Hello
Well, It has Taken me FIVE Long Years to do it, but I just completed The Pre-Model Five screw K-Frame Target Masterpiece series. This all started when I got the toughest one to find a Pre-16 K-32 Target Masterpiece. From there I found a Five screw Pre-17 K-22 Target Masterpiece and last week I took Delivery of a Five screw Pre-14 K-38 Target Masterpiece New In Box Unfired From collector David Carroll. Here they are now complete with Box's, paperwork and tools...You won't see all Three together like this very often..Enjoy my Addiction... Hammerdown

VERY NICE!!

__________________
Ken

That is great, thank you for the pictures! I am drooling!
Ed

Hammerdown, congratulations! Great photos and great revolvers!

I also recently completed a five-screw K-Masterpiece troika, but mine have regular magnas rather than target stocks, I don't have the boxes for a couple of them, and I need to upgrade the K-38, which has the heavier barrel and some finish damage to one cylinder flute. So my set comes close to the definitions you set, but can be tuned up a bit. At least my K-32 box (numbered to the gun) says "Target" on it (but I think they all did).

There's a sense in which I waited 50 years for my set. I remember looking at Gun Digests as penniless teenager and thinking how cool it would be to have a K-22, K-32 and K-38 side by side in my dresser drawer. The guns were model-marked by then, of course, but I didn't know that; I didn't know five-screw from four-screw either. I had to learn all that from you guys on the forum over the last couple of years as I got back into shooting and collecting.

I hope you don't mind if I slip in a photo of my trio into your thread. I know a lot of people dream of a complete Masterpiece set, and maybe photos from those of us lucky enough to get there will encourage them to pursue their goals.

From front to back: K-22 (Jan 1948), K-32 (Feb 1949), K-38 (Dec 1950).



I lucked into a couple of other five-screw K-22s as well, but I doubt I will be able to find or afford extra K-32s. I'm pretty sure I can eventually swing another K-38 or two.

I love the Masterpiece guns, and I know I am not alone in my regard for them.

__________________
David Wilson

Are the grips original to them? I notice one grip does not have the speed loader scoop (not sure of proper name) and another looks to be made out of darker wood. They look great and well cared for. Good investment and thanks for the outstanding photos!!!!

Hello David
Thank's I appreciate your kind words, and No I don't mind a Bit seeing other Peoples completed Target Masterpiece Trio's. I Like you have struggled the past few years trying to locate Good Five screw examples getting a late start we young collectors have to Hustle much more than the Older collector's that Placed their's in Moth Balls many, many moons ago. I sometimes feel They forget Just how hard these are to come by now that Most are squirreled away and in Their collections, but they are still out there. It is my strive to work on The Pre-War Masterpiece series now.. Well, Maybe if I hit the Lottery.. Hammerdown

Nice trio, maybe keep it going with a 1950 and 1955 target models.

Hammerdown, nice! You know how much I appreciate complete sets!
Chuck

__________________
SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Hello Peyton
How's that K-32 doing ? Are you shooting it yet ? All The ones shown get shot except the new addition K-38 as I Just got it, but it will be shot too, I enjoy my S&W's. To answer your question, The K-38 supposedly came with the "Non Relieved" Target grips shown on it. It shipped in 1953 and it stand's to reason they are period correct, and I noticed when I removed them for it's Wash & Wax Prior to the Pictures it had a slight shadow line where they have been for a long time, But a factory letter will tell me for sure.




The K-22 is the Oldest of the Group being shipped in 1947 it came with Magna's that I have in the safe numbered to it and it is a real Low Four digit serial number as well as a Transitional Gun. The K-32 is in the Middle of age here being shipped in 1951 and I do Not have the correct grips for it, I Guess Two Out of Three aint Bad. I Placed The Target grips on The K-22 & K-32 as I shoot them and my Mitt's are Big so Magnas do not work well for me Take care, Hammerdown

Very nice collection!! gonna let us have some now? LOL good luck with them
james #2281

Nice going, Hammerdown. That's arguably the most beautiful and satisfying trio of revolvers a man could own.

I had to make it a Masterpiece quartet. The 1st model is about 99% with a matching box. As is not unheard of with absentee bids, I received my toy to find later grips, but I was not about to return it. Can anyone post a quintet with a 1st model 32?
Incidentally, is there a pre-war 38 1st in existence?

Bob Hart #946

Attached Images

masterpiece.jpg (91.1 KB, 68 views)

Hammerdown - does the gun fit in the box (with the lid closed) with the target stocks on it? Is it the original box with the serial number grease penciled on the bottom?

Nice Trio!

Those are sweet, I love the darker grips on the K-32. I would have to shoot them all if they were mine. A dream trio if you ask me.

Thanks for posting the pics.

Troy

A collector after my own heart! Just not my own billfold!

I just try to find 3 S&W's in a row that don't have rust.

Very nice trio of hard to find quality. Congratz!

GF

I don't have proper pics.
DW

K32, K58963

K38, K54044

K22, 245011

__________________
"NUTS"

Now I know how I'm going to spend discretionary gun money in the future. Thanks for the pictures (drooooool.......) They're really gorgeous.

Now I'm waiting for 3-D television, Alice!

Hammerdown,

Congratulations on your beautiful guns and your patience! That's a set I'll probably never see in person. Thanks for the great pictures, as well.

Jerry

Really nice...I loved seeing them. Thanks for posting.

Hello VM
All The Target grips other than the Pre-14 K-38 with the Non Relieved ones are ones I have added. The 1947 Transitional K-22 would Not have come with Targets as they were not Born yet, But I do have the factory original magna's serial numbered to it that are Flawless. The K-32 Could have had Targets but they would have been Non-Relieved for a 1951 Gun as they were available then, but were not cataloged until 1952 time frame. The Box's are for Magna style grips, I have Not seen a Target style Box from this time period, but I know it would have One more hole in the side support Bracket's should you ever see one, Giving the Bottom one Height to clear the larger style grips. One of the Box's has the correct serial number and the Other Two Box's are not serial number marked at all...I was happy enough to Just Locate the gun's and Box's, along with the right Paperwork in the shape they are in.....Hammerdown

Very nice! Whats next?

__________________
Stay safe people!

Hammerdown - your Trio is beautiful and I wasn't quizzing you on your K22 or K32.

I was asking you about the K38 reference you made to Peyton (as I had quoted).

Also, in your OP you stated "last week I took Delivery of a Five screw Pre-14 K-38 Target Masterpiece New In Box Unfired From collector David Carroll".

I'm curious about these statements because of my own K38 from Feb 1950






There is a Jan, 1950 Sales Flyer that lists the {new target stocks} for sale and are available for $5.00. Mike Priwer recently sent me a copy of this flyer.

This is why I asked you about your box (based on your two statements). I'm trying to find the proper box for my gun.

Hello VM
I made a slight Typo on my Part. The Gun is New Not fired and it did come out of David Carrolls Collection but it did not come with It's Original Factory Issued box. I had the Gold & Blue Box shown with it, awaiting a Gun to put with it and the one shown Bears serial number 36114 so it is my Opinion it is a Post War box from around 1949-1951 Issue according to the serial Number. All My Box's shown are Magna style box's, as I said the Target grip style Box would have a deeper Profile with a 5 hole corner brace, Top & Bottom Rather than the Standard 4 Hole corner brace Magna style. This Gave them the Little extra depth to clear the larger Profile grips. I have a time a time line of Factory options as they came to be, Please check your P.M. For these as they were sent to S&WCA members a while ago, and I saved them in my files. I hope this helps answer your questions. Regards, Hammerdown

Hammerdown - most helpful with box info - my search continues
Thanks

Hello VM
You are very welcome. As I stated in our P.M.'s I think finding a Target style Gold & Blue Box will be almost Impossible as most of those style Boxes were either Pre-War or very Early Post-War design and the Target grips were not born until January 1950. S&W went to great lengths to use up all existing supplies of cardboard Boxes on hand back then, and this is why we saw stickers placed on later issued Gun boxes that were sent with gun changes made as shown below this is clearly a way to use up old supplies by simply Placing a sticker announcing a Heavy Barrel design K-38 Feature as we have shown in this thread...Notice the call out is for a Target Hammer which would have come in 1956 way after Target grips were Offered but still this Box is not High enough to ship one with target grips on it, Further backing my suspicions they may Not have had Gold & Blue Boxes for target grips...Hammerdown

I'm familiar with the taller boxes and the paper labels - this is from my K22..........thanks for info
I'm very patient, I'll find one eventually

A congratulations to all that have completed the trio (and one quartet). All are beautiful. But so you don't quit collecting, I would throw out a couple more variations of the very early post war K-__ masterpiece series:

1) The narrow rib K-38 masterpiece with the large ejector rod nob and 2) the narrow rib k-22 with the large ejector rod nob....

I am still looking for a K-32, I have a couple of Masterpiece K-22's and several Masterpiece K-38's (one narrow rib, large ejector rod) and I have my eye on a NIB K-22 with a 3 digit SN. I'm just waiting for the right moment of weakness to turn the "owner" into a "seller".

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

You guys have some really nice guns! Awesome.

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!