I found this one at a gun show here in CA not long ago, proving that there are still some good ones out there. The seller had it marked as a "Model 15" and it was right side down in the display case. Seeing the diamond Magnas my first thought was that it was a nice early 1960's Model 15. When I asked to see it and saw that it was a 5 screw and had no model marking on the frame under the crane, I knew it was a late K-38 Combat Masterpiece. The serial number is in the low K 257,000 range so it was made not long before the transition to the 4 screw frames at around K 260,000. Timing and lock up are perfect and tight and it looks to have been fired very little. All numbers match including the stocks. The action and cylinder rotation felt a bit sticky, but all it needed was a detail strip, clean and lube as the old oil inside had dried and turned to varnish. The price was reasonable, especially in CA where everything seems to be 20% higher even if you are lucky enough to find the older models.

Really nice find and good pictures. Thanks for sharing.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

Congrats on a great gun. I like the box of 38's as well. Did you pick them up at the same show? Although, I'm still new in my learning curve on ammo boxes, I think that the box of 38's may predate the gun by more than a couple of handful of years (isn't it a mid-1930's style of box)?

Thanks for sharing your beautiful new find and great photos.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Oh, that's a beautiful Combat Masterpiece. Congratulations on the great find, they are as close to perfect revolvers as you can get IMHO.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Yes, that ammo box style would have been prior to 1946. Winchester adopted a completely different box graphics design in 1946.

Great gun! Love the 4 inch barrel on these.

Great old K frame.

Congrats! They don't make'em like that anymore.

Gotta' love the gun shows.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

I have a few boxes of vintage ammo that I like to use as props for photos but didn't have anything I could ID as being from the 1950's. I have a box of 158 gr. Western Luballoy loads and some Peters blue & red box 158 gr. RNL ammo, but they have the "warning - keep out of reach of children" labels which I believe started around 1962.
A lot of the vintage ammo I have was purchased pre-Obama administration at gun shows from dealers who were selling off estate finds. I bought probably a couple dozen boxes of assorted brands and loads, usually for $5-$6 each. I sure wish I could do it again...

A beauty! Congratulations on the find.

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David Wilson

Pretty gun. I don't have a nice pre 15 .................. yet!

Nice find especially here in California.

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Wheel guns are real guns too.

I have one that looks identical. How do I know what mine is? I'm a total novice to firearms. The serial number starts with a C.

Tom

If you look at the rear sight, you will see that it is not adjustable. It is just a notch cut in the top strap. That is what is called a "fixed" sight. The revolver that is the subject of this thread has an adjustable rear sight.

Yours would be called a Military & Police model. Post some pictures and the complete serial number and we can tell you a lot more about it.

And welcome to the S&W Forum. This is the best place on the Internet to learn about S&W revolvers. Dozens of knowledgeable people here; and they are friendly.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Nice revolver my friend. Mine was shipped to Rex Firearms 11-53.
Letters with a target hammer and walnut target stocks. They are the non relieved type. It remains NIB and does not have a single mark on it. Big Larry

I was loving my k22 action till I got this k38. It’s a pre model 15 right?

I think that the Combat Masterpiece is the epitome of the S&W revolver. It just says "it all".

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Kevin in Oregon

Excellent find and good job keeping your eyes peeled for that one. They are great guns, mine is a little earlier. Great shooter! Enjoy

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Nice. There is one listed near me, says 1952, 5 screw pinned barrel. The picture shows a slight amount of wear at the end of the barrel. 4", looks like the same stocks as shown in this post. What is the value of these in NC?

Thanks

The market is a bit unstable right now , the effect being elevated prices.
Without pictures you are asking us to play "Guesso" , but I'd say that you are looking at a revolver of $450 - $550. The Combat Masterpiece (you will never hear or see me use the term "pre 15" ...) is a very desirable firearm and the older ones even more so.

Did I mention pictures?

My all time favorite revolver. I have a numbers-matching example including the diamond magna grips from 1955, serial K2333**. It's not a safe queen, but a nice condition shooter. I did add a T-grip to better suit my hands.
Almost lost it to my wife after she asked to shoot it, but a nice 15-2 for her saved the Combat Masterpiece for me.