S&W 38 special ctg

[38ctg]

What year was a s&w s/n K52438 produced. I am thinking about purchasing the gun. It is in excellent condition and the price is $500. Is that a fair price?

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum. If it has a 6" barrel (more likely), this is a K-38 Masterpiece. The 4" version is the K-38 Combat Masterpiece, but I think these came out a little later. Prior to 1957, S & W didn't stamp their guns with a name or model number, so it can be difficult to tell which gun it is without some prior experience.

If it is barely to lightly used, $500 is probably a good price, but photos would be best to judge this. Hope this is helpful.

[38ctg]

It is a 6" barrell. The gun shop is telling me it is a model 14 K38 masterpiece, but the gun only says 38 s&w special ctg on the barrell. So you're telling me it is pre 1957? It has 2 small nicks on the barrell and the usual markings on the cylinder. Other wise it is mint with very little bluing wear. The checkering on th grips is very sharp. The barrell rifling is lik new. I don't have any pictures yet. Thanks.

[gkitch]

To better evaluate it, pictures would be best as Murphydog said. If that is not possible, answer these questions:
-are the grips wood with S&W logo? If they are AND there is a diamond shape around the grip screw you are dealing with factory stocks for the era. Without the correct stocks, deduct from "value".
-does it come in a S&W box with era paperwork/tools? if so, it adds to the value
-measure the barrel from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle and tell us the length.
-what is the overall condition?
-are the sights adjustable or fixed?

[gkitch]

Originally Posted by 38ctg

It is a 6" barrell. The gun shop is telling me it is a model 14 K38 masterpiece, but the gun only says 38 s&w special ctg on the barrell. So you're telling me it is pre 1957? It has 2 small nicks on the barrell and the usual markings on the cylinder. Other wise it is mint with very little bluing wear. The checkering on th grips is very sharp. The barrell rifling is lik new. I don't have any pictures yet. Thanks.

Open the cylinder and look in the crane. It will say "MOD 14" or something like that if it is a post-1957 revolver. The K-38 became the Model 14 when S&W went to a numbering system.

If it is a Model 14 it may have a dash, such as "14-2". We need to know that. The diamond around the grip screw was dropped in about 1966/7. Aw heck, I'll look up the serial number...

K52438 would have been made in 1948 if you read the serial number correctly. It should indeed be a pre-model 14.

[38ctg]

grips are wood with diamonds. barrell is 6". sights are adjustable. no box or papars. includes a light brown leather holster with 2 straps and snaps

[gkitch]

Originally Posted by 38ctg

grips are wood with diamonds. barrell is 6". sights are adjustable. no box or papars. includes a light brown leather holster with 2 straps and snaps

Sounds like a fair deal to me unless it's been reblued. Ask the gunshop if they think its been reblued? Pics remain a good idea.Anybody else want to chime in?

[murphydog]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that K 52438 would have shipped in 1948.

[38ctg]

It has not been re-blued. I am picking it up Monday. Thanks for all your help. I will post pictures once I get the gun.

[Dpris]

For future reference that .38 S&W Special CTG is the caliber & has no relationiship whatever to a model designation.
You can't expect to find models stamped on S&W barrels.
Denis

[robctwo]

I think you paid a good price for a great gun. I'm shooting a couple K38 Masterpieces I recently purchased and enjoying the heck out of them.

[38ctg]

all other things being equal, is a pre-model 14 worth more than a model 14

[38ctg]

Picked up my new toy today. Here are some photos.

[gkitch]

Stunning! You got a great deal!

[murphydog]

Very nice! Personally I wouldn't use the holster to carry or store it, the blue is too nice. Enjoy!

[DCWilson]

Originally Posted by 38ctg

all other things being equal, is a pre-model 14 worth more than a model 14

Some really early Pre-14s with a large knob on the ejector rod, or guns in the first production run with serial numbers below K24000 may be worth a few bucks more than later guns, but in general I would say that guns from the 1950s, whether model marked or not, would be valued about the same for similar condition. For numbers in between you may or may not find collectors who would pay a little more for an earlier specimen.

If I am recalling correctly, your gun would have been part of the second or third major production run after the model's introduction. Note that it has the tapered or narrow-rib barrel. The heavy barrel was not available until a year or so later.

At $500, that is a great buy. There are people on this forum who would give you $700 or even a little more for it right now.

[DCWilson]

Originally Posted by Dpris

For future reference that .38 S&W Special CTG is the caliber & has no relationiship whatever to a model designation.
You can't expect to find models stamped on S&W barrels.
Denis

Mostly, but not always. There some barrel-labeled models like the .38 Regulation Police, the Highway Patrolman, and the guns where the caliber is also the model name, like the .22 Magnum (AKA the Model 53), 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum.

[38ctg]

thanks for the great comments. I think I may shoot the gun once, but then it will get oiled well and put away. Thanks again.

[38ctg]

I wouldn't take less than $800 if I were to sell this gun now.

[Mr Pokeyman]

And then you could fill up your gas tank, take your wife to dinner and the movies. But, you wouldn't have a beautiful old gun to enjoy for the rest of your days. You found a great gun, keep it, shoot it, enjoy it!

[Dpris]

DC,
I deliberately worded my comment that way because there ARE some Smiths that do have the model on the barrel.
Still didn't state it clearly, what I was trying to say (and failed ) was that not all Smiths have models in the barrel stamping and you can't expect to find the model stamped on all Smith barrels.
To carry it further, you can't automatically assume that what you see on a Smith barrel is the model designation.
Denis

[Green Frog]

38ctg, you did very well indeed. A nice aspect of this purchase is that although its age and condition bring a significant portion of the gun's value, shooting it (with proper care and cleaning) will not harm that value. A treasure that you can actually shoot and watch increase in value... you have a win-win situation!

Froggie

[ozarkian]

I have what appears to be a very similar mod. Same grips, barrel length, but fixed sights not adjustible in about the same condition, even has the exact same holster but the serial # starts C14xxxx would you know what mod this is? I believe my dad bought it in the late 40's or early 50's but don't know if it was new or used. Thanks anyone for any info.

[linde]

Originally Posted by ozarkian

I have what appears to be a very similar mod. Same grips, barrel length, but fixed sights not adjustible in about the same condition, even has the exact same holster but the serial # starts C14xxxx would you know what mod this is? I believe my dad bought it in the late 40's or early 50's but don't know if it was new or used. Thanks anyone for any info.

Yours would be a 38 Military & Police model from early 1951. In 1957 it would be given the designation of Model 10.

Welcome to the Forum from a fellow Ozarkian.

Russ

[ozarkian]

Thanks Russ for your reply and welcome, It's a sweet gun and very light, lighter than my Taurus 2" and still has a very tight action. I'm from Camdenton, close?