What's a "kit gun" ?

R

RH

New member
I've even read a gun-rag review of a few models (all revolvers, if I recall) but found no defintion of the term.
 
"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile" performed by Edward Hamilton. A WWI song. Who knows how far back the term goes. As a child I always thought it meant that the gun would fit in a zippered shaving bag. John
 
I have the exact same question. I was browsing last night on that company's site whose name we can no longer mention (the ampersand guys)and I found a listing for a .22 snubby revolver available as Model 317 as a "kit gun" and model 317S with no "kit gun" appelation. The ampersand crowd does not mean a revolver that somehow has to be assembled from kit form do they?
 
Kit guns are named that from the fact that in days of yore, fishermen would pack a revolver in their "Kit" for snakes, ccons,etc. Usually, a small, light caliber piece,in 32 or 22. Used up close and on stuff nor needing a lot of shooting to stay shot.
 
I don't know how far back the term goes either. But for about the last 50 years the term "Kit Gun" has generally been defined as one of the small J-frame smiths, usually .22 (RF or Mag) with a 2, 3, or 4 inch barrel and adjustable sights. They may even have registered the term. Recently they've added a 3 inch lightweight .38 Spec. with adj. sights that they call a Kit Gun as well.

The idea being that it was something suitable to throw in your kit (possibles sack, etc.) and therefore would have with you for plinking, small game hunting - or even as your "always" gun.

------------------
Jim Fox
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Larry C:
The ampersand crowd does not mean a revolver that somehow has to be assembled from kit form do they?[/quote]

As a rugby player (a very British sport) I can tell you that kit is commonly used in the same sense that we Americans use the word gear, and therefore a "Kit Bag" in the Hamilton song that johnbt refers to means Gear Bag. So a Kit gun is a gun that would easily fit in the bag which holds your gear. There is also a common saying amoung rugby players "drop your kit" for get naked. I have no idea what a drop your kit gun would be. If the antis had there way, we would only have drop your kit guns.


OED says:

kit-bag, a stout bag in which to carry a soldier's or traveller's kit.

1898 Westm. Gaz. 7 Apr. 4/1, I looked at the marching boots..and wished they were in my kit-bag along with the wonderful assortment of articles..technically described as `small kit'. 1899 Ibid. 25 Sept. 3/1 An exceedingly handy form of knapsack or kit-bag that I bought..in Germany
for the modest sum of 1s. 9d.

[This message has been edited by mowgli (edited July 14, 2000).]
 
Kit bags, of course! I feel like a dummy, you know. I still wonder why they make a 317 S model which is not a "kit gun".
 
Because it goes in a kit, like a fishing kit, or the kind of kit you pack like matches, compass, stuff like that.
 
In the British military and apparently in other aspects "kit" is your equipment.

I guess a "kit gun" could also be like a "kit car'. i.e. one you build from a kit.

------------------
You have to be there when it's all over. Otherwise you can't say "I told you so."

Better days to be,

Ed
 
Kit gun goes in the kit half of the whole kit and kaboodle. Kit being the useful stuff like razor, mum's picture, utensils, sewing stuff, pan, cup, handy gun etc. Kaboodle will be discussed in next class by James E.

Sam.....follow me, it is only a little further.
 
Kaboodle senior? I don't got to show you no kaboodle...I don't got to show you no stinking kaboodles. Hmmm! Isn't that the little box car with the green house that's tagged on the end of a choo choo?
 
I think a "kit gun" will fit in my survival kit and keep me alive if I need to pop a few rabbits with a mininum of noise and ammunition. Its not too large or too heavy and of a small enough caliber to take small game without too much destruction.

[This message has been edited by suckersrus (edited July 18, 2000).]
 
Ronin 99, how does one safely transport kaboodles in one's kit bag? This would appear to be a safety issue not presently addressed by our oh-so-vigilant government.
 
Kaboodle (American spelling is caboodle) will not go in a kit. However, a kit may be included in a caboodle. If using the exploodin noodle caboodle one should remove mum's photo when combining to make noodle strudle caboodle.

Sam...darn, lost again; good lookin shortcut tho.
 
Kits are designed with varying cabodle capacities. In California, you may not purchase a kit which will hold more than ten caboodles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top