Quote:
Originally Posted by cmansguns
Do we have records somewhere of the actual date that the factory started shipping out the post war guns?
|
I have to set aside N frames because I have very little knowledge of them in the period immediately after the war.
But here's what I can tell you about the K frames.
.38 M&P - the earliest known shipment was in February, 1946. That was an order filled for the Cleveland PD. Regular shipments began on March 1, 1946.
K-22 Masterpiece - full production started on December 24, 1946. Roughly 10,000 units were shipped in 1947.
K-38 Masterpiece - first production occurred in June, 1947. A small number shipped in February, 1948, and full production began in May, 1948. The first K-38 Heavy Masterpiece bore serial number K66222, reflecting a change order issued on August 19, 1948. It shipped on February 4, 1949.
K-32 Masterpiece - It appears that the first one left the factory in December, 1948, but regular shipments didn't start until the late winter or early spring of 1949.