Fair Price K-38 Combat Masterpiece

[kbm6893]

4" barrel, some wear. I'd say 85% finish. Here are some pics. I'm on the fence. Never shoot it. Serial dates to 1957, right before they went to Model numbers.






Not going to give it away. Just looking for ballpark so I know what to list it for if I do decide to sell.

[andy52]

With the wear I see and not having the original stocks I'd put it in the 425-450 range and I would consider that generous.

[HughD1]

They are sweet shooting old guns. That being said it will not bring a collector’s price in the shape it is in and without the diamond stocks. I would keep it and shoot it. $450 is the upper end of value to me. Good luck with your decision.


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[kbm6893]

That’s what I figured. If I couldn’t get $400 shipped I wouldn’t consider selling it.

[Pine_Worker]

It is worth $450-500 around here.

[Benton Quest]

That gun is just cool. It has done things.

If it could talk...

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[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by Benton Quest

That gun is just cool. It has done things.

If it could talk...

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Yeah. Holster wear screams cop duty gun to me.

[LoboGunLeather]

Grips are later replacements, probably late 60's to late 70's or so. Correct diamond-pattern magnas would add to the knowledgeable buyer's interest and probably getting the best price. Finding a set of correct grips would likely set you back $70 to $100, and that is money you probably won't get back on the sale, so if I were selling it I would leave it as is.

Assuming good internals, solid lock-up, and no real problems I'm thinking the $400 range is realistic, and $450 wouldn't be completely off the chart. The Combat Masterpiece is a fine revolver by any standards!

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by LoboGunLeather

Grips are later replacements, probably late 60's to late 70's or so. Correct diamond-pattern magnas would add to the knowledgeable buyer's interest and probably getting the best price. Finding a set of correct grips would likely set you back $70 to $100, and that is money you probably won't get back on the sale, so if I were selling it I would leave it as is.

Assuming good internals, solid lock-up, and no real problems I'm thinking the $400 range is realistic, and $450 wouldn't be completely off the chart. The Combat Masterpiece is a fine revolver by any standards!

Yeah, I know the grips aren’t correct. I’m not putting any money into it to not even break even if I did sell.

I’m leaning toward keeping. I’d forget about the money I made in about 2 months and wouldn’t have the gun anymore. Maybe it’s time I took it out for some exercise, remind me why they called it the Combat Masterpiece. I have a 67-1 that makes this kind of redundant, but 25 years older counts for something.

[k22fan]

The stocks with the rounded bottom corners were only standard on 2" Model 15s. They look wrong on a 4" Combat Masterpiece. If you happen to have a flat bottom pair, even if they are also newer than the gun, they would make it look better and would help selling it.

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by k22fan

The stocks with the rounded bottom corners were only standard on 2" Model 15s. They look wrong on a 4" Combat Masterpiece. If you happen to have a flat bottom pair, even if they are also newer than the gun, they would make it look better and would help selling it.

Really? Never knew there was a difference. Truth. E told, I might put my Pachmayr Gripper grips in there. They feel much better and I hit much better with them. Or maybe he pair of Uncle Mike rubber grips I have lying around. Not as classy but I do hit better with them.

[Targets Guy]

I paid $570 for mine on this forum in 2016. Stocks match. Target hammer. Shipped 12/57.



Shoots good.

[CapnB]

The rounded stocks, often called Plain Clothes or PC magnas, were quite common replacements, especially for those who carried their duty gun concealed. The rounded corners didn’t tear up the lining of your sport coat as bad. Having said that, all of my Combat Masterpieces, 4” as well as 2”, have worn them at one time or another. The ones I shoot regularly still do. The rounded bottoms just fit the heel of my hand better than the square ones. Keep that shooter and enjoy it.
Good shootin’,
Doug

[white cloud]

Around here you would pay more that $450 for that revolver if the internals are good. IMHO the M15 is one of S&W's best efforts. I would not sell it. Only hits count and that revolver is pretty darn easy to hit with.

