Can someone ID my S&W revolver

[Jrshaf]

Hi, I'm new here, so be gentle.
I have a Smith 38spl I'd like to find out what model and yr.
It's from my father he carried it LAPD. It's a 4" blued 4 screw side plate, adj sights. S/N 90677 theirs no mod # inside the yoke. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks, John

[arjay]

It's a K-38 Combat Masterpiece.When S&W went to model numbers,these became the model 15.Yours dates to '49 or so and looks to be in great shape.The grips probably date to the '70s or later.

[S&WsRsweet]

Nice revolver ,thanks for the photo

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, John! The serial number that you gave us is not correct. Look under the barrel on the ejector Rod flat, or on the face of the cylinder for the serial number there. It should start with a K. The official serial number is stamped on the bottom of the butt frame and is covered up by the Target grips that you have on the gun. With a serial number or partial number if you're concerned about security will let us give you a better date that the gun shipped.

Guy

[ParadiseRoad]

...nice revolver...four line address puts it '48 or later...five screw puts it '56 or earlier...correct serial number should put it in that range...model numbers didn't appear 'til '57...

[Targets Guy]

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful revolver.

[DWalt]

IF 90677 (stamped on the butt, not the yoke) is the SN and IF it has a K prefix (K 90677), it likely shipped around August or September 1950, and that SN is within the 1950 production range. The K-38 Combat Masterpiece first hit the market around late 1949. The target grips on it are not original and date from much later (it is not unusual to find an inked date stamping on the inside of later target grips). When model numbering began in the late 1950s, it became the Model 15.

[rct269]

"---------he carried it LAPD."

I am completely bumfuzzled---and seriously in need of some education!!

Given that "LAPD" means Los Angeles Police Department, and "carried it" means he carried it as a duty gun, and seeing as how it absolutely, positively has to be the spiffiest, most pristine duty gun I've ever seen (and most certainly does not appear to have been refinished (yesterday---by an EXPERT)), my first (compound) question is how long did he carry it, and in what? And having asked that, it occurs to me I should not have assumed he carried it as a Patrol Officer, but perhaps as an executive officer (a "suit") who carried another weapon (one of those little bitty guns) on a daily basis, and only carried this one when he was obliged to attend special occasions in uniform.

So---it should be clear where I'm going with all this---and what my needs are. Please help.

Ralph Tremaine

[Jrshaf]

Thanks all for the info. Yes there is a K, the number is from the butt. I did change the grips to the target grip and on Its brother too! Also have a model 36 chief that's perfect with box and paper.

[LEO918]

Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum from Arizona. Great start!

[Jrshaf]

Ralph, he carried the 6" mod 14-1 on patrol, and the this 4" as a homicide detective. 27yrs LAPD. ( chief is mine)

[Wiregrassguy]

Well, I'm with Ralph on this. Those guns are far too pretty to be the duty guns I've seen. He must have had fleece lined holsters. Very nice!

[Jrshaf]

They had some holster wear, bent sights and the like. I "went through them" yrs ago and touched up the bluing, but is the original finish. I don't about the fleece lined holster I was a kid when he passed. I do have his leather holsters and smith handcuffs

[ParadiseRoad]

...that's a nice little collection...three of S&W's best...

[Jrshaf]

Thanks, I've had them a long time. Just picked up a 617-5 it's in jail and is a project gun.