How old is this 38 Special C.T.G.?

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Hi folks! I was trying to find out a little about my 38 and my search led me to you guys. There is so much knowledge here that I think you will be able to answer this in a flash.

I don't know much about guns - just know I can hit what I aim at with this pistol. It was given to me by my ex-husband 'cause I liked it so much. It had belonged to his father at least as far back at the 1960's

On the right side of the barrel it says "38 S&W Special C.T.G." The left side says "Smith & Wesson". On the right side below the cylinder it says "Made in U.S.A. - Marcas Registradas - Smith & Wesson - Springfield Mass"

With the cylinder open it has an "R" stamped on the rigid part of the frame and on the moveable part in front of the cylinder is stamped "13xxx". Below these five numbers is the letter "T". There is also stamped some kind of mark that looks like a capital M only with three points rather than two.

The pistol is blued and there is a screw that adjusts the sites.

Thanks for helping out an ignorant newcomer!

DGT · Mar 16, 2012

Rabbit Ridge: First, welcome to the forum. Second, you are right. There is a wealth of knowledge here.

To begin with, the most helpful thing you can do in order to get your questions answered is to Post a Picture of the gun. Second, it sounds like the numbers you are giving, are from the frame in front of the cylinder, the serial number can be found on the bottom of the grip frame. If it has target stocks, you may have to remove the grips to see it.

Texas Star · Mar 16, 2012

Give the serial number on the butt. Include any letters. Also, with the cylinder swung out, do you see a model number like maybe MOD 15? (on the standing part of the frame) Is the front sight a sloping ramp, or more of an upright post? Barrel length, measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle?

Would you describe the gun as small or medium sized? Five shots or six?

A photo would be the easy answer, but if you can't post one, we can probably fgure this out.

It seems a nice gun.

When we split, my ex wanted just one gun , a Ruger MK I .22 pistol. I swapped it to her for a small table. I hope your divorce was as nice as one can be, and that the gun bears mainly pleasant memories.

I kept a ceramic black panther that my ex made for me. I love it, and don't attach any animosity to her having made it. I hope you feel the same about this gun. Women too often judge an object by the memories of who gave it to them. The gun is yours now, and will look after you as well as you care for it. I'm glad to know that you like it!

Oh: the letters and numbers you noted are probably just assembly numbers used at the factory to keep parts together during manufacture. They have no significance after the gun is built.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Thanks for welcome. Told ya I didn't know a thing about guns (LOL). There are some Pachmayr grips on it but I can see through a gap at the bottom. It says "K 3xx"

Gonna try to post a pic. Hope this works.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Thanks Texas Star. It's six shots - 4" barrel. I don't see a model number but I may not know where to look. I really love this gun. Nothing bad attached. My ex and I kinda traded guns. He kept my 9mm Ladysmith (I couldn't hit the broad side of next week with it) and I got this 38. Hope the pic posted.

DGT · Mar 16, 2012

Great, you appear to have a k-38 Combat Masterpiece in really nice condition. Is the "K 3xx" the entire serial number or only the portion you can see through the gap? A complete serial number will help date the gun.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

DGT - you're so smart! I took the grips off and the number is 306xxx. I'm putting in "x's" 'cause I figure I'm not supposed to post entire numbers. Is that enough to figure it out? Geez I'm ignorant.

Texas Star · Mar 16, 2012

Rabbit-

The pic is fine. You have a Combat Masterpiece with Pachmayr Gripper grips and a trigger shoe.

If the gun was made after 1957, it should say MOD 15, maybe with a dash suffix, like MOD 15-2, etc. The dashes indicate small engineering changes. This model number is on the frame, visible with the cylinder swung out.

The shape of the hammer spur suggests that the gun was made after the mid to late 1950's. Earlier hammers had a sort of squiggle shape. The model was introduced in 1949.
From about 1961-1985, this was the standard revolver of the USAF. It was also very popular with cops.

If you really like that trigger shoe, keep the screws tgiht. They probably need to be tightened with a litte Allen wrench. Be careful that the trigger doesn't rust under the shoe. If you don't keep it tight, the danged thing can come loose & jam the trigger at a critical moment.

To get the nanufacturing date, we need the full serial number, including letters. That's the number on the butt. With that, someone with more time can look up the date.

