I came across a 1948 K38 narrow rib. Numbers match, and the bluing is quite nice. The issue is that there is very light surface rust pretty much all over it.. I want to say kroil and bronze wool will clean it up, but then again it might not. I saw no pitting.

LGS asking 699.00 Ideas on value??

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Hmmm - “bluing is quite nice and surface rust all over it”?? This does not sound like a $700 gun... Once you get it cleaned and find pitting and speckling, your investment suffers as the value continues to drop. GB has some nice K38’s in the under $700 range right now.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Well, I know it is mot worth 699. but it is worth something. My interest is 1948 narrow rib

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I got this one for $220 about a year and a half ago.
It is from about 1949 and I would describe it just about the same way you describe the one in the original post. Decent original finish and stocks with light freckling over pretty much the whole gun.
I don't think it is worth nearly 3-1/2 times what I paid for it.
Maybe $400, but even in today's market it isn't even close to a $700 gun.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Well, my narrow rib K-38 (which didn't ship until May 16, 1949) and was clearly presented after the Kroil and bronze wool work at perhaps 98% sold for just a tick under $900 not all that long ago.

Ralph Tremaine

And if you're talking about the very light surface rust which seems to afflict pretty much all the satin blue models of that era (even though you often can't really see the rust except in the very best light), Pre-Lim, the surface cleaner from the Renaissance Wax folks makes short work of it----and turns your nice white rags to rust color---even when you couldn't hardly see the rust on the gun.

When are you going to find another one? In any condition?
An M&P is not a K38!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

A few years ago I bought a K22 that had been used, not abused and which was my birth year, 1948. I paid $700. If it is of significance to you, buy it.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I just sold a 1950, and bought a lettered narrow rib 1949 birth year. So it is not really significant. I am just trying to determine a value for the gun

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

The key question is what underlies the rust. To me it's a $700 gun if "quite nice" and no pitting, but not if the metal is significantly damaged.

It reads as though you can examine the gun? I'd ask the shop if you can carefully clean a small, inconspicuous area of the rust (maybe inside the frame window for the cylinder?) with a method of their choice and under their observation. If the rust comes off and there is smooth metal with bluing intact you'll have your answer.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Rust is one of my pet peeves. I will take a firearm with honest use wear over one that has rust but still looks in better condition at a glance. Use the rust to see if they will come down on the price. I personally would not pay more than $500 for one like that. And I would think long and hard about it with that rust.

Opinions vary. Value is dependent on condition and scarcity. There is no upside to buying a worn S&Ws and value cannot be improved by simply cleaning them. The gun in question, however, cannot be easily valued in its current condition. There is a risk in buying a gun that needs finish work, but if the gun has that mask of very light rust that rubs off with your finger, price is fine and the gun would probably be worth more when cleaned up.

Also, in my mind there is no true comparison to be made between the 38 M&P and the K38 Masterpiece models. The Masterpiece revolvers are always worth at least double compared to the same finish and era 38 Military & Police revolver. Depending on the configuration, likely worth up to 3X more.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

My philosophy has evolved into "Buy what you like". You are not going to be able to find, or buy, a 98% K-38 for $700. If you take a chance on the gun, and then it turns out badly, then sell it and go on to something else. If the downside is a $200 loss, that is not the end of the world, and it might turn into a lesson for you. If it turns out great, then you'll have a very nice gun, for a good price.

Mike Priwer

If it has a K plus four-digit serial number, buy it now and then come back here immediately with pics to discuss its specific characteristics. If it has a K plus five-digit serial number whose first digit is a 2 or 3, you probably ought to buy it now just because it will be one of the earliest commercially distributed K-38s, and there are collectors who will pay a premium for early production guns in a specific model line.

A K plus five-digit serial with an initial 4 or 5 would probably have shipped later in 1948 (or even early 1949) and would be less likely to have an earliness premium attached. As you describe the condition, $699 sounds a little heavy for the gun if it has one of these higher serial numbers. If you can get for a hundred less, do so.

Or if you just want the gun and would hate to let a chance to get it slip away, pay the asking price and consider whatever excess that price might include as "ownership insurance."

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David Wilson

The LGS bought it based on condition so offer based on condition. IF you are that interested act quickly!

For clean up start with course fabric like burlap or denim with Kroil before going more aggressive!

Smiles,

I am pretty sure the number was K 52120

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I value mine at $650 and has original stocks.

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I think you better up your valuation. If you have a set of non-relieved target stocks that are stamped to match that gun, it would be quite unusual?? Most Target stocks that I see are not numbered at all.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks for the tip on the Pre-Lim, I'd not heard of that and have some "projects" that would seem to benefit. Ordered me some.

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Pass it on.
Mark

Here are the stocks.

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Those are the standard Magna stocks, normally stamped with the SN. Gary was asking about numbered Target stocks, occasionally seen in the mid-1950s but not often.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I purchased three k series revolvers from the same seller. He told me they had minor freckling, it turned out to be dried reddish oil. All three are close to 99.99% condition.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Those are not the stocks in your original picture, but having the original Magna stocks is a plus.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I shoot the gun every once in a while and didn't wont to put any more ware on them. I gave $200 for the gun about 30 years ago. I have never seen any # targets. Post #1 was asking for value.

Is it bright blue or satin blue finish? I have a fairly nice satin blue #500XX I bought for less than $355.00 not to long ago, it did have rubber stocks that I have since replaced with wood target stocks. I was probably lucky that day.

I have one I bought broke-- , fixed it and put it back thinking to have it nickeled at Fords. Finish was a bit challenged, but I only paid $85.00 for it. So, I dug it out sometime back and spray it down good with Kroil Oil & Ballistol and placed in a baggie for a couple weeks. No copper scrub down just a good wipe down and went over with Hoppes #9 -- The consensus here was dont nickel it so I didnt. Found a nice little set of Ivories I had stashed and installed them and a old, not Tyler, grip adapter. She might not be as nice as some but she suits me fine. Does well at the range as well. Unless the one you're looking at is really a dog, I would buy it. With things the way they are I doubt you will be sorry. That saying if the bore is in good shape. I'm not a collector so all this is JMHO

Here is a quick photo I took before the range: