I recently puchased this K-38 from it's original owner , now 88 years old. It was speccial ordered with the following features : 4 1/2 " heavy rib barrel, Factory tuned action with the following , lightend .500 wide target hammer, serrated service trigger , special mainspring that functions both the hammer and the rebound , fitted rebound plug that limits rebound over travel , trigger stop , no hammer block installed.
Not destined to be a Safe Queen but for self defense for my Daughter, I refitted the lockwock to a smooth stagging DA pull . The old action was so incredibly lght and fast it didn't seem intended for self defense purposes.
Along with these Pre-War Roper palm swells was the original diamond checkered Walnut targets. Price paid $ 350.00
Condition overall is 98% !

pull.

Wow, what a nice piece. No way I would change it from the special order configuration. There are many other self-defense choices.

I'm envious.

I would assume it was a pre-model 15, combat masterpiece, also called a K38. Were you measuring the barrel from the end of the forcing cone? That looks like a 4" barreled pre15... regardless, I still wouldn't alter it, at least not until I got a Jinks letter for it.

if that were mine i would put it all back how it came, get a letter, and GRIN from EAR to EAR

you could find a beat up model 15 for $350......the Ropers are probably worth that alone

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

The barrel is a "heavy" barrel as used on the Model 14 . . . not the tapered barrel as used on the Model 15. The factory was known to cut a 6" Model 14 Heavy barrel to satisfy special ordered 5" and 4".

The rear sight leaf, however, is unusual . . . not grooved and is marked "Smith & Wesson" on the top. I have seen one of the 4" special ordered by the Kansas City PD in 1957 but don't recall anything different about the rear sight leaf. Can anyone comment?

Very nice 4" heavy example. Like others, I would letter and restore that one to its special ordered configuration and find a solid 4" Model 15 for home defense.

Russ

Wouldn't have done anything to that one but get it lettered. Besides, "incredibly light and fast" would have been my choice for self-defense. I would hope, at the very least, that whatever was involved in "refitting" could be un-done and it could be returned to its original state.

There are way too many other options available for self-defense, for the same money, if this one didn't seem right.

TL

What a great special order Masterpiece! The U and W springs were experiments tried on the Model of 1955 .45s (mostly) in the mid-1950s. I would bet this gun dates to that time period as well. Can you share the serial number, or most of it? I am thinking it is likely between K225000 and K275000.

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David Wilson

Great find. I would letter it and put it away. I bought a mint M15 last year for $350.00 shipping included off of Gunbroker.

As well, ALL of my fixed sight K-Frame .38 Specials have shot to point of aim with standard 148 wadcutter loads and 158 grain loads as well.

I'd buy the cheapest, fully functioning adjustable OR fixed sight K-Frame .38 Special for the lucky daughter who has a great father.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

that gun with a letter would be something great for sure!

The barrel length is exactly 4 1/2 inches measured from the forcing cone to the crown. The serial # is K-790XX

Like I said, I would assume...

Nice piece.

No notches in the frame, a M14 frame for sure, add no tapered barrel and that is a pre-14 for sure. Nice piece, now put the original parts back!

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Dave

WAY earlier than I expected -- mid 1950, probably. That U-spring is now the earliest such example I know.

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David Wilson

While looking at Nyteman44's post of his pre-Model 14 (very nice and unique gun) and the comment of linde in his reply of the rear sight leaf marked "Smith&Wesson, I thought I had a revolver with the same type of marked rear sight leaf, and upon going through my guns, I came across an old retired NYSP Model 28-2 I had bought, as my wife's Uncle was a former trooper, and thought it would be fun to own. Sure enough the rear sight leaf is marked the same a Nyteman44's. Apparently there were more than one type of frame sights marked this was. Only owning one Highway Patrolman, I thought all the Model 28's rear sight's were marked this way, as the gun's topstrap is very plain. The left side of the frame is marked NYSP. Maybe I have something unique myself. Anybody else have a Model 28 marked this way?

No such stamping on my 1955 Pre-28, nor on any other revolver I own.

Interesting mark. If the same rare sight is found on both a Pre-14 and a 28-2, I'd wonder if the original sight was replaced on one of the guns (or maybe both). It would be interesting to know if the underside is marked with the serial number of the Pre-14; the HP would be too late for such itemized parts marking.

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David Wilson

Yes, the Highway Patrolman would have been a very logical application for the plain rear sight leaf but I believe yours is the first one I've seen. After seeing your 28-2 I went and looked at my Dayton guns which also have a plain barrel rib but both of them have the conventional grooved rear sight leaf.

Here'a a picture of a 1971 vintage 14-3 with 4" barrel on the left and a 1965 vintage 14-2 Dayton gun on the right. It's a little hard to see but both have the grooved sight leaf.



An interesting side story for a very interesting 4" Masterpiece.

Russ

DCWilson, the underneath of the Pre - 14 is not marked with a serial #. I was under the impression the only the adjustable rear sight S&Ws with the old polished in sights were numbered .

For the OP: Please get this thing lettered, and then place it back in it's original configuration, and get something else as a defense gun. The Ropers, as mentioned, will fetch more than enough for you to get a nice 4" .38 special of your choosing. Incidentally, did this one come with a box, or a sales receipt?

Beautiful Combat Masterpiece,

It was definately made from a "Heavy Masterpiece" (pre Model 14) frame and barrel.

Interestingly the factory chose the older style "taper barrel" Masterpiece frame and barrel style when they introduced
the Combat Masterpiece ("Pre" Model 15) as a regular cataloged item.

The rear site is baffling looks more pre Model 28 .

Due to the low serial number ,
Perhaps the original owner wanted a "Combat" MP before the Pre Model 15 was available,
and had it made special including the Baughman FS ?


Linde,
I had assumed the factory used a Model 10 HB to make the earlier four inch 14-2 barrel?
The later version looks more like they shortened a standard 6" Model 14 barrel.

You may well be correct. I thought I recalled seeing a serial number on the rear sight of a postwar N-frame, but I could easily have confused a couple of guns.

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David Wilson

With the exception of the front sight blade, the barrel used on the 1965-67 Model 14-2 Dayton guns sure looks identical to the Model 10 heavy barrel that was first introduced in 1959. At least that's what everyone who sees one observes. The literature put out by Dayton Gun Headquarters, however, indicates a "New Heavy Design" for the 4' barrel. Certainly it was new to those looking for a 4" heavy barrel with adjustable sights.

And yes, the later 4" heavy Model 14-3s were indeed factory shortened 6" Model 14 barrels.

Russ