I knew the seller, a former Marine who served in Korea, was a sniper in Vietnam and was trained by the Corps as an armorer. He has recently passed.

Serial number 2372xx puts production at circa 1955 per the SCSW.

Note the modification to the grip portion of the frame. All of the modifications to this piece are clean and precise. Looks like someone knew what they were doing.

Obviously, wadcutters only.

SA trigger pull is 2 lbs. 15 oz. DA pull is 8 obs. 1 oz.

Sorry for some of the crooked photos - I guess Photobucket is not liking me much right now.

The estate is asking $700. I have no idea how to price this gun - any thoughts on this?

Also, does anyone recognize any of the parts used on this? How about who could have made the stocks?

Thanks for the help, guys.

Grips appear to be Fuzzy Farrant with the appropriate mod to the front of the grip frame. Interesting gun. I think it is a very serious target piece.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I love the 6" & 4" K frame target style guns. I've got multiple 38's, .357's and a .22. With that said I'd have a hard time paying $500 for that gun.

The grips don't fit the frame and are chipped. The rest of the modifications don't really add any value that I'm aware of. I'd guess the original cylinder was used and shaved. That drops the value.

It looks like the barrel could be original. Is the notch for the pinned barrel still there and showing right next to the frame? It don't see any marking on the barrel so that is odd and would indicate an aftermarket barrel.

The ejector has been set back and looks about useless. The barrel crown has rust or pitting - that's not good.

I'd be interested at $400 if I could take the gun out and test it for proper function. At $300 I'd take a chance on it. I'm sure whoever did all those modifications paid good money to have then done but unless your looking for those specific mods the gun is worth less than a stock one. At least that's my opinion.

I just noticed the rust on the grip frame. While not a deal breaker that doesn't help the value...

The extractor rod looks rather short. Perhaps whoever created this revolver canibalized a 2" Combat Masterpiece and fabricated a custom barrel! It is definitely unique.

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Judge control not gun control!

That's one of Dave's guns from Fallbrook. I've seen it many times and admit it piqued my interest; problem is every time I go into his shop he has so many cool old S&W's to choose from. It may seem pricey to some, but here in CA it is a good price. I recently picked up a 5 screw K 38 from him just before he passed.

I'm going to miss him - half of the guns in my safe came from his store.

I second the Fuzzy Farrant grips. I've got a Python with the same grip mod.

I googled Fuzzy Farrant and found modified grip frames just like on the K-38 CM. The knowledge on this forum never ceases to amaze.

There are zero markings on the barrel. The barrel appears to be pinned (at least, the pin is in there).



I was thinking that the extractor rod seems short because the cylinder is set back, but looking at this photo it appears that extracted cases probably wouldn't clear the chambers:

I second the Fuzzy Farrant grips. I've got a Python with the same grip mod.

Yep, me too, Jingles. I also have bought a mess of guns from him over the years. Just picked up a 4 screw Pre-Model 29 and a really minty little Officers Model Match from them.

Dotty can't recall if Dave actually made the K-38 CM. He could easily have used that massive lathe and Bridgeport milling machine in his shop to do the work, but the Fuzzy Farrant grips are the wildcard to that theory.

By the way, do you shoot at the Rainbow Range?

It looks to me like it is set up to use only 148 grain flush with the case mouth wadcutters like a model 52 would use.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I'd have a hard time buying any gun that has the modification for Fuzzy Farrant grips. Everyone I've seen has at least the letter 'K' removed, and that's part of the legal serial number of the gun. ATF doesn't like guns with modified or obliterated serial numbers.

That gun has had a ton of modifications. The cylinder has been shortened, and the barrel has been turned and threaded to allow for a correct cylinder gap. It's a one of a kind, and if you're looking for something you can use and not worry about, this is probably not a good one to pursue - especially at that price.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

That is precisely correct.

I would have to re-load for wadcutters. I refuse to load lead wadcutters on my Dillon 650 with the Mr. Bulletfeeder for a variety of reasons of which you are no doubt well aware.

Polymer coated wadcutters are available (from Lucky 13, for example), but I have not done the research to ensure that they are .358s or something else. Oversized WCs would not be good in this scenario.

You are correct, sir. The "K" has been removed from the serial number on the butt of the frame. The numerical portions of the SN remain intact.

Anyone recognize the sights that were installed?

Kind of a strange gun. I don't know what it is FOR. Nothing I have shot much of.

The barrel is heavier than stock, but lighter than the usual 1" round or 1 1/8" slabside PPC barrel.
Sights are standard and not the usual Bomar or Aristocrat PPC sight rib.

The ejector rod is short, indicating it either started out as a snubby OR the builder would rather have to slap the empties out than to risk catching one under the fully extended extractor. (Aristocrat makes a stop collar for the purpose.)

The cylinder looks SLIGHTLY short, but not as short as the best known pure wadcutter Fred Schmidt gun. See one of those at
TX - Fred Schmidt #41 of 250, "Triple Lock 10-8" $750 OBO
Perhaps it is cut to the OAL of some specific load like maybe a H&G No 50 wadcutter with front band instead of the flush seated HBWC.

As said, frame cut for Farrant grips, but the grips long gone.

Wide target trigger and hammer are not usual on a PPC gun.

Strain screw is backed WAY out, have to wonder if it has a real action job.
ETA 8 lb DA with strain screw backed out indicates not a lot of work done to action.

I don't usually play Internet Gun Price is Right, but I think you could get a nice stock K38 for the money and not have to wonder what the Marine was thinking. Unless of course you LIKE the way he was thinking.

Interesting info on the cylinder, Jim. Good eye on that strain screw, too.

Although I neglected to photograph the back of the grips, they are definitely cut to precisely fit the Fuzzy butt on the frame (that came out sounding strange).

Interesting about the grips, made to fill the Fuzzy butt. Obviously the Marine changed his mind or maybe got the gun already beveled and didn't like it.

I had an old book with pictures of Farrant grips with and without bevel and some very nice pre-Monogrip Hogues.

I'd say that IF I were a serious competitive bullseye shooter and IF I could shoot better scores with it than using a more stock-condition K-38, then I would buy it. If not, I wouldn't touch it at any price above parts value.

Not an area in which I am knowledgeable, but I have seen highly customized target revolvers reside on gun show tables for very long periods of time, even though the prices don't seem that excessive. Not many purchasers will be interested no matter how much the original owner paid to have all that work done.

The grips are NOT Fuzzy, Hurst, etc. they are poor copies


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

That is exactly my thoughts too. I own a set of these myself and they have a made in india stamp on the back.Even the wood type is the same.

I'm guessing this is an early PPC revolver. It is a purpose built gun and really not much good for anything else. Sort of neat, and If I had the opportunity to buy it I would pay up to maybe $350- $375 for it just to play with it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

The short extractor rod, relatively light bull barrel, target hammer, target trigger and backed out strain screw are inconsistent with a PPC revolver. They would all be the cat's meow for one handed single action NRA Conventional Pistol (Bullseye). However, for valuing it that hardly matters because decades ago automatic pistols replaced revolvers in both styles of matches and, more importantly, the various timed, draw, run and shoot matches have nearly replaced Bullseye and PPC.

It is worth only whatever it is worth to the buyer as a piece of sporting equipment. I like bullseye so I could be tempted but only at a lower price. If it was in a local gun store I'd let it collect dust for a long time then make an offer.