1948 K-38 Target Masterpiece

tnegiet

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Wow, I just learned a ton from the K-38 sticky. I was hoping you guys could give me some history and approximate value of this wonderful firearm I inherited. The serial number is K370XX. Is the 1948 year correct for that serial number? I have wooden grips for it but they are not the originals. There is a small rust blemish towards the front of one side of the barrel. I guess I need to start shopping for an original box and grips and then get some wadcutters! Thanks for any help.
 

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Nice gun! Yes, that serial # is 1948. The stocks would have been diamond magnas, or perhaps diamond targets. And welcome to the forum!
 
That's a very handsome K-38, and it deserves to be shot. Yes, pick up some match ammo and see what it can do.

To be precise, the name of the model is "K-38 Masterpiece" without the word "Target". Masterpieces were indeed used a lot for target shooting, and beginning in 1950 you could get them from the factory with options like target stocks and wide target hammers.

If you want some appropriate diamond magnas on that gun, post a Want to Buy notice in the classifieds. Any K-frame magnas with a five-digit number pressed into the back of one panel will do just fine, because all five-digit serial numbers (six if you count the K) seem to have been issued before the end of 1950. That's close enough. In reality any K-frame magnas will fit that gun pretty well, but there are subtle contour changes to magnas over time, and you stand a better chance of getting your gun close to its original appearance with stocks that number closer to the serial number of your revolver.

If you want some S&W diamond target stocks like the ones Misty mentioned, those will cost a bit more but can still be found. They probably won't be numbered, but they would make your gun look like this one, a K-38 from early 1950:

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Even though this revolver has both a target hammer and target stocks on it, the factory box would not have been labeled "target masterpiece." Shooters might so describe it, but it's not a model name.

In full disclosure, those stocks are not original to the gun. I put them on. The hammer may be original equipment, but I don't know yet. I am awaiting a letter on this one.
 
Those early K-38's with tapered barrels are my favorite. Here's the complete package you're looking for - with the type of grips they shipped with in '48, and a few period correct wadcutters....

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Mark
 
Awesome information, thanks everyone!

It's a real treasure. It was found in an old Army radio box along with a couple of old boxes of target ammo and some cleaning supplies. I was more than worried when I opened the cylinder and found corroded ammo that had probably been in it for 40+ years...fortunately it cleaned up perfectly and suffered no damage from the ammo. Now I'm on the hunt for some grips and maybe a box...wish me luck.
 
Tell us more about the treasure chest!! Did it belong to to some one in the immediate family ??
 
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tnegiet said:
Now I'm on the hunt for some grips and maybe a box...wish me luck.

I'd go for the wadcutters first. They're a lot cheaper (and a lot easier to find) than the correct grips or the box, and you can have fun while you're waiting for the other stuff to come along. ;)

Mark
 
Thought you guys might like to see the three boxes of ammo that came with the gun when I got it:

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Welcome to the forum and great way to start off. Nice gun and whoever owned it certainly was aware of both its purpose and potential. The ammo is certainly as interesting. The Peters ammo is very collectible and as you can see from its colors is a favorite among cartridge collectors for its art work and color. Both it and the Remington are wadcutters but if you will notice they are in 146 grain. The full wadcutter is now 148 gr and for a while it appears they made and sold both types of boxes. I would assume using up old stock The other box is S&W not S&W Special, which means it is the short round. Sometimes they were used as an alternate loading for the ladies who did not like the kick of the Special. The correct box for that gun would be Gold & Blue. I have one with a 4 digit ser. # that came in that style box and is numbered to the gun. Most of the boxes of that era would have the ser. # on the bottom of the box in grease pencil. It would also have come with a Helpful Hints brochure, cleaning rod and a knurled handled sight adjusting tool. Be prepared to be corrected if you call it a screwdriver. The rack awaits you for such an offense.On that model, the barrel is tapered from the frame to the muzzle. If you look at it from the top you will notice it. The barrel was later changed to a barrel of the same diameter from frame to muzzle and that was referred to as the Heavy Masterpiece. The target shooters liked the additional weight and Smith lchanged their three calibers in the Masterpiece line, .22, .32, .38 to weigh the same when loaded. The 22 & 32 are also wonderful guns.You have a nice gun, certainly to be looked at and admired, but mostly to be shot and cared for. Welcome again and good luck in your quest for a box. They are out there.
Bob
 
Now all I need is some tools. This too is a 1948 K-38. Very hard to find with matching grips. I know. I looked for a year. Big Larry

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OOOha. Pretty.
Here's mine. Also 1948, tapered barrel. Ser.#K 52XXX. Correct stocks, #ed to the gun.
The stocks are the standard Magna type.
 

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I do have the cleaning rod and "screwdriver"...I mean sight adjusting tool :)

Just need the box and then I can put the whole package together and post some artistic pictures!
 
Great gun, great pix. Finish is exactly like my 1949 K-22. I still have my box, hope you get yours. See pix. Best!

K22inGoldBox.jpg
 
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