S&W Pre-10 M&P Transitional with Deane King Action

[jad0110]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6187541

In the above thread, I posted information on a rather interesting 6" S&W M&P .38 (S/N S928xxx) I had found and was considering purchasing. This gun has a King hammer and action job. After many folks posted their thoughts, Old Fuff drew upon is great stores of knowledge when he stated the following (I'm quoting him because he does a better job describing this gun than I can):

Deane W. King founded the King Gunsight Company in or about 1913 and located at first in Denver, Co. The firm’s specialty was high-grade iron sights for rifles and handguns. During the early 1930’s he moved to San Francisco, and there he stayed until the company closed down in 1955. There is presently another King Gunsight Co. in California, and while they do excellent work they shouldn’t be confused with the one we are discussing.

Besides marketing his line of sights, (he sub-contraced much of the work) Mr. King became renown for custom work on handguns of that day, and his work was considered so highly that both Colt and Smith & Wesson would buy sights from him and install them as a factory option. They would also sell him handpicked pistols and revolvers, which he would customize and then sell, or of course he would take in guns belonging to his customers and modify them as to whatever way they ordered.

One of his more popular products was a complete rework of Colt or Smith & Wesson internals to achieve a shorter cocking stroke. There were prized by many top bullseye target shooters who habitually thumb-cocked their revolvers. Then to further increase the hammer’s function he would weld up the spur and increase the width of that part where a shooter would place the ball of his thumb.

The “King Short Action” became so popular that following World War Two, S&W largely copied it (including the wide spur hammer) and made it standard in most of they’re target grade K and N-frame revolvers.

So now we come to the neglected revolver which is the object of this thread. The Old Fuff’s keen (but bloodshot) eyes quickly noticed that it was one of the much desired, but seldom seen post-war “transitional” pre-model 10’s that had the prewar “long action,” but the later hammer block that was introduced in 1945 and thereafter made it safe to carry a S&W with the cylinder fully loaded. These also were made before numerous large and small changes were made during future years to lower manufacturing costs.

Incidentally, just because I talked up the King Short Action doesn’t necessarily mean this revolver is so equipped. Other then the wide spur hammer the rest of the insides might have been left as they were, and in any case if King worked it over it ought to work as smooth as goose grease…

But then it has a six-inch barrel! How awful!! “How completely un-tactical,” someone will mutter… “Not a single piece of plastic anywhere,” someone else will point out. “Hopelessly obsolete.” Another will opine…

Maybe, but a competent marksman can take it and absolutely humiliate the tactical ones with a rattle-banger who think grapefruit sized patterns fired at 10 yards is respectable combat accuracy. And nowhere is it written that this jewel-in-the-rough couldn’t have a shorter barrel installed (if that floats your boat) and be dropped into a blue tank.

Why go to the trouble? Well because in many ways and for numerous reasons they don’t make them this way anymore, and to find a post-war transitional .38 M&P is pure luck at its best, and with a King action it’s pure luck with an oak leaf cluster.

I was considering passing on the gun, but when I read Fuff's response (quite a while after he posted it, I might add), my thoughts turned to regret for not buying it sooner!

Fortunately, I was able to buy the gun. Price paid: $300

As Fuff pointed out, this is a "transitional" pre-10 K Frame, in that it does have the hammer block safety of post war guns, and a King-tuned pre-war long action. It also has the well regarded "Cockeyed King Hammer". King would take a standard S&W hammer and hand weld an extension onto the side of the customer's choosing (mine was done for a right hander). His craftsmanship and skill are so superb that the hammer looks as if it were forged that way in one piece. Sure enough, this is exactly how the hammer on this gun looks.

The action on this gun is amazingly smooth. In DA or SA, it is like the proverbial breaking glass rod when the hammer releases. No hitches, grittiness or rough spots. The finish is about 70%, with a lot of wear on the right sideplate and on the left side of the barrel, but I think this just adds additional character. I love it! I have no plans on ever refinishing this gun. Has the original numbers matching Diamond Magnas too.

Anyway, here are some pictures.

 

[Radagast]

Very interesting and nice photos too. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RippinSVT]

An old 1914 M&P .38spl was my first revolver and the first revolver I ever took apart completely. I gotta say, smooth guns, but inexperienced college students shouldn't try to give them an action job with no prior knowledge of DA sixguns. lol. I got it together eventually though. Live and learn.