Recently came into possession of a very nice S&W revolver. Been years since I have had a wheel gun. Bought a King Cobra once...

Anyway here is what I have:

5 screw
4 inch barrel
Adjustable sights
Narrow trigger
38 Special

Small grips.

Serial #K1990xx. 1953 range?

Frame and crane have matching numbers, as do the serial and cylinder.
Gun is very highly polished, looks like nickel, maybe redone?

I can post a pic if I can figure out how. Not this am...had a few Bodington's.

Neat gun.

Oh, she is missing firing pin and rivet. Weird as the gun is in awesome shape. Hard to get/fit?

Thanks for any help.

Welcome to the forum!
Yes, your gun was called the K-38 Combat Masterpiece. The large, upper sideplate screw was dropped a few years later and it was designated the Model 15 when numbers were assigned in 1957.

The hammer nose and rivet are not that hard to find. Place a WTB ad in the WANTED to Buy section of the classifieds. Please read the classifieds rules first.

__________________
"I also cook."

You have a Combat Masterpiece (S&W did not advertise it as the K-38 CM, only as "The Combat Masterpiece"), later in the 1950s becoming the Model 15. On my list is another CM, SN K1990xx (yes, that close to yours, possibly the same one), which shipped in 11/53. Simple job to replace the firing pin and rivet.

Welcome to the Forum.

"Simple job to replace the firing pin and rivet."

If you have the correct screwdrivers. Gunsmithing screwdrivers are hollow ground, meaning the sides of the bits are parallel. Common hardware store screwdrivers are wedge shaped and will slip out of the slot. Otherwise, it only takes a hammer, a center punch and a solid backer to install a new hammer nose (firing pin). I use the small anvil that is on the back of my bench vise.

If you don't have or want to invest in some screwdrivers, a gunsmith who is familiar with S&W revolvers can do it with ease.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I haven't done it this way, but it should be possible to replace the firing pin with the hammer left in the frame, negating the need to remove the hammer.

Early guns I have seen with original boxes are marked "38 Combat Masterpiece." These are often K-38 Masterpiece boxes with an extra label applied to the top or end.

Attached Images

Smith-Wesson-Pre-Model-15-K-38-Combat.jpg (62.5 KB, 41 views)

There was also a .22 (and I think a few .32) CMs, so the box label would have shown the caliber.

Thanks for all the info, especially in regards to the hammer nose. This will be fun to remedy at home.

I am guessing non +P ammo only in this revolver? She will be exercised regularly.

03:00 a.m. , belly full of English ale , yeah - best to wait before taking gun pictures. No sense making the news.

Use standard ammo for the range....easier on the gun and pocketbook. But, don't be worried about using +P loads for serious social work.
Mike

I work grave shift. All firearm safety rules followed. Always.