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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 03-12-2011, 03:47 PM
PJGP PJGP is offline
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Default Early M&P Target Revolver?

I have found a S&W 38 Special target revolver that looks very much like my Model 14-4. It is S/N K 76297 (there is quite a gap between the K and the number). Am I correct in thinking that it is a M&P 1st or 2nd change target gun?

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Peter
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Old 03-12-2011, 04:36 PM
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That would be a K-38 Masterpiece from late 1949 or early 1950. That model became the Model 14 when S&W went to Model numbers in 1957, so that's why it resembles your later Model 14.
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Old 03-14-2011, 11:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWilson View Post
That would be a K-38 Masterpiece from late 1949 or early 1950. That model became the Model 14 when S&W went to Model numbers in 1957, so that's why it resembles your later Model 14.
Thank you David. The only detailed S&W reference book I possess is Neal & Jinks "1857-1945", and so from the serial number 76297 I assumed an early M&P. Presumeably the K before the number tells you otherwise?

Peter
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Old 03-14-2011, 11:32 AM
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Yes, the K prefix is a dead giveaway for postwar production. It went on the K-frame guns with adjustable sights when S&W reset their serial number sequence to 1 (or 101, actually) in late 1946. The fixed sight K-frames used the holdover S prefix (without the V) from the wartime years, then went to a C prefix in 1948. The letter prefixes in postwar guns are always part of the serial number.
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Old 03-14-2011, 03:35 PM
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PJGP,

Congratulations on your find. Any K-38 Masterpiece is an outstanding target revolver but the early pre-Model 14s are exceptional!

Am curious if K76297 has the early tapered narrow-rib barrel or the standard heavy wide-rib barrel like your Model 14-4? 1949–1950 is during the transition period when both were available.

Below are comparison pictures with the heavy on the left and tapered on the right.





Thank you, Russ
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Old 03-15-2011, 06:47 AM
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Thanks again David

Russ, it has the wide rib. However, it is not mine, but in a local dealer's stock. My 14-4 is used for sports shooting, mostly the 1500, and a K-38 doen't really fit into my revolver collection. Given the licence restrictions that we have to live under here in South Africa, and the fact that I have just found several Webleys that most certainly do fit my collection, I will probably pass up the K-38 - pity though!

Peter
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jinks, k-frame, k38, masterpiece, model 14, postwar, transition

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