch 34's I've seen were quite expensive.

HAM

 

[617fan]

I purchased most of the models you mentioned in my search for the "perfect" kit gun to carry. 1st up was an unfired improved I frame 4 inch sq butt that factory lettered to my wifes birth year...the search goes on. Next candidate was a 34-1 2" that I bought from the classifieds here listed as 95%..it arrived in the original matching box with papers and only the slightest hint of a turn ring on the cylinder. Great shooter; but I can't seem to bring myself around to tossing it in the tackle box. Another trip to the classifieds here yields a hard to find Model 43; also in better condition than described by the seller. It's probably the ultimate Kit Gun; but I have yet to put it in a holster. My advice is to buy a post-lock 317!

 

[M29since14]

Thank you all. Looks like we're down to a round-butt 43 with 4" bbl or less...

That's going to be a challenge, but I suppose if you look long enough on the internet, you will find one. I have never seen a Model 43 that did not have a 3-1/2" barrel and square butt. Never happened on to a nickeled one either, but have seen pictures.

A nickel finish 43 might be a real nice gun. I have seen more than a few really ratty-looking 43s. Mine always rode in a lined holster and held up pretty well, but truthfully, I used my Model 34 a lot more. Both of these guns were "mushroom hunting" revolvers.

I would forget the 2-inch barrel if you intend to use the gun for any field shooting at critters. The 3.5" and 4" guns are hard enough to shoot well - but it can be done. I have a 2-inch Model 34 that I am told was carried for many years in her purse by an older lady who lived in a neighboring town ( ). The little gun is in very nice shape, so if the story is true, this lady knew how to take care of revolvers. I have a devil of a time hitting anything with it, but I know whose fault that is.

 

[Tam 3]

Regarding the similarity between the #63 and the #34; I tried to have a broken firing pin in a #63 replaced w/a #34 pin by Jesse Harp's shop and found it necessary to order a #63 pin from the factory. Don't know why, but they were not interchangeable.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[DCWilson]

My favorite couple of pre war guns are pictured below below but I also have a model 651 3 inch which is a stainless steel .22 Mag with the ultra cool three inch barrel length and no adj sights and round butt grip frame. Both the guns pictured below and the 651 make great camp and carry kit plinkers and small game getters....
Matt

One of these below has been modded with a King front sight, king rear blade and a modded believed to be King hammer(not for sure though)

A tip of the hat to the man from Fresno. Every time I see a prewar Kit Gun my heart leaps up.

The top gun looks like it has a pre-1930 ejector rod on it. Does that fit the notch in the underside of the barrel without rubbing?

The gun with the King sight is a beauty.

From the location of the logo I'd put the top gun's mfg date at 1936-38, and the lower gun's date at 1938-40.

Would you be willing to PM me the serial numbers of these guns for my data base?

Thumbs way up on those.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Pontiaker

Sir, nice OLD TIMERS that pair in your photograph. You did mean Mod. 650. instead of 651 with 3" barrel, SS & fixed sights, did you not?

 

[SDH]

And one I created from a dinged-up beakert type with a bulged barrel.
Chopped the barrel just shotrt of the bulge, chopped the sight base and TIG welded it back on at 3 1/4".
Made a set of extension walnut grips. It shoot quite nicely and has a great trigger. I call it my early pre-kit gun. Really gives the advanced collector's a double take!

 

[Pontiaker]

Sir, nice OLD TIMERS that pair in your photograph. You did mean Mod. 650. instead of 651 with 3" barrel, SS & fixed sights, did you not?

Yep your right. I always get those mixed up.

 

[Pontiaker]

A tip of the hat to the man from Fresno. Every time I see a prewar Kit Gun my heart leaps up.

The top gun looks like it has a pre-1930 ejector rod on it. Does that fit the notch in the underside of the barrel without rubbing?

The gun with the King sight is a beauty.

From the location of the logo I'd put the top gun's mfg date at 1936-38, and the lower gun's date at 1938-40.

Would you be willing to PM me the serial numbers of these guns for my data base?

Thumbs way up on those.

The top gun is actually a beakert that also had a bulged barrel. I replaced it with a four inch barrel I found on Gunbroker. I would be happy to give you the serial numbers but do you still want the number from the top gun? I really need to get the bottom gun lettered and see where or who it was shipped to.
Matt

 

[ColbyBruce]

Have you considered something other than a S&W? I own a #63, #317, #650 and have owned many other #34 and #63's, as well as a few Charter Arms Pathfinders. Honestly, I never thought much of the CA/Pathfinders and only got decent accuracy out of my S&W's by using standard velocity ammo.

However, I have owned about four High Standard Sentinel and the clones sold by Western Auto and Sears. These were available in RB/SB versions and various barrel lengths. There was a "Kit Gun" version with adjustable sights. The second generation was offered in .22 magnum. The frames are alloy so the guns are light, the fixed sights are large enough to see, but they are slightly larger than a old J frame. These guns used to be cheap, not so much any more; however half the price of a S&W. I gave a $100.00 for the one in this photo two years ago.

 

[TACC1]

My thanks to all! I am learning how much I don't know,
at a great rate of speed. Loved the pic and the dialog
that goes with them. If this keeps up, I may well end up with a 32HE 3-1/2", or 4-1/4".
I may have to get one of each!! What a scary thought!
You folks sure know your stuff, thank you for taking the time. I'll be sure to post as soon as I get something.
TACC1

 

[ColbyBruce]

The problem with a .32 Long revolver is that you will not stop with one. I like them too, the nickel #30-1 gets carried frequently. Everybody knows shiny guns hit harder, LOL!!

 

[DCWilson]

The top gun is actually a beakert that also had a bulged barrel. I replaced it with a four inch barrel I found on Gunbroker. I would be happy to give you the serial numbers but do you still want the number from the top gun? I really need to get the bottom gun lettered and see where or who it was shipped to.
Matt

There's a class of "honorary" kit guns that were created by shortening the barrels of Bekeart style guns or by sending a gun back to the factory after the Kit Gun was introduced to be rebarreled with a factory-new four-inch barrel. I'd like to track those, too, because there may be as many as a couple of dozen of them out there. So yes, I'd like the serial number on the top gun as well, if you'd be so kind.