I was born in September 1949 and would like to find a birth gun. My problem is I don't really know what I am looking for. So the question is What should I be searching for. I'm not really sure what is most available. I don't need to find a collectable gun as I will want to shoot it. I want something fun to shoot. Not a 357 magnum, at least I don't think so. I want it to be a Smith and Wesson. I'm not looking for something rode hard and put up wet. I can afford better, but if it came along and I really liked it then I might go for it. That is , if the internals were ok.

I have an early model 60 no dash, a 642, and a 659.I have a few other 38's from other manufacturers and I have a couple of cheap 22s, High Standard Model 101 and a Rohm RG 66. I have always had a curiosity about a 44 special. I have shot the Ruger 44 magnum a long time ago and my hands are too old for that sort of thing.

Ok now I'd like to hear from you folks.

...a K-38 Masterpiece from 1949...a six inch target K frame is hard to beat...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

The most easily found S&W would be an M&P because so many were made. An M&P shipping around September 1949 would probably have a SN around C 85000. If you interested in a K-series (K-22 or K-38), look for a SN around K 76000. But there are fewer of them for sale around, also more expensive if you find one.

I have one that I think is 1949, though I haven't verified it with Mr. Jinks yet. It's a well-worn snubnose M&P .38:



Shopping for a specific year is really hard to do-- my birth year is 1956, and I've gotten a couple that I thought might be right just going by the serial number, but they both turned out to be 1957. Missed it by that much.

Another 1949 pre 14, they really are extremely good shooters.

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I believe finding a 1949 K22 Masterpiece should be a less than daunting task. They made a bazillion of them. Ha.

Now the quest is to find the extremely elusive:

Birth Year

Birth Month

Birth Day

Bam!!

Nailed it. Here is mine.


Both of us shipped from our respective 'factories' on the very same day.

How cool is that?

good luck,

bdGreen

If you can find one, a Ruger Mk I with a serial number 2415 or under, but they are a collector's item, because that was the first year of production.

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Certified NRA rifle instructor

I got a C73000 MP38 about a year ago. Bought it for the old Sambar stag grips. It was cheap ($200) and makes a good car or house gun

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Dr. B

I was born in Feb of 47 and I have an M&P that shipped in April of 47. I was born on Saturday so will never find a gun from that day. Six weeks is close enough for me. I found mine at the SWCA meeting in KC and got it from a forum member.

This one ( my birth year gun) was also shipped in march/April 1947

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John

My Birth Day gun shipped on a Sunday.

Who knew?

Roy knew, that's who.

Always hope.

beGreen

That's a nice gun. Thanks

You are unfortunate in having a 1949 birth year. That was a period of evolution and redesign. S7w had many pre war parts inventoried to use up but at the same time had an improved hammer block safety and other innovations to introduce.

So in '49 models designated by collectors as post war Transitional Models were hitting the market, and they are low volume production soon replaced by redesigned models. Hence highly sought collector items.

DWalt's advice to look for a 38 Military and Police, the highest production model of S&Ws is a wise choice.

I might also suggest a small I frame revolver in .32 or .38 S&W (Not the 38 Spl) like these:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I've had several K22's that shipped in 1949. Still have K22 # K53117 I think shipped in 1948, but I will check.

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Charlie

A K22 with a ring. There's a story there.

I have never sought "birthday guns" but wound up with a handful. Closest to actual date of birth is a 4th Model 44 Target shipped exactly one week after my birthday.

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No life story has happy end.

This is my "birthday" gun. Shipped today, July 13, 1949. One day before I was born.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Hondo, Thanks for the info. Are there any 44 specials that fall into my category. I didn't mean to exclude them from my list.

Well, I'm not Jim but I can say you would be looking for a prized .44, the .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, post-war transitional, AKA the Model 1926, .44 Military. Anything decent is going to be expensive since they only made about 1500 of them. But, it's your BIRTHDAY! So why not go for it? You'd be looking for something just below SN S75000.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Wiregrassguy- The shipping date on that M&P (July 13) is my wedding anniversary. Had to think about it for a while before letting it go. In the end I decided the date was more important to you than to me.

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No life story has happy end.

Thanks again! I'm not lucky enough to find another one as close as this one.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Are we talking 1949. Is it in that bad of condition.

Well, the OP is one month younger than I am.

For me, I need a gun "born" in August 1949.

I think I'd go with an M&P snub in either 38 sp. or 32 S&W long.

Would the SCSW 4th edition prices be representative.
Might as well hope for the target model. If we are going to throw caution to the wind.

Well it is 2 years old now so prices maybe a little lower than market today

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

My problem is my birth year is smack in the middle of the '-1' change. I've never found one I could justify the extra cost for. Maybe a 28-1?

Close but no cigar. K-38 # 75735, shipped to Calif. 5-1949. Big Larry

1. Well the first thing I would look for is anything in 1949.
2. Then any time from January to September. I was in process so to speak.
3. Next the month of September.
4. September 26 1949. I don't expect to find that but will keep looking.

I haven't had the K38 in my early post lettered but if the one Larry showed with #75735 5-49 then the one I have would be getting really close.

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1959 here.

Everything’s a no-dash, which sellers seem to think triples the value.

I was born in 1945. How many guns do you see from
that year?

This narrow-rib K-32 shipped in March 1949...





Sorry about the poor pics...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

My K38 #78168 could be closer. It's not lettered but I might do it to help a guy find a gem.

Big Larry, that is a beautiful gun.

I need a little clarification. Is the K-38 Masterpiece the same as the K-38 Target Masterpiece. I'm thinking it is.

Confusing isn't it. The box for my standard bbl. K-38 just calls it a K38 Masterpiece. The one for my heavy bbl. K-38 calls it a K38 Heavy Masterpiece. Big Larry

The only official S&W names before introduction of the L frame are:

K38 Combat Masterpiece (4")
K38 Masterpiece (long barrels)
K38 Heavy Masterpiece (6" heavy barrel)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

So as to not run afoul of any of the forum rules. Should I now post a want to buy ad. I believe I now know what the possible candidates for my birthday gun is.

I would post now. It may take a while. I have often thought of doing this, but I would make it easy on myself and expand my selection capabilities by just being year specific, but that is just me. I recently bought several older nice examples of several guns, and for some reason I ended up with 4 from 1968, the year I graduated high school. Just the luck of the draw. I too am 1949, so i may look for something at some point. Probably a 22cal. Good luck hunting down what you want.

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son