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KEMPF 1934 PATENT “SPEED LOADER” MANUFACTURED BY THE REVOLVER CARTRIDGE CLIP COMPANY “SPEED LOADERS” – FULLY FUNCTIONAL SPECIMENS:  Patented by Herman H. Kempf in 1934 (US Patent #1,971,526) these speed loaders were manufactured by the REVOLVER CARTRIDGE CLIP COMPANY of New York, with the company name cast into the face of the finger ring.   

Kempf’s loader was a side-stripping design featuring the cartridges arranged in the configuration of the revolver’s cylinder.  The six cartridges, each held in place on the back plate by a partial arc of spring steel, were inserted into the chambers all at one time.  The shooter would then use the finger ring to slide the carrier away from the face of the cylinder, disengaging the cartridges and allowing them to drop into the chambers.  A unique feature is a centrally located hinge, surmounted by a stiff spring which holds the carrier open.  The two halves of the carrier can be folded back against the tension of the spring, which allowed the loader to be carried in a flat belt pouch.  When the carrier is pulled from the pouch, the spring snaps the two halves of the carrier into position to insert the cartridges into the cylinder.    

While there is not a lot of information on how or to whom these speed loaders were marketed, there is some belief that due to their timely production immediately before World War Two, Kempf’s Speed Loaders may have been purchased by Allied servicemen for use with the various .38 caliber revolvers, and its likely they saw some use by police officers of that era.   

These Kempf Speed Loaders are not particularly common and they would make a nice addition to a World War Two era .38 caliber revolver display.  I have these two specimens, each listed below with accompanying photographs.

 

NO. 1   KEMPF 1934 SPEED LOADER:  An excellent specimen in full form with all of the cartridge spring arcs intact.  The central spring activated hinge is very strong and fully functional.  The finger ring is cast with the fully legible company name, and the caliber designation “38”.  The original flat black finish has survived intact and the metal surfaces are smooth with no pitting, overall an excellent specimen.  (1112)  $150

 

NO. 2   KEMPF 1934 SPEED LOADER:  An very good specimen.  Four of the six  cartridge springs arcs are intact, the other two are missing one arm of the spring, but they still hold the cartridge in place.  The central spring activated hinge is very strong and fully functional.  The finger ring is cast with the fully legible company name, and the caliber designation “38”.  The original flat black finish has survived intact and the metal surfaces are smooth with no pitting, overall an excellent specimen.  (1113)  $125

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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