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LOT 338
Attractive King Gun Sight Co. Upgraded Smith & Wesson
.38 Military & Police Double Action Revolver with Highly
Desirable 2 Inch Barrel, Ivory Grips, and Factory Letter -
Serial no. S839621, 38 S&W Special cal., 2 inch solid rib bbl., blue
finish, ivory grips. Manufactured in 1946, this is a very attractive and highly
desirable example of a Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police revolver that was upgraded
by the King Gun Sight Co. of San Francisco. The King Gun Sight Co. was established by
marksman D.W. King in the late 1920s after his having been
disappointed with most of the typical sights available on
the market at the time. The King Company evolved, providing
a plethora of different sight options, but also branching out
into customizing and finely tuning handguns. This particular
revolver is a prime example of the work done at the King shop.
The included factory letter lists it with a 2 inch barrel, blue finish, and
“magna” stocks when it shipped to Adolph Blaich Co. in San Francisco, California on 1 October 1946.
It is almost certain that the revolver was sent to the King shop shortly afterwards for upgrading, as
the two companies were located close to one another and had a long association. The left side of the
barrel has the standard two-line Smith & Wesson and caliber marking, and the right of the frame is
marked with the trademark and “MADE IN U.S.A.”. The revolver has been professionally fitted with the
desirable King vent rib which runs the entire length of the top of the revolver. The rib is fitted with a
pinned King’s blade front sight that has a red bead and a light reflecting mirror inset in the rib and a micrometer adjustable
notch rear sight, which appears to be one continuous piece with the rib. It is also fitted with a very attractive pair of smooth
ivory grips with “S&W” monogram medallions. Though unconfirmed, it feels as though the King shop also tuned the action.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish and vibrant original case colors with some light handling wear, a few scattered light handling
marks, and a cylinder turn line. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent. These early 20th century King upgraded
revolvers were intended for use and thus they are rarely found in high condition like this example!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,500
LOT 337
Desirable Special Order Smith & Wesson
“Triple Lock” .44 Hand Ejector First
Model King Super Target Upgraded Double Action Revolver in the
Extremely Rare .44 S&W Russian caliber with Roper Grips and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 6113, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch vent rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured c. 1907
to 1915, this is an attractively configured example of Smith & Wesson’s “Triple Lock” First Model .44 Hand Ejector
revolver. Only around 15,375 were made during the period of production, with the vast majority chambered in .44
S&W Special, and they were sold out of inventory until 1917. In “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” by Supica and Nahas, they note that only
a few special order guns were chambered in .44 Russian and .44-40, making this example incredibly rare. The included factory letter with this revolver
lists it in the special order .44 S&W Russian caliber with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, 1/10 inch Partridge front sight, square notch
rear sight to match, and blue finish when it shipped to Kimball Gun Store in Tacoma, Washington on 12 April 1916. The
revolver was subsequently very attractively period upgraded with a King “Super Target” vent rib and sights as well as a
set of very desirable Roper grips. These were highly desirable functional upgrades during the period of use and remain
so to this day. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and patent dates.
The matching serial number is marked on the butt, rear face of the cylinder, and inside the ejector
rod housing. The matching assembly number “3660” is on the frame and the crane. The inside of
both grip panels is hand marked “44 193”, and they have the correct Roper jig holes from when they
were produced. It is fitted with King Super Target vent rib that runs the whole length of the barrel
and top strap and has a pinned King blade front sight with large red bead and reflective mirror, as
well as a micrometer adjustable notch rear sight. It is also fitted with the very attractive walnut Roper
grips with their iconic ribbon and diamond checkering pattern.
CONDITION: Very fine as period upgraded, retains 95% plus of the blue finish with some light muzzle
and edge wear and a cylinder turn line. The grips are excellent with a few light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. A very attractive “King Super Target” upgraded Smith & Wesson “Triple Lock” .44 Hand Ejector First Model revolver
chambered in the extremely scarce .44 Russian caliber!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "Standard
Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by
Supica and Nahas, only a few
special order Smith & Wesson
"Triple Lock" revolvers were
chambered in .44 Russian.