You have what many consider to be the best service-size .38 ever made. In stainless steel, it was the Model 67.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Texas Star - you guys are amazing. I didn't know that thing is a trigger shoe. It has always been on there since my ex had the gun and seems to make it easier when I shoot. Didn't think about needing to clean under it. Yikes! Obviously, the grips are not original.

I can't find a model number anywhere. My husband's father was a U.S. Army doctor until sometime in the early 60's. I know one thing for sure - this is a really, really accurate pistol and has great balance when you shoot.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Opps - forgot about the letter in the serial number. It says "K" then a space and "306xxx"

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Now that I know what I have, I was able to look it up on our friend Wikipedia. Wow!

I think this pistol was made before 1957 and after 1955. The S&W history on Wikipedia says that the upper sideplate screw was deleted in 1955 and the "15" model number was stamped beginning in 1957. My pistol has no upper sideplate screw and no stamped model number. Viola! Made about 1956. How cool is that! Did I get it right?

Is there anything else I should know about my pistol? The info about the trigger shoe was really helpful. Any particular ammo best?

Goony · Mar 16, 2012

From the serial number, it seems most likely the gun was made in 1957, the same year during which S&W started marking them with model numbers. So, if it is not marked "MOD. 15" in that frame recess that is exposed when you swing open the cylinder, it is one of the last, and would still be identified as a pre-Model 15 by collectors.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

Thanks Goony! I like this pistol and had no idea when it was made or anything about it. So we'll say it was made in early 1957. Interesting stuff. I can see why people really get into gun history. It's fascinating.

Should I get some kind of value on it for insurance purposes? It's beginning to get a little age on it (like me!) and I don't know it's value.

rboineau · Mar 16, 2012

I would remove the trigger shoe and at least try the gun to see if you are O.K. with the feel of it without the shoe. If so, leave it off for the reason Texas Star stated.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

I think it will be fine without the trigger shoe. Was gonna go ahead and take it off but I don't have the right size allen wrench (out of about 500 allen wrenches! figures.) It is really on tight but now I'm paranoid about there being rust under it. Also, don't like the idea that something could come off in an emergency. Don't have to grab the pistol often - last time was a few months ago to pop at a coyote in the back yard - but anything can happen out here in the sticks.

You have no idea how much help you guys are!

Buford57 · Mar 16, 2012

Sounds like you made a good trade. That is the gun I give to people I want to keep safe: the stainless version (M67) to my wife and a M15 like yours to my youngest son when he started his own family. Everything you need, nothing you don't and very user-friendly.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

That makes sense, Buford. I've had two 9mm's and used to have a Taurus 38 as the "barn gun". Didn't like any of those. This 38 just settles in my hand and shoots where I aim. It is also a very smooth recoil (if that's how to describe it). I can aim and shoot several times easily. I'm 5'-3" and 110 lbs and I feel safe and competent with this pistol. I can see why you chose it for your family.

Still don't know the best ammo for it, tho

DGT · Mar 16, 2012

Any 38 Special ammo will do. I shoot 158 grain lead bullets in all my 38s, its an all-round bullet but, there are a lot of choices in bullet weight and type to choose from. You might, for instance, look at hollow points for self defense.

In any event, you have a really great gun. I had an earlier version, (5 screw model) that my daughter liberated from my collection because it "fit" her so well.

Rabbit Ridge · Mar 16, 2012

You know, I'm beginning to think that this 38 is actually the "women's liberation" model. We seem to have liberated them 'cause of that nice fit and balance.

You all have answered all my questions and I've enjoyed chatting with you. Now I know where to come any time I get lost in my own ignorance. Now if I can just find the right size allen wrench to get that pesky trigger shoe off (LOL).

Thanks!

diamonback68 · Mar 16, 2012

To summarize, you have what is known as a K-38 Combat Masterpiece or pre-Model 15. K-38, because it is a K-frame in .38 Special. Combat Masterpiece, because it has a 4" barrel, longer barreled K-38s with adjustable sights are just known as Masterpieces. Shortly after you gun was shipped in 1957, it became the Model 15. The longer barreled ones became the Model 14. Hope that helps.

How old is this 38 Special C.T.G.?

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