K-38 Masterpiece Confusion!

[janman]

Here are some more pics of the 1949 K-38 Masterpiece in question.

Sadly, this may have to go on the market as I just learned today that my sons fall college tuition has been raised by the State of CA.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Engine49guy]

Some neat info in this thread,
Thats a very nice early K-38 Heavy Masterpiece too bad you have to get rid of it.

As stated the first known wide rib K-38 "Heavy" Masterpiece (not Heavy barrel) did ship in early 1949 and first appeared in the 1950 All Model circular alongside the older narrow rib "K-38 Masterpiece" both being advertised at the same time.
The new wide rib barrel was an attempt to closely weight match the K-38 to the K-22 since its larger .38 barrel and cylinder holes made the K-38 lighter .
The change from "Satin" blue to a high polish "Bright" blue occurred sometime around 1954 so older narrow rib K-38's are rarely found in bright blue.

My lowest is a 1950 shipped gun but otherwise identical to yours with slightly higher serial of K-97950 shipped in Nov 1950 , it is one of my favorite shooters with a great trigger.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Perhaps the S&W advertising of the time will help clarify what was going on with these guns.

The K Masterpiece used the tapered barrel with matching frame contours.

The K HEAVY Masterpiece used the straight wall (non-tapered) barrel with matching frame contours.

The Combat Masterpiece used the tapered barrel with matching frame contours, and was normally a 4 inch gun, except for the 5 inch Missouri State Highway Patrol guns, which the factory called Combat Masterpiece revolvers.

 

[janman]

The single action trigger pull on mine is exquisite.

 

[glowe]

Early heavy barreled K-38s are interesting guns and I have one with a standard gold Masterpiece box with a glued on end label, while the top remained unchanged. Apparently, they simply used the old K-38 gold box and just labeled over the standard narrow rib boxes until they were all used up.

I like the fact that the wide ribbed K-38 is the same weight as my K-22s, but don't think it shoots any better than my narrow ribbed K-38? Probably was only of value to competitive shooters.

 

[turnerriver]

If your K-38 is serial number K77309 let me know and I'll tell you who Evaluators Ltd. shipped it to.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Engine49guy]

One more K-38 tidbit, after the older narrow rib K-38 Masterpiece was discontinued...(1953 or 1954 ?) the "Heavy" moniker was discontinued for the wide rib version (Guessing because there was no need to identify it as a different gun on orders anymore) .

On a side note if you look at the 1950 AMC posted above you will see there was both a K-38 and a K-32 "Heavy" Masterpiece advertised (IIRC the K-32 had a narrower rib than the K-38 no doubt due to its smaller 32 caliber cylinder and barrel holes adding a bit more weight ) no seperate K-22 "Heavy" Masterpiece was offered .

The older narrow rib K-22 barrel did change to a slightly wider rib barrel which IIRC begins to ship in 1955,
My guess is since the newer wider rib K-22 totally replaced the older narrow rib version it was unnecessary to use the extra name .

 

[iskra]

Congrats on that early HB!
Learning rather than contributing much here! Yet the tattered end label still employed even after the gold box changed to blue! Pix below. The HB Masterpiece shown SN 1856xx, mfg in '53. Box & gun came to me together. Unsure originally so mated.
Great Thread here with lots of info and good illustrations!
My take

 

[Green Frog]

This narrow rib, wide rib thing has gotten me in trouble a couple of times. It shows up again with the extractor rod shroud and no shroud barrels. Any time you wish to change a barrel on a K-frame, be sure to look at all aspects of frame to barrel match-up so you don't get some weird notches and projections that are mismatched. I'm currently looking for donor gun with a narrow rib, no shroud barrel to complete my early Masterpiece series... don't ask me about the guns I've bought over the years not looking at these features until too late!

As they say, "Live and learn!"

Froggie

 

[glowe]

Froggie, I have never seen a Masterpiece or any K frame with a shroud?? Can you elaborate?

 

[JP@AK]

any K frame with a shroud?

Combat Magnum?

 

[murphydog]

Surprised no one has asked if the barrel flat has the serial number stamped on it - that would pretty much confirm it was original to the gun?

Sorry about the potential sale. Hopefully your son is majoring in a field in which he can buy his dad a nice thank you gift upon graduation .

With the CA price premium I would not be surprised if you could get $750 + for it.

 

[glowe]

Combat Magnum?

That's it! . . . or should I say that's it? I have to remember that some collectors interest goes beyond WWII!

 

[murphydog]

Froggie, I have never seen a Masterpiece or any K frame with a shroud?? Can you elaborate?

Also the model 53 in .22 Jet .

 

[janman]

If your K-38 is serial number K77309 let me know and I'll tell you who Evaluators Ltd. shipped it to.
Regards,
turnerriver

It's a little higher. Thanks though.

 

[MrG5122]

OP, I have K78168 and it looks just like yours. 95%+ condition. I paid $600 a year ago and happy to have it.

 

[janman]

Great thread gentlemen! Thanks for all the help. Now that I know quite a bit more about my K-38, I'm a little more invested in it.

PS - I may have to sell something a little less unique out of my stash in order to fund my sons senior year in college. Perhaps my 12 ga. Winchester Model 12 shotgun. There are a couple of million of those out there. The barrel must be curved because I can't seem to hit anything with it.