Hello;
As stated in the title this old hunk of metal came home with me this afternoon.
This piece of metal has a latch that makes the side of it come out and this piece has 6 pretty big holes drilled into it.

I don't think its broken but has all these strange marking on the sides of it.

serial number ends starts with k803xx (number located on the butt of the gun after the grips have been removed.)

anyone have an idea of when this was made?

Is this thing a k38 pre 14 or 15?
Im not to sure of what the differences are between the 14 and 15.

Thank you very much
Anarcho

Can you provide a photo

yay pictures I hope

Attached Images

	k38.jpg (47.7 KB, 322 views)
	k381.jpg (83.1 KB, 429 views)

k803xx makes it a K-38 Masterpiece which likely left the factory in early 1950. The target grips on it are not original. The target grips at that time would have not had the football-shaped cutout on the left panel. It is very likely yours probably shipped with Magna grips, not target grips. The later Model 14 had a 6" barrel, the Model 15 (Combat Masterpiece) had a 4" barrel.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Pretty funny. There are some scratchings on the left side of the barrel...in English. Should say .38 S&W Special CTG.

Does it have target sights? Those thingees can be adjusted in the rear with a screwdriver but the forward sail is fixed.

How longee is the barrel? Measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle (the front end) of the barrel. Ifn it be 4 inches (AMericun measure), it be a Model 15. Ifn it be 6" or 8-3/8", maybe it is a Model 14. What do it say inside the yoke area with the cylinder open?

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thank you very much for the replies and getting back to me about this device.
barrel messures 6 inches
the scratches on the right side of the barrel do say 38 Smith & Wesson (& is funny shaped)
left side of the barrel says Smith & Wesson

Yes this thing does have the adjustable rear site and the left grip does have a football shaped cut out.
(sorry my picture might be no good to see this part).


46798 is scratched into the yoke as well as the frame part.
there is a 9 and then a 5 as well (these look like real scratches)

no tools but a cool red and black S&W patch

tried to make better picture of left grip

Attached Images

left.jpg (62.6 KB, 63 views)

Be careful adjusting the rear sight with just any old screwdriver. You can mangle up the screw head. S&W actually supplied a "Sight Adjustment Tool" (SAT) for this purpose. If you don't have one, gunsmith screwdrivers are available, just find the right size.

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You're shy a few manners.

Thank you. unfortunately this one did not come with the SAT tools or a box.
hopefully the sight is aligned and won't need much in the form of a adjustment. In case it does I'll order some gunsmith screwdrivers.

I trust the scratches on the right side of the barrel read, ".38 S&W SPECIAL CTG" and not simply ".38 S&W CTG". These are two somewhat different cartridges.

Larry

It has the patridge front sight so is it a pre model 14 target masterpiece?

Let's not tell everyone but these have the sweetest actions.

Yes Larry you are correct sorry my computer forgot to type that part about the scratching saying .38 S&W Special CTG.

Thank you very much everyone for all your help with the answers to my questions.
I've been lurking here for a very long time but haven't had too much to post or say.

Doesn't this look like one of the LAPD revolvers?

Geoff
Who bows to the local Police Sidearm collectors.

Well I've decided to play rotate grips around L frames. (yes maybe someday I'll post pictures of my L frame 686 ( its pretty boring just a shiny thing that was made in the 80s. (It is a no dash ).

(these new pieces of wood came from Culina custom grips)

Attached Images

	k382.jpg (128.0 KB, 25 views)
	k382a.jpg (86.3 KB, 25 views)

Don't lose the other grips. Even though the aren't original to your K38 they are the original style for many later K frames that someone may be looking for. They do have value and are becoming harder to find in good condition.

@OP,

It definitely is a K38 Masterpiece, but all kidding aside, something doesn't look right with the trigger. I can't quite tell if your's has a service hammer or a semi-target hammer, but it definitely is not a target hammer. The trigger is narrow (definitely not a target trigger) but narrow like a service trigger. What is odd is what looks like two vertical holes partially drilled in the side of the trigger. At first it looks like the set screws on a trigger shoe, but from the pictures, it doesn't seem to have any extra width.

From my perspective, you can never have enough K38s!

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Judge control not gun control!