Guns International #: 101424519
Seller's Inventory #: CM20-587

Category - Colt Revolvers - Double Action Pre-War - Colt Revolvers - Officers Model

Category
Colt Revolvers - Double Action Pre-War
Colt Revolvers - Officers Model

1938 Vintage Colt Officer's Model .38 King Super Target w/ All Options & Sanderson Grips! ** Extremely Cool Vintage Custom Revolver ** SOLD *

Description:
This is one of the coolest and classiest vintage Colt revolvers we have had in a long time.  It is a pre-war 1938 Officer's Model .38 Heavy Barrel with the full D.W. King Gun Sight Company "Super Target" conversion.  This was Colt's top-of-the-line regular-production .38 Special double-action target revolver with the full Super Target treatment from the famous D.W. King Gun Sight Company in San Francisco, California.  These were very expensive revolvers loaded out like this, as the standard Officers Model 38 Heavy Barrel cost $45 dollars, and the Super Target package added another $45 at a minimum.  If you wanted the very best target revolver that money could buy in the 1930's and 40's, this Colt King Super Target would have been most likely your choice.  The Colt Officer's Model 38 Heavy Barrel was already a great revolver from the factory with a beautfiul gloss blue factory finish, top quality construction with the best steel available, a hand-tuned silky-smooth action, a 6" inch heavy-profile barrel, factory adjustable target sights, a 6-shot fluted cylinder,  and factory checkered American Walnut grips.  The King Super Target package took this Colt to an entirely different level.  A 1-piece ventilated and weighted rib was added to the barrel to aid in holding it still, reduce muzzle-flip when firing, and provide a platform for the improved sights.  A "reflector" Patridge front sight blade was installed that uses a mirror inset into the rib at a 45 degree angle to aid in lighting-up the front of the sight blade, and the integral target-style rear sight features a square-notch and micrometer click-adjustments equalling 1" inch of adjustment at 50 yards.  The factory hammer was either modified into, or replaced with, a King "Cockeyed" hammer that has an offset spur specific to whether it is for a right-handed or left-handed shooter to aid in the ease and speed of cocking the action.  The revolver's action was then completely reworked for a shorter hammer-fall and a butter-smooth action.  The shorter hammer-fall required the timing of the gun to be completely changed, it was no small task and required an expert to complete.  Finally, the gun was fit with a set of high end custom grips typically from Roper or Sanderson.  You could send in an outline of your hand and they would custom-make the grips perfectly fit to your specific hand.  The result of all of these modifications was the ultimate Colt target revolver that was extremely accurate, reliable, and very handsome.  Much like a Rolex is to watches, a King Super Target is to vintage target revolvers.  This particular 1938 example is serial number 623402, and it remains in very good condition overall, and excellent condition mechanically.  As you can see from the pictures, the original factory blue finish still looks good overall but shows some small scattered spots of prior rust and finish loss.  There is very little actual finish "wear", the deductions appear to be from poor storage/handling practices rather than actual mechanical wear from being fired and carried.  All of the action screws in this revolver have clean heads/slots, and all of the Colt and King Company stampings are clear and legible.  The bore in this Super Target is superb condition.  It is mirror-bright and pristine with sharp rifling throughout the barrel.  There is no pitting, erosion, or imperfections of any kind visible in the bore.  The six chambers in the cylinder are equally as clean.  The grips on this Colt are the sought-after hand-made Sanderson Model 98 grips.  They are in excellent condition, free from any cracks, repairs, or major damage.  The checkering is still crisp and clean, they are a perfect match to each other in color and degree of wear, and both grips are perfectly fit to the gun with no wiggle or slop.  These grips are extremely comfortable and very attractive and classy-looking.  The action on this Colt Officer's Model .38 HB King Super Target has to be felt to truly be appreciated.  It is extremely slick, smooth, precise, and perfectly "in time".  At full-lock the cylinder is as tight as a bank vault with no perceivable wiggle or play in it.  In single-action operation the trigger breaks like a thin glass rod before you can even feel any travel in it.  All of the other controls on this revolver are in perfect working order, including the rear sight adjustments.  This Colt will function 100% today just like the day it left the D.W. King Gun Sight Company prior to World War 2.  If you have been looking for a very special piece for your collection that you can enjoy as both an investment and at the range from time to time, this 1938-production Colt King Super Target would be the perfect choice.  Vintage target revolvers don't get much cooler than this!         

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Colt (King Gun Sight Company)
Model: Officer's Model Heavy Barrel King Super Target
Serial Number: 623402
Barrel Length: 6" Inches
Caliber Info: .38 Special
Condition: Very Good
Bore Condition: Excellent
Barrel Type: Heavy Target w/ King Super Target Rib
Action: Double-Action / Single-Action (King Tuned)
Finish: Blued
Manufacture Date: 1938
Extras: Sanderson Model 98 Thumb-Rest Checkered Walnut Grips