Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of a kit gun?
Outside of psychological assurance offered, I could never figure that one out.
I do think they are cool, and even had a stainless S&W for awhile(I wish I still had it!) but I couldn't figure out what I'd ever actually use it for.
Too slow to draw from my "kit" to deal with rattlers.
Too anemic report to signal three shots for an SOS
Will only PO a marauding bear
Not a first choice (nor second nor third choice) for defense against dueling banjo playing misfits.
If collecting meat for the dinner pot, a rifle would far and away more productive if you actually wanted to eat something,
What are kit guns good for other than plinking at pine cones?
When I was younger (12 to 35 years old) and I actually went camping, fishing, canoeing out in nature I would have loved to have what I have now.
Back in my young adulthood, my only two handguns were a 6" Ruger GP100 and a Beretta Bobcat in .22LR. I used that Beretta as a "kit gun" even though it wasn't a kit gun, plus I didn't know what a S&W Kit Gun was. For me, that Beretta was merely a plinker meant to pass time when I wasn't actively fishing or paddling. Usually at the end of the day, the Beretta would come out of my fanny pack (remember those?) and I'd fire a magazine or two at whatever deserved to be plinked. I did think it would be a good self defense gun, before I learned better.
That blued GP100 never got taken on canoe trips. It was too heavy, too expensive to be near water (fresh and salt), and way too loud. Of course, it was a much better self defense gun.
The rifles I had back then were a Norinco SKS and a Marlin 39AS. Again, one was too loud and one was too expensive to go in the canoe. Rifles don't belong in the bottom of a canoe anyway, unless you just like them getting soaked.
I never worried about bears, but I ran across gators on several occasions here in Southeast Texas in that canoe. Paddle, paddle, paddle!!!
Water moccasins? Same answer.
In retrospect, I should have spent the money on something like a C.A. Pathfinder or H&R back then instead of the Beretta, but I didn't know squat about Charter Arms, my dream H&R 999 was too much money, and the Beretta was found at a used price in a pawn shop. If I had the Pathfinder I have now, I could've actually hit something on the first shot, while the Beretta had to be "walked in" to the target. Plus, I would have also highly likely popped a tree rat or two and have my squirrel hunting friend prep us a campfire dinner. He used only a BB gun for that duty, which meant close range and multiple shots. An accurate .22 handgun could have done the same job in one shot.
That's not an answer as much as a bad story of should've, could've, would've. I do think a kit gun has a purpose for those that have a use for them. These days, a kit gun would be something for me to simply own and shoot. My canoeing days are long behind me.
