Pre War 22/32 Kit Gun

[JG91]

I recently acquired this revolver it looks pretty good to me, but I figured I would get some feedback from the forum. Grips are numbered to the gun and I just requested a letter.

 

[Nimrod44]

Congratulations on your Kit Gun! Its a very nice looking example, much nicer than mine. Post the letter info when you get it.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Very cool. Other examples are out there but you definitely don't come across them often. What's the serial range? You don't have to post the entire number just leave "x" on last digit or two. Folks here can give you a ballpark manufacture/ship date for it.

 

[JG91]

Serial number is 5333xx

 

[paplinker]

Serial number is 5333xx

I have 533502 from June 1940

Very nice condition on that one. Did they stamp the serial number on the grips or are they penciled in?

A lot of kit guns in the 533xxx have been showing up lately

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Serial number is 5333xx

Probably late 1930s … 1938 or 1939. Someone will come along who has better data. I had one for a time 531xxx which went to another forum member. One of the guys suggested 1938 as possible ship date for mine based on other close serial kit guns. They're pretty neat little 22s. Hope you get to shoot yours. Mine shot well but definitely required a lot of concentration on my part since it's such a small gun.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I have 533502 from June 1940

Very nice condition on that one. Did they stamp the serial number on the grips or are they penciled in?

A lot of kit guns in the 533xxx have been showing up lately

Paplinker beat me to it. With better info too!

 

[RKmesa]

Great condition Kit Gun. One of these days, I will run down a pre-war one. When I do, I hope that it is as nice as yours.

Thanks for sharing,

 

[JG91]

I have 533502 from June 1940

Very nice condition on that one. Did they stamp the serial number on the grips or are they penciled in?

A lot of kit guns in the 533xxx have been showing up lately

My grips have the serial number stamped on them.

 

[Nimrod44]

533480 shipped in January 1941
534516 shipped June 1940

I know that seems backwards but......

 

[DCWilson]

Nice score. Congratulations.

I have been tracking this model for about 15 years, sometimes aggressively and sometimes on a catch-as-catch-can basis. After the beginning of commercial production in 1936 and continuing until the end of production before WWII, as many as 1400 may have been assembled, but probably not more than 1500. The serial numbers of 111 Prewar KGs are known to me, spread out like this:

527xxx.....(Prototypes, perhaps only 10) Production and distribution 1934-1938
529xxx.....Shipped 1936-1937
530xxx.....Shipped 1937-1939.
531xxx.....Shipped 1938-1940
532xxx.....Shipped 1938-1940
533xxx.....Shipped 1939-1941
534xxx.....Shipped 1940-1951

A few 534xxx revolvers were warehoused during WWII and released to sale after postwar resumption of commercial I-frame production.

In my tally, the observed serial numbers group like this:

527xxx...... 2
529xxx.....13
530xxx.....28
531xxx.....17
532xxx.....22
533xxx.....17
534xxx.....12

For a small-production model like the prewar KG, the varieties to be observed are quite numerous. Three different stock patterns -- round butt, small square butt (or Regulation Police), and large square butt (two-screw extension stocks, as seen in the OP's revolver) -- could be matched with numerous front sight designs. [This paragraph has been modified to correct an error about the OP'S revolver.]

Once again, congratulations on snagging a very nice specimen of an uncommon model.


EDITED TO ADD: Basic info on prewar KGs

A Crash Course in Prewar Kit Guns (Two more variants added: see post no. 29)

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

Beautiful revolver!

Mr. Wilson,
The OP's gun has the two-screw extension stocks not the regulation police style small square butt.

 

[JG91]

Nice score. Congratulations.

I have been tracking this model for about 15 years, sometimes aggressively and sometimes on a catch-as-catch-can basis. After the beginning of commercial production in 1936 and continuing until the end of production before WWII, as many as 1400 may have been assembled, but probably not more than 1500. The numbers of 111 Prewar KGs are known to me, spread out like this:

527xxx.....(Prototypes, perhaps only 10) Production and distribution 1934-1938
529xxx.....Shipped 1936-1937
530xxx.....Shipped 1937-1939.
531xxx.....Shipped 1938-1940
532xxx.....Shipped 1938-1940
533xxx.....Shipped 1939-1941
534xxx.....Shipped 1940-1951

A few 534xxx revolvers were warehoused during WWII and released to sale after postwar resumption of commercial I-frame production.

In my tally, the observed serial numbers group like this:

527xxx...... 2
529xxx.....13
530xxx.....28
531xxx.....17
532xxx.....22
533xxx.....17
534xxx.....12

For a small-production model like the prewar KG, the varieties to be observed are numerous. Three different stock patterns -- round butt, small square butt (or Regulation Police, as seen in the OP's revolver), and large square butt (two-screw extension stocks) -- could be matched with numerous front sight designs.

Once again, congratulations on snagging a very nice specimen of an uncommon model.


EDITED TO ADD: Basic info on prewar KGs

A Crash Course in Prewar Kit Guns (Two more variants added: see post no. 29)

Thanks you for the great information. I used the "crash course" post when deciding if I was going to purchase the revolver since the listed pictures were poor and I was relying on the questions I could ask the seller.

 

[murphydog]

There were also factory modified .22/32 Targets converted to 4" barrels in the prewar and wartime (?!) era. David Wilson refers to these as "virtual" Kit Guns.

 

[Papa Lee]

I have 52918X.

 

[DCWilson]

Beautiful revolver!

Mr. Wilson,
The OP's gun has the two-screw extension stocks not the regulation police style small square butt.

Thank you; now corrected. I knew my eyes were getting worse, but I didn't know they were that bad.