Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-20-2018, 09:38 PM
wlee1953 wlee1953 is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default Old guy needing to know more about his S&W

Have a 38 special CTG sn K 230098 on the frame there is an X 54161 with the number 8 below the 54161 on the yoke there's the number 54161 . Right hand sidethereare 3 screws on the left there is one on the cylinder release. Has thepush ejector. Any help would be appreciated.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 09-20-2018, 10:31 PM
Engine49guy's Avatar
Engine49guy Engine49guy is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Florida
Posts: 7,770
Likes: 2,470
Liked 8,296 Times in 2,908 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum !

A picture would help or at least the barrel length measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle.

The K prefix indicates it is a K frame with target sites, the serial puts it around 1954.

If its a 6" barrel would be a K-38 Masterpiece, If its a 4" would be a Combat Masterpiece.
If its a 5" barrel it would be a rarer variant.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 09-20-2018, 10:31 PM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,598
Likes: 1,551
Liked 9,322 Times in 4,182 Posts
Default

Ignore all numbers except the K230098 which should appear on the butt, under the barrel on the flat, on the rear of the cylinder, and a couple of other places. The 54161 numberings you are seeing are most likely assembly numbers and of little to no value once the gun left the factory.

With a K-prefix serial number, I am assuming this gun has adjustable rear sights, right? It also probably has a 6" barrel. If these guesses are correct, you have a K-38, also known as the Masterpiece. It is a finely built revolver designed with the target shooter in mind, although many were carried for other purposes. There was also a 4" barreled version called the Combat Masterpiece that was very popular with law enforcement.

Are you sure there are only 3 screws on the side plate? Frequently the top of the grip hides one at the back lower corner of the plate. Also, is there another screw in the front of the frame just above the trigger guard? With that serial number, I would expect the gun to have been made about the last half or 1954 and be a desirable "five screw" variant. Later, when model numbers came along, it would have been labeled a Model 14. Hope this will get you started knowing something about your S&W revolver.

Oh yeah, lest I forget, welcome to the S&W Forum.

Froggie

PS I see Engine49guy types faster, shorter answers than I do!

Last edited by Green Frog; 09-20-2018 at 10:33 PM. Reason: *** PS
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 09-20-2018, 10:48 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
SWCA Member

Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 19,208
Likes: 11,815
Liked 20,511 Times in 8,548 Posts
Default

You guys tied, both time stamped 7:31 PM but Engine49guy had a couple of seconds edge.
__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #5  
Old 09-20-2018, 11:57 PM
DWalt's Avatar
DWalt DWalt is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,483
Likes: 236
Liked 28,948 Times in 14,015 Posts
Default

K230098

Closest on my list is K2290xx which shipped in 6/55. Yours is in the 1954 production SN range. It could be either a K-38 Masterpiece (6") or a .38 Combat Masterpiece (4")
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 09-21-2018, 05:48 AM
S&WsRsweet S&WsRsweet is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: May 2017
Location: TTown Alabama ,Roll Tide
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 9,772
Liked 2,220 Times in 1,031 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum . Either way combat masterpiece or K38 masterpiece you have a well made firearm that to me is the epitome of American high quality manufacturing and although I'm no expert I can tell you for sure they don't make em like tht anymore .Give these guys a little more information maybe a picture or two if you can cause I am learning thi stuff and your questions and the experts answers helps us all out . Thanks for posting and stick around you'll like it here .
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-21-2018, 07:05 AM
JH1951's Avatar
JH1951 JH1951 is offline
US Veteran
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: South-Central PA
Posts: 3,901
Likes: 19,082
Liked 6,474 Times in 2,027 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania!
Please post some pictures when you have the opportunity.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-21-2018, 12:43 PM
glowe's Avatar
glowe glowe is offline
US Veteran

Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,916
Likes: 3,028
Liked 14,263 Times in 5,435 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
You guys tied, both time stamped 7:31 PM but Engine49guy had a couple of seconds edge.
. . . but what took you guys so long to reply???
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 09-21-2018, 09:57 PM
wlee1953 wlee1953 is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default

Thanks to all for answering the post. With the 4 inch barrel it has to be a combat master piece. My father used it when he was a deputy in New Mexico in 1954. Just after he got out of the Air Force. I wound up with it after his death and has been stored for 38 years. Againthanks ithelped a lot.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-21-2018, 10:35 PM
Waveski's Avatar
Waveski Waveski is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,723
Likes: 986
Liked 1,966 Times in 837 Posts
Default

We would really enjoy seeing pictures of your heirloom. Folks here would be glad to help you figure out how to do that , if needed.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-21-2018, 11:24 PM
shouldazagged shouldazagged is offline
Absent Comrade
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 19,336
Likes: 53,737
Liked 38,386 Times in 11,801 Posts
Default

Welcome to the forum, from an older guy than you.

You have one of the finest revolvers Smith & Wesson ever produced. I hope you'll enjoy shooting it.
__________________
Oh well, what the hell.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-21-2018, 11:38 PM
DWalt's Avatar
DWalt DWalt is offline
Member
Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W Old guy needing to know more about his S&W  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,483
Likes: 236
Liked 28,948 Times in 14,015 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by wlee1953 View Post
Thanks to all for answering the post. With the 4 inch barrel it has to be a combat master piece. My father used it when he was a deputy in New Mexico in 1954. Just after he got out of the Air Force. I wound up with it after his death and has been stored for 38 years. Againthanks ithelped a lot.
The CM was a fairly popular LE revolver in the pre-Glock days. They first appeared around late 1949. From the early 1960s until the late 1980s, the CM was also the official sidearm of the USAF.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Help needing ID Coldtiger S&W Antiques 24 03-21-2018 09:23 PM
Needing a little help please jodak New Members Introduction 16 07-27-2017 07:57 PM
Needing clarity please and a value. Breakerbar S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 8 05-19-2016 07:26 PM
Another new guy needing info. on a 10-5 davidjayuden S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 13 04-04-2016 02:49 PM
needing some info on 38 spl rickm S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 8 11-13-2010 04:45 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:41 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)