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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 03-13-2011, 07:35 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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Default A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?

I hit up the little UCGA show today and was not dissappointed. I picked up a 38/200 S&W with import markings and great patina for cheap. On the gun was K frame pre-war service stocks with large medallions on them. They are also numbered 43589 which obviously can't number to this gun. Did they make service stocks with large medallions for K frames and no they don't look like modified N frame stocks?

Next question is that I saw a nice tapered barrel K-38 with SN#K4,xxx that had a red bead front sight that lettered as such and shipped to Salt Lake. It was in perfect shape without a box for $875. The seller said he also had a heavy barrel K-38 with a 5 digit serial number, proceeded by the "K", that was in similar condition, about perfect, and for sale at the same price already lettered. I didn't have the cash but wondered if I shouldn't have tried to strike a deal. I do have his contact info.

Next thing was two triple locks for sale at $650 a piece. One had been refinished by some guy in Sothern California and done very well, it looked like factory work. The other had been factory refinished once before but had since been very well used. I honestly wish I had showed up there with $3000 cash as I probably would have spent it all.

Anyway, thoughts on the grips, the K38 (pre-14), and the Triple locks?
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Old 03-13-2011, 08:09 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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Any Triple Lock at $650 sounds like a deal to me. I'd have taken both.

A high condition narrow rib K-38 with a four digit serial number (plus the K, of course) for $850? Go into debt to get that one. The Heavy Barrel K-38 at the same price sounds a little steep to me.

Service stocks had big medallions in the 'teens. The number you found would be for an early .38 M&P when stocks did not yet have medallions. I bet the wood came from a .32-20; in that series, that serial number would have gone out the door about 1912-13.

By the way, that's a good looking .38/200.

Edited to add: I don't want to sound presumptious. I should have said, "I would go into debt to get that one." That's only a few bucks more than what I paid for a similar high-condition narrow-rib K-38 from May 1948 that I picked up a few months back. I'm still trying to work up a good estimate of how many narrow-rib K-38s there are, but it doesn't seem like there could be that many.
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Old 03-13-2011, 08:25 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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Dave,
Thanks for the reply and no worries as I would have to take on some debt to pick that K38 up. It was there at the last show too so I don't imagine it will move until the gentleman sets up at the next show. That may give me enough to time to save up.
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Old 03-13-2011, 09:47 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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We've had "discussions" on the issue of large medallions before. I've owned a few, so I'm a believer. I've also had a couple of sets of N service that were skillfully sanded and trimmed to fit a K. You've really got to look to see it.

The best way I know of is to look at the back side. See how the post looks. Compare it with the post from a small medallion K. They look the same (out of necessity.)

There are also K magna's with the large medallion. Those have the turned washer the N Magna's have.

Disclaimer: just because I believe in something doesn't make it so, its just my opinion. Most of the folks I talk to and trust say they exist, but not all in existence came that way from the factory. Its easy to fake one if you want.
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Old 03-13-2011, 09:50 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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Daniel,Sir: Work hard to get that K-38 narrow rib gun. I have K75711 and it's my favorite K-38. Bought it from an older gent who said his father had used it as a Penn.State Police Reserve Officer. Shows very little use.
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Old 03-13-2011, 10:24 PM
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A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about? A couple questions I had from a show today that I wondered about?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburg View Post
We've had "discussions" on the issue of large medallions before. I've owned a few, so I'm a believer. I've also had a couple of sets of N service that were skillfully sanded and trimmed to fit a K. You've really got to look to see it.

The best way I know of is to look at the back side. See how the post looks. Compare it with the post from a small medallion K. They look the same (out of necessity.)

There are also K magna's with the large medallion. Those have the turned washer the N Magna's have.

Disclaimer: just because I believe in something doesn't make it so, its just my opinion. Most of the folks I talk to and trust say they exist, but not all in existence came that way from the factory. Its easy to fake one if you want.
As I look at these it does seem like they possibly were well modified to fit a K frame. The back of the medallion is simply a post just like a K frame small medallion would look from the back. The bottom corners also look like they have dulled to fit a shorter butt. The back strap of the grips look thinner than the forestrap when looking down directly from above the medallions. They look great for having been modified if they were indeed changed.

As for the K-38, it would be nice to add to the collection since it letters to my current place of residence and it is very, very nice. It would make a nice companion to the pre-17 I picked up last fall. Let's see, what can I sell.
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