[VaTom]

Combat Masterpieces are great revolvers. For price comparison I have a 1974 Model 15-3 that I purchased at local auction 5 years ago. 95-98% finish (some blue wear at muzzle), excellent grips numbered to the revolver, great case colors on trigger and hammer. I won it on a bid of $575 ($696 out the door with premium, sales tax, and background check). Probably paid the top end price but I am happy I got it. Pictured with my Model 10 and Model 64.

Shoot and enjoy it.

[Targets Guy]

For $5 more than what I paid for the K-38 CM ($570) I got this 1970 Model 15-3. Love it as well.



turkish boy names 2015



everything matches.

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

For $5 more than what I paid for the K-38 CM ($570) I got this 1970 Model 15-3. Love it as well.



turkish boy names 2015



everything matches.

I have a post on here somewhere of a MINT, looks unfired 15-2 I just bought a few months ago. Matching box, docs, and stocks. Target trigger and hammer. So nice I MAY never shoot it (but probably will. The gun has probably been fired for all I know, but doesn't look it). I also have a 67-1 that is also spotless, although the stocks don't match and I have no box. It was kind of the reason I was thinking of selling the K38. Kind of redundant. But even if I get $400 shipped, it's gonna cost me $50 to ship it so I'm only ahead $350. I won't be able to replace it with anything for $350 so doesn't really seem worth it to sell. Maybe I'll just keep it so I'm not as tempted to shoot the 15-2.

[DWalt]

There will be significant regional difference in prices. I'd think one close to it would probably be priced in the $400 range at many gun shows. A few years ago I picked up a fairly well-used, but sound condition, cop M15 (ca. 1960) for $200. I added better grips (those on it were heavily worn) and it cleaned up to being close to the appearance of yours. Typical of most cop guns, it was obviously carried holstered much more than shot. Were I looking to sell it, I'd try to get around $350-$400 for it.

[Targets Guy]

Originally Posted by kbm6893

I have a post on here somewhere of a MINT, looks unfired 15-2 I just bought a few months ago. Matching box, docs, and stocks. Target trigger and hammer. So nice I MAY never shoot it (but probably will. The gun has probably been fired for all I know, but doesn't look it). I also have a 67-1 that is also spotless, although the stocks don't match and I have no box. It was kind of the reason I was thinking of selling the K38. Kind of redundant. But even if I get $400 shipped, it's gonna cost me $50 to ship it so I'm only ahead $350. I won't be able to replace it with anything for $350 so doesn't really seem worth it to sell. Maybe I'll just keep it so I'm not as tempted to shoot the 15-2.

That is kind of what I did. I bought a 15-2 for$330. It shipped 10/63. Rear sight is not S&W (of course the seller didn't tell me that) but the gun is in pretty good shape. I'll shoot it a lot more than my K-38CM and my 15-3



It shoots pretty good. Just need to tighten the group.

[mike from st pete]

With panic buying who can say.
Personally the way it sits, no box, tools &c $400 would be a stretch in normal times. Now like I stated who knows.

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by mike from st pete

With panic buying who can say.
Personally the way it sits, no box, tools &c $400 would be a stretch in normal times. Now like I stated who knows.

Guess I’m keeping it then. $400 would be my bottom dollar probably have regrets as soon as I sold it price. Don’t really need the money so I don’t need to sell. Matter of fact, I took it today with 100 of my reloads to remind myself why I bought it in the first place. And I was reminded. Although I have to adjust the sights, but the gnats were ferocious in my range in the woods so I didn’t. When you look at what $400 gets you today for a new gun, it seems stupid to sell this for that amount. Thanks for the advice.

