K38 Target Masterpiece

[Rocking Triangle K]

I recently purchased what I believe is a S&W K38 Target Masterpiece 5 screw revolver, SN K45xxx, on butt. It is DA chambered for .38 S&W Special Ctg (stamped on right side of the barrel) with a 6" pinned barrel with a raised tapered and grooved rib and Patridge front sight. It is missing the micro adjustment rear sight. The left side of the barrel is stamped Smith and Wesson and the frame shows it was manufactured in Springfield, Mass. It has the small walnut diamond/checkered grips. Both the bluing and the wood have heavy wear (30% condition overall) but the fluted cylinder chambers and bore are bright with sharp rifling. The trigger and grip straps are grooved and the hammer is the narrow version. The revolver function tests perfectly and the trigger is crisp. It has a frame number but it doesn't match the SN, and, no model number.

Now here is where I need some help. First, the rear sight inside channel measures 0.278". Could you direct me to the best place to buy a replacement micro adjustment sight package? Is the sight interchangeable between all/most/some K frame models?

Secondly, am I correct in that it is indeed a K38 Target Masterpiece (pre Model 14)?

Lastly, does anyone have an idea as to its date of manufacture? I don't have the S&W Catalog.

Thanks in advance for your help. I appreciate it.

Best regards,

RTK

 

[BrianE]

It never happened without pictures.... [emoji12]

Im sure someone will be along shortly to help you out.

 

[tlay]

With the barrel length it more than likely is the K38 Target Masterpiece or pre14. I would think any post war long action rear sight for a K frame will fit but more experts will come along. You can post on this forum in want to buy to find a sight. Or you can try Numrich.

 

[DWalt]

That SN would probably have shipped in mid-1948. And it is correctly called a K-38 Masterpiece target revolver, not a "Target Masterpiece." It later became the Model 14. I can't comment much about the rear sight situation,but others will.

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. You are correct in your identification. You have a K-38 Masterpiece that dates from (probably) mid- to late 1948. You don't need to use the word "target" because any Masterpiece model has adjustable sights and is by definition a target model. You hear the phrase "target masterpiece," but the company didn't use that phrase on its boxes or literature.

Any postwar K-frame target sights from the postwar era will fit your gun. Rear sights for the K-22, K-32 and K-38 are identical. You can try parts houses like Numrich, Poppert's, or Jack First (all have internet sites), and you can also check out the parts sections of gun related auction sites like Gunbroker. Your best chance might be to post a "wanted" notice here in the forum classifieds. Many members have their own parts collections and might be able to help you out.

If you are not familiar with the structure of the rear sight, look up an exploded Masterpiece drawing. There is a crucial small flat piece that goes under the rear of the sight and is invisible once the sight is installed. This fits in a slot in the top of the frame and is what the height adjustment screw pushes or pulls against to adjust the height.

Good luck in the hunt. That's a first-year Masterpiece. Regular commercial distribution didn't begin until February of 1948, and only a bare handful of that model seem to have been produced before then, let alone shipped.

 

[DWalt]

You might also look on eBay. Things like that do show up there. Places like Brownell's and Midway do carry rear sights, but I do not know if they will fit your K-38. See: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smith-Wesso...245?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33931ea165

 

[Rocking Triangle K]

Wow, you guys are good! Thanks for all the help and information. Now I'm off to see if I can find the rear sight package.

RTK

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum.. The frame numbers that you describe sound like assembler numbers and have no bearing out side of the factory. Sounds like a neat early gun.

 

[tlay]

This way we decide on what our guns are called is confusing! In the SCSW the name for this is the K38 Target Masterpiece. But you guys call it the K38 Masterpiece target! Who decided what to call it? I would think calling them target masterpiece and combat masterpiece makes more sense.

 

[Skeetr57]

I believe that there are two different rear sights for the K frame targets, with the difference being the location of the front attachment screw. It was moved at some point so that the hole was not in alignment with the barrel cylinder gap. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[DWalt]

You may well be correct, as I also remember reading that. Which is why I was unsure if later sights were proper for postwar Masterpieces. Someone should know about when the hole was moved.

 

[Black_Talon]

I believe that there are two different rear sights for the K frame targets, with the difference being the location of the front attachment screw. It was moved at some point so that the hole was not in alignment with the barrel cylinder gap. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, you're correct.

And, IIRC the screw location was moved with the "-2" revision in 1967-ish.

 

[linde]

I believe that there are two different rear sights for the K frame targets, with the difference being the location of the front attachment screw . . .

Yes, you're correct. And, IIRC the screw location was moved with the "-2" revision in 1967-ish.

1967 would be correct but it would be with the -3 revision . . . and it was moved forward from directly over the barrel-cylinder gap to being above the forcing cone area.

Russ

 

[BigBill]

It's a masterpiece target right?

 

[BigBill]

This way we decide on what our guns are called is confusing! In the SCSW the name for this is the K38 Target Masterpiece. But you guys call it the K38 Masterpiece target! Who decided what to call it? I would think calling them target masterpiece and combat masterpiece makes more sense.

I was told here it's a masterpiece target so I call it a masterpiece target. I did make the mistake calling it a target masterpiece but here they said it's a masterpiece target.

It wasn't my call. Ok it's a s&w k38 masterpiece with a weird front sight blade. I don't know who thunk it up?

 

[DWalt]

On the earlier factory boxes, it is printed as Masterpiece or Masterpiece target revolver, not Target Masterpiece.

Remember Jimmy Carter's Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan? Whenever he was asked how he pronounced his last name, he would reply "My friends call me JERDAN," but you can call me "JORDAN."" So if you want to call it a Target Masterpiece, go ahead.

 

[tlay]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but why does the book call it a target masterpiece and collectors call it the other? I just want to find out why it is. Thanks.

 

[DWalt]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but why does the book call it a target masterpiece and collectors call it the other? I just want to find out why it is. Thanks.

The K boxes show it as K-xx Masterpiece:




And all S&W advertising back then (pre-Model number days) called it a K-xx Masterpiece. Go figure why some sources call it a Target Masterpiece. S&W did not. Probably for the same reason many people insist on calling the .45 Colt cartridge a .45 Long Colt when there actually is no such thing. Someone who knew no better just started calling it that, it wasn't corrected, and the name caught on.

 

[Engine49guy]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but why does the book call it a target masterpiece and collectors call it the other? I just want to find out why it is. Thanks.

Perhaps when S&W began offering the 4" Combat Masterpiece after 1949 it caused a little confusion as both were actually "Masterpiece" revolvers and available in the same 3 calibers ?

Customer: Sir I want a "Masterpiece" revolver in 38 special....
Shop : We have a 4" Combat Masterpiece and a 6" for target shooting...which one ?
Customer: I want the target Masterpiece.

 

[Engine49guy]

A note to the OP on rear sites,

There are alot more than just 2 S&W rear site units available so be careful if ordering a whole unit as N frame and J frame rear site units will not work on your gun and neither will the ones for K snubs like the 15, 66 or 19 or the newest rounded style .

Edited to add: Almost forgot, while K frame rear site units made up until around 1966 will fit your gun the older style 40's 50's era rear site has a smaller scalloped cut just behind the blade where late 50's and 60's sites have a wider cut if you want to keep it period correct.