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The S&W Kit gun?

BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
edited September 2002 in General Discussion
Would someone enlighten me as to why S&W designated some of their K-frame revolvers as kit guns?

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member

Edited by - Boomerang on 09/09/2002 01:01:37
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Comments

  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe the "kit" guns were built on the next smaller frame rather than the k frame. I'm pretty sure they were refering to back packers "kits". They were marketed as light trail guns. At least the model 34 was. I saw a nickel model 34 2" barrel a couple years ago priced at $225.00 . I often wonder if I should have bought it. At the time I thought it was too light to shoot with any accuracy, so I passed.

    Woods
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  • PelicanPelican Member Posts: 1,061 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a stainless kit gun and it is a great haul around piece.

    The Almighty Himself Entrusted the Future of All Living Creatures to a Wooden Boat.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"Audemus jura nostra defendere"
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a Model 63(the stainless steel version of the Model 34) from one one of our forum members. I have taken it ocean kayaking as well as on several fishing and camping trips. The story I have always heard in regard to kit guns is that S&W wanted people to identify the weapon with their fishing kits and that the pistol should be in every fishing tackle box. Don't know if its urban legend but I put my Model 63 in my medical bag that I take everywhere with me. Beach
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  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    Oh, I have been wondering about this for a while now. I incorrectly assumed the Model 317 was a k-frame revolver because both the model 17 and 617 are k-frames. This is one time S&W pulled a fast one on me. The Model 317 is a j-frame. Thanks for clearing this up for me guys.

    Now let me ask this; since there is essentially no designated caliber, barrel length, or material used to define the 'kit-gun', then any S&W j-frame would be essentially a 'kit gun', correct?

    Boomer

    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boomer the title "kit gun" was only ever applied to the Model 34 until the Model 63 came out. Now if they are the only two j frames ever made I guess that qualifies any j frame as a kit gun. But even though I have the Model 63 I still really consider only the Model 34 as the "kit gun". Beach
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  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    Beach - I was kind of speaking generically about "kit-guns". Since this was a S&W marketing ploy, then I was thinking that any j-frame would fit the bill as a small light weight revolver that could fit into a tackle box.

    You are right about certain models be designated as "kit-guns". However, now there appears to be at least 5 models called "kit-guns".

    Boomer

    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boomer...I didn't know that they were now marketing that many. I have an old 1973 Gun Digest that only showed the Model 34. Things to change don't they? Beach
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  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    Beach - Over the years, S&W have designated the following j-frames as "kit-guns" in one way or another. M34,M43,M51,M63,M317,M337,M360,M651

    Boomer


    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member

    Edited by - Boomerang on 09/09/2002 22:11:05
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow!!! Talk about a marketing ploy! Thanks for the info. Beach
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Smith & Wesson made "Kit Guns" well before model numbers were assigned in 1957. The .22/32 Kit Gun came out in 1935 as a 4-inch, round butt I-frame revolver. After WWII, the I-frame Kit Gun was again offered. In 1953 the change was made to an Imporved I-frame, and the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun was born. I have an early one in 2-inch round butt, one of my favorites.

    When model numbers were assigned in 1957, the I-frame .22/32 Kit Gun became the Model 34. In 1960, the change was made to the J-frame and the Model 34-1 was born. (The I-frame has a substantially shorter cylinder window than the J-frame, which was designed to hold a .38 Special round, whereas the I-frame would not accept such a long cartridge.)

    As an aside, when discussing or advertising model-numbered Smiths, remember the all-important "dash number."
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  • davem3davem3 Member Posts: 75 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Didn't all of the "kit guns" have one thing in common, Adjustable Sights?

    davem3
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  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    JC - The 22/32? Is this a S&W designation for an obsolete cartridge, or is it for two rimfire cartridges, or is it for one rimfire and one centerfire cartridge?

    davem3 - Not sure about that. If so that could be the overriding charactreristic for the j-frames I was looking for, and would rule out some of the j-frames from being "kit-guns".

    Anyone, anyone?

    Boomer


    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member

    Edited by - Boomerang on 09/10/2002 20:30:31
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boomerang....great thread! Have learned quite a bit about my little kit gun that I throw in the kayak. Really wish we could have more of these gun related threads. Beach
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  • BoomerangBoomerang Member Posts: 4,513
    edited November -1
    Yeah, I have been wondering about this little gun for a while now. BTW, I just looked it up and current kit-guns have both fixed and adjustable sights. I am starting to believe it has to do with barrel length now more than anything. The kit guns I have all have 3"+ barrels.

    Boomer

    "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."NRA Life Member
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  • davem3davem3 Member Posts: 75 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 22/32 was a .22 cal. on the .32 frame. There were some other model numbers like that also. The 38/44 Heavy Duty was a .38special on the .44 frame.

    davem3
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