[Marylander]

Well, I got in touch with the OP on this item, with the idea of making an offer in the vicinity of numbers mentioned in the thread. OP suggested waiting a week to decide, and he did, and I now have piece in question.
S/N 295563 enbossed on the frame does put it at 1957 for sure. no model numbers, so I guess it's a "pre mod 15." Opened the cylinder and found the number 92209 on the frame and yoke. Have no idea why they were there, but then pulled the side plate to check out innards of the clockworks, and on the back of the plate found same 92209 number. Stands to reason I gues if this was in fact a LEO service piece it saw work at the armorer, or S&W over its life. Inside if the right grip the number 36903 is revealed, but not in the usual S&W style (3 over3). Someone in the thread noted that the piece has a history. I believe that.
As mentioned Collectors would bypass this in a nano second, but for old guys who likes old revolvers, I think I'm going to give this piece a facelift.Back to S&W for there Revolver work, and probably a Fluff and Buff re-blue. Why not?

[Bullet Bob]

"Opened the cylinder and found the number 92209 on the frame and yoke. Have no idea why they were there, but then pulled the side plate to check out innards of the clockworks, and on the back of the plate found same 92209 number."

Those are assembly numbers used at the factory to make sure all the pieces stay together.

[DWalt]

K295563 would place probable shipment at around mid-1957. Definitely in the 1957 production range. Being a pre-Model, S&W may not want to work on it. I don't think it needs any work anyway. You will just be spending significant money to make it worth less, money that could be spent on buying one in better original condition.

[Marylander]

Thank you B. Bob. Now I know...

[k22fan]

Originally Posted by Marylander

[...] I think I'm going to give this piece a facelift. Back to S&W for there Revolver work, and probably a Fluff and Buff re-blue. Why not?

It is good to read that the old gal found a loving home. I also enjoy shooting 15s and pre-15s that real collectors would "bypass in a nano second."

However, reconsider sending it back to S&W for anything except a tune up which it probably does not need. None of mine have needed one and if they had I'd have stretched the yoke and/or installed a fatter hand myself. .38 Special is not hard on revolvers. It is probably too late for it to benefit from a trigger job. Through use S&Ws give themselves a trigger job. The parts rubbing against each other smooth themselves. That is one reason why older S&Ws usually have better DA pulls than new ones.

If I was going to reblue one I would not use S&W. Some time after 2000 S&W stopped doing actual bluing. Their current substitute for bluing would look obviously wrong on a 1990s or older revolver. The new "bluing" is darker. Worse it comes off with repeated wiping with a soft rag and Hoppie's #9 or any other solvent that contains ammonia. Real bluing was not even affected by older Hoppie's #9 that contained both ammonia and benzine. Paying to have a revolver reblued is always a money loser but if it would help you enjoy the gun more use a gunsmith or company that still does real blueing.

I'd just shoot it. All my S&W .38 Specials and .357s have shoot very well.

[Marylander]

Thanks for all the comments. Always appreciate constructive comments.
Heard from S&W, and was told they are NOT accepting any "Charge" work for at least a month. And I did not know they changed they Bluing process.
Guess I'll think about it for a bit. Thanks. R

[m4user]

I think you have a great Combat Masterpiece that has seen a life outside its box. Perhaps spending the $100 you would have invested towards a reblue (which would not have matched) instead for a letter from Roy Jinks might be a better investment. If it is a cop gun, the letter may indicate such as well as when and where it was shipped. Just a thought...

[BAM-BAM]

That's a great blued walking in Penn's Woods gun.......... or "Truck Kit gun".

Enjoy......if you ever decided to sell and you're close to the Burgh.... keep me in mind.

Well I posted after #21; the went back and read .#22 Oh well.

[Marylander]

In the mean time I stripped it down and gave it a "bath". then dried it up, then a "brush" of oil on the frame and a drop of oil here and there , then reassembled. Cleaned up real good. Next to the range. Ransom Rest was not available to I sandbagged it on the shooting bench. Aimed at "sub-six", and proceeded to let 50 rounds fly. It performed without a hitch, and given the conditions, the shooter needs more practice. A welcomed addition to my stable of S&W Revolvers. Thanks again to the OP and all who offered comments.