McGivern K-22 Number 9 with "The McGivern" Kearsarge Stocks

[mikepriwer]

Today is the Amoskeag Auction, that features a collection of McGivern
revolvers, holsters, and other items. I was the high bidder on this
K-22 with Kearsarge stocks. This makes the 9th McGivern gun in my
collection - all S&W's .

This gun letters as being shipped to Ed McGivern in 1934.

I have some correspondence, courtesy of Jim Olsen, from McGivern to Walter Groff,
his financial supporter and friend, regarding Kearsarge stocks. I've
attached a copy of the first page of this two-page letter.

It would appear that these grips have been modified, and the letter
also suggests that McGivern was making changes to the stocks. The
modification appears to be the removal of a thumb-rest, and perhaps
some other change to the contour. Kearsarge typically carved the
owners initials, or name, on the lower portion of the right grip panel.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[DCWilson]

Nice. Good piece, good history, good wood.

 

[Muley Gil]

Looks a bit like a Bisley grip or Elmer's No. 5.

 

[Art Doc]

Gee... Why'd ya want to buy such a worn looking gun?

 

[boykinlp]

Just reading the header of the letter is very interesting. Imagine how much forensic ballistics and the electrical recording and timing equipment has evolved since 1938. Great gun with interesting history.

 

[Buford57]

You are aware of course, that those are not the original grips and as a result the collector value is greatly diminished. Once you acquire a more pristine example, I might consider taking that old "shooter" grade K-22 off your hands.

 

[29-1]

Mike, I saw this one in the catalog and kinda figured it might wind up with you. Congrats!
Chuck

 

[gizamo]

Mike,

Well done....

Curious, were there any holsters to go with the guns?


Steve

 

[fyimo]

Mike,

That's a is just beautiful revolver !!!

 

[mikepriwer]

Ray Brazille is the onle who has the file of American Rifleman journals.
He found the piece that Ed McGivern was referring to, in the letter to
Walter Groff. It's a very short advertisement placed by Kearsarge, and
it talks about the McGivern modification to his stocks, for people with
small hands. It referenced the Number 3 stock design.

Thanks to 29-1, here is that advertisement :

I then remembered that I have a copy of the Kearsarge product list,
and sure enough, there is the Model 3 design. Right next to it is The
McGivern stock, and it looks exactly like the stocks that are on this K-22!
Here is the 4-page Kearsarge brochure :

Chuck:

Thanks for the comment. All those McGivern guns are good collectible
guns. I really only wanted this one, both because it lettered to McGivern,
and because of the Kearsarge stocks. The regmag is a great gun, but
it was a lot more money !

Steve:

Yes - there were a good number of holsters, including some Myres, as
I recall. Jim Olsen, Walter Groffs nephew once or twice removed, had/
has a lot of McGivern material .

Regards, Mike

 

[29-1]

Mike, see my reply to your post wanting a March 1938 American Rifleman. Here's a picture of the "small hands" ad for you.

Chuck

 

[geoff40]

Mike
I could use a full size photocopy of that page of the letter, if you have the mind to get me one. It would help me out on this end of things.
I am now a resident of Warner, NH, did I tell you that?

 

[Texas1941]

The Kearsarge ad, which I assume is circa 1938, urges readers to send for a folder, but the only address given is Warner, N.H.

I don't doubt that a post card with that address alone would have been delivered. That revolver has seen the times change, in spades.

Neat piece of history.

 

[mikepriwer]

Geoff

Is your email address still [email protected] ? ?

If so, I just emailed the full-size scan to you. If that is not your
address, the other Geoff has it - send me yours, in this case !
[email protected]

Yes - I recall that you moved to Warner.

By the way, I think that Kearsarge catalog that I posted came from
you, in some thread a year or so ago. Thanks !

Regards, Mike

 

[gizamo]

Small world,

I was about to recommend that Mike and Geoff get together over this thread. Geoff being a resident expert on Kearsage and having raised everyone's awareness level of this grip/stock maker some years ago.

Steve

 

[au2183]

Mike,
That is a beautiful K-22 with a great history! Congratulations on such a fine acquisition.

 

[mikepriwer]

AU

Thanks for the comment. Its been about 3 years, following this gun.
At least it seems that long !

Steve

Its amazing how, in this case, a lot came together within hours of
the auction. I've followed this gun for a long time, and I have had
a copy of the Kearsarge brochure for at least that long. I'd always
been, lets say skeptical, about those grips, because they look so
different from the usual Kearsarge. I knew Ray Brazille had a copy
of the AR journal, and he read the ad to me. Something clicked about
Number 3, and I realized I had forgotten about the Kearsarge brochure.
Within 30 seconds, I had it all together !

And Geoff was responsible for posting that Kearsarge brochure years
ago !

Regards, Mike

 

[Jim_O]

My, oops, your K-22

Mike,

Congratulations! The K-22 was my favorite of my dad's collection. Obviously well used by "the man".

You have become a good friend over the past year or so. I know you will treasure this old relic and keep it safe. I'm very happy to see you become the new caretaker!

The photo you posted isn't from Amoskeag or from me. Did you take a road trip to New Hampshire???

I'm also attaching a copy of another Kearsarge ad. I don't remember where I found it. Maybe Geoff?

Anyway, congratulations! I'll miss it, but I know it is in deserving hands.

Jim Olsen

 

[Keith Brown]

Mike, congratulations on adding a fine gun to your collection. I love the fact that it was a working gun and the stocks are the icing on the cake! I have a few of the ads pictured but had not seen the Kearsarge brochure before, thanks for posting it, lots of good info in it. I've made a number of sets of Kearsarge style grips and really like the look and feel, the carving does indeed work well in giving purchase without the pain that sometimes comes with checkering.

Keith

 

[Modified]

Very belated Congratulations on this one Mike. I was poking around online and noticed this.

What a gun, what a set of grips. I must admit seeing pictures of it years ago really has driven me to strive to own such fine guns, which are so interesting both historically and mechanically.