Hi Folks,

Was at the local show this past weekend and made a couple nice finds on S&W's. This was one. A husband and wife were walking past me and I noticed the non relieved diamond targets and what appeared to be a K38. Asked what they were asking and the lady said $300. I looked at him for confirmation and then told them that if my inspection proved o.k. that I would buy it.

I checked the timing and looked at the condition and bought it rather quickly. As I stood back in my excitement of knowing I had just bought a pretty decent condition k38 4 screw with diamond targets at a great price , I notice the barrel is a bit short. I knew it was factory as the lettering was centered so I start to get a bit more excited.

My mind takes me to the thought of a special run of guns called the Hannen special aka Dayton gun. There were about 2000 of those made. A S&W buddy(forum member jebus) walks up and looks at what I have and says "do u know what u have?" I say I believe it is a Dayton gun. He promptly says "you are wrong". I told him I was lost as to what he was saying at this point and he was going to have to educate me.
He tells me to check my barrel length and he was correct that it was 5" and not 4". once that was confirmed we took the grips off to see that the serial number was in range for the special order gun he suspected it to be and it was.

So then he tells me about the Illinois State Police special order guns and how there was somewhere around 400 of them ever made. Congratulates me on a great(lucky) find and we go our way. Thank you very much Larry for the information. I really enjoy learning new to me information on S&W revolvers.

So after a little internet research it would seem that the serial number (304700) falls in line with the 3rd and final shipment of ISP guns. The non relieved diamond targets also seem to be correct for the final shipment of guns as well. The non relieved diamonds seemed odd to me as I figured they would have been used up and gone by 1957.

Anyway , it has some bumps and bruises and a little muzzle wear and a little speckle rust but overall pretty decent example of a very rare version of the K38.

Here are a couple pictures of my ISP K38. Had to snap the pictures fast as it was starting to rain.

Twig.

A very nice looking piece. What show? I went to the shows in Zanesville and Berea on Saturday

This was the Berea show on Saturday.

Larry knows of what he speaks . . . there were 470 in three direct shipments to the ISP and yours was one of 230 in the last shipment.

You done good . . . congratulations.

Russ

Nice.

"Had to snap the pictures fast as it was starting to rain."

If it's a cop gun, believe me, it has been rained on before.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

First the 617 and now this...you must be living a good clean life . Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Hopefully it has just enough wear you will shoot it so you can really appreciate what you have.



Just shot earlier this week. Mine is a K2857xx, which shipped 7/3/57.

Enjoy!

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Definitely had a lucky streak going on Saturday.

Great find indeed!!
I lucked into one in 2015 and didn't really know anything about it at the time of purchase. Mine was in the same shipment as yours at 304697 according to what I've read.

Masterbuck54

Nice catch! It's wonderful! Congrats!

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America First

Good score Bent-Twig. I have often wondered why the 5" K-38 was not a regular catalog item. I have one that shipped in January 1964 and for those that have never handled one, they have an excellent balance and handling feel to them that is very different from a Combat Masterpiece or 6" K-38.

When I first saw Twig Saturday, he had a weird smirk on his face. I was amazed when I heard what he paid for the ISP gun. I Just won a 5" ISP gun from Gun Broker 4 weeks ago so the serial number range was still in my head. Talked to linde on the phone to confirm what I had bought and mine was an overrun from the ISP guns. Twig finds some neat guns, too bad he won't be at the NE Ohio Bunch this fall to display the gun. At least mine came with the original box but cost me way more. Nice catch on this and the 617 twig. Larry

Seems like you got a really nice pistol for the price of the grips. I would say you scored big time.

Thanks Larry.
I really wanted to be at the fall meeting. There are always great folks and great eats. Not to mention a pile of sweet s&w's to stare at and often times buy. You started a great thing there and I am sorry not to make it. The trip to Yellowstone will be great though. Taking the in-laws and it will be their first time there.
Thank you again for all the helpful information.
Twig.

I dislike you intensely. There is no objective reason I should seek out such a revolver, but they are just ... interesting.

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NHI, 10-8.

Congratulations on a very nice find and even better luck on price. Here's one in the same shipment and same configuration as yours, K304705.

Oh, and just a FYI, Linde is the resident expert on these.

Attached Images

	K38 ISP ship 5in K304705 ship 10-14-1957.JPG (117.5 KB, 30 views)
	K38 ISP ship 5in K304705 ship 10-14-1957 (2).JPG (120.5 KB, 23 views)

Thank you Trashy.
look at that , just 5 numbers apart. Pretty cool.

$300 I am surprised the LEOs at the gun show didn't arrest you for stealing that gun. Good thing for you the seller had no idea what they had.
$300 is more for just a shooter grade not one like you got.

Buy a lottery ticket. Yesterday.

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Oh well, what the hell.