New To Me K38 Combat Masterpiece

[august1410]

I had been looking for a 4" Model 15 for a while and a buddy told me he located two 15-3s at a LGS. I had told him if he found something worthwhile, I would look out for him if he picked it up.

He called me and let me know of these, so I told him to pick up the better looking of the two. We meet up later in the day and we work out a trade for something I had that was taking up space.

However, what he had was NOT a 15-3. There were no model number markings and the serial (K303XXX) dates it to 1957 (wish I knew which month, but I think it's right before the model numbers started.)

The revolver had 1980s target stocks on it, which I replaced with some period correct magnas I found on EBay. I have since replaced the magnas with some vintage Franzite "stag" grip I found online to give it a really vintage look.

 

[Jeppo]

Memories

Several years ago and on another forum, I believe you helped me identify my dad's revolver. It was/is a late fall 1951 Combat Masterpiece. His wife would have been pregnant with Jeppo and I'm sure he bought it for defense of his new family. Congrats on finding that beautiful gun.

 

[august1410]

Several years ago and on another forum, I believe you helped me identify my dad's revolver. It was/is a late fall 1951 Combat Masterpiece. His wife would have been pregnant with Jeppo and I'm sure he bought it for defense of his new family. Congrats on finding that beautiful gun.

I thought I recognized the username! Hoping all is well with you and yours.

This beautiful gun shoots like a dream.

 

[JP@AK]

However, what he had was NOT a 15-3. There were no model number markings and the serial (K303XXX) dates it to 1957 (wish I knew which month, but I think it's right before the model numbers started).

K303xxx is definitely from 1957. Model marks didn't show up in the K target series until somewhere above K315xxx, maybe close to K318xxx. I own one in the K311xxx range that shipped in January, 1958. It is not model marked.

It is good to remember that, while model numbers were assigned by management in the summer of 1957, implementation was not instantaneous and model marked guns did not appear on dealer shelves until sometime in 1958. The earliest shipment I have seen documented was of a Model 29 that left the factory in January, 1958. Some models didn't ship until several months later.

 

[Nightowl]

What I see is a heavy barrel Combat Masterpiece!! It is in the serial number range, and could be a Kansas City Police gun. Congratulations. Most Combat Masterpieces or pre 15s have a more slender barrel profile. Linde is the expert on these and I'm sure he will respond if he sees this thread.

 

[DWalt]

I like the Franzites. They were indeed popular replacements at that time, especially in that fake stag style. Only problem was that they tended to warp. I have straightened out several pair by softening them over a stove burner and bending them flat. I list K3036xx as a CM shipping on 10/14/57.

 

[murphydog]

What I see is a heavy barrel Combat Masterpiece!! It is in the serial number range, and could be a Kansas City Police gun. Congratulations. Most Combat Masterpieces or pre 15s have a more slender barrel profile. Linde is the expert on these and I'm sure he will respond if he sees this thread.

Agree, very likely to be an ex-KCPD gun. It is in the proper SN range and a barrel swap to this rare part is highly unlikely. A letter of authenticity is highly recommended for this one:

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.com/swhf_letter.pdf

With this barrel, it is technically a 4" K-38 Masterpiece; a .38 Combat Masterpiece would have had the standard (tapered) barrel contour. Nice find!

 

[Nightowl]

Agree, very likely to be an ex-KCPD gun. It is in the proper SN range and a barrel swap to this rare part is highly unlikely. A letter of authenticity is highly recommended for this one:

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.com/swhf_letter.pdf

With this barrel, it is technically a 4" K-38 Masterpiece; a .38 Combat Masterpiece would have had the standard (tapered) barrel contour. Nice find!

Yep! I didn't think of that!!

 

[linde]

. . . There were no model number markings and the serial (K303XXX) dates it to 1957 . . .

What I see is a heavy barrel Combat Masterpiece!! It is in the serial number range, and could be a Kansas City Police gun. Congratulations. Most Combat Masterpieces or pre 15s have a more slender barrel profile. Linde is the expert on these and I'm sure he will respond if he sees this thread.

Agree, very likely to be an ex-KCPD gun. It is in the proper SN range and a barrel swap to this rare part is highly unlikely. A letter of authenticity is highly recommended for this one:

With this barrel, it is technically a 4" K-38 Masterpiece; a .38 Combat Masterpiece would have had the standard (tapered) barrel contour. Nice find!

K303XXX serial numbers are best known for the 5" special barrel length Illinois State Police K-38s with shipments in July and October 1957.

The initial special order of 375 4" heavy barrel K-38s for the KCPD were shipped in April 1957 but the highest s/n published for that shipment is K298048. It is possible there was a second invoice (that I haven't seen) of stragglers that shipped to the KCPD. In addition there likely were "overruns" of the KCPD special order that shipped to S&W dealers that had a fondness (and standing order with the factory) for special barrel lengths and this could be one of those.

I'm also aware of a May 1970 invoice to KCPD for 7 additional 4" heavy barrel K-38s but they were model-marked 14s. There were also known special runs of 4" heavy barrel Model 14-2s in the July 1971 time frame.

Very nice example of a very desirable, non-catalogued K-38 . . . I agree with murphydog a factory letter is in order.

Russ

 

[august1410]

Thank you everyone! Once the holidays have come and gone, I believe a letter will be forthcoming.

The knowledge base on this forum never ceases to amaze me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[august1410]

Thread from the dead revival! Life got in the way as it does, so I just got around to requesting the letter on this one. Can't wait to update with the findings!

 

[august1410]

UPDATE!!!!!

I have heard back from Michael Helms, who has mailed out my letter.

My revolver is not a KCPD model, but from what I can piece together, it is a cop gun. It was shipped to F. Morton Pitt in San Gabriel, CA, who supplied a bunch of police departments in Southern California.

Michael was kind enough to send me via email the sales invoice. Letter is inbound

 

[august1410]

Further research lets me know that most of the cops in the region got their guns from Pitt or Cake. The trail ends there. As mentioned, I've accepted that it's a cop gun, but which agency, I don't know.

 

[Engine49guy]

If you still have this one would you mind posting a few pics when you get a chance as the original photos dont seem to open.

 

[august1410]

 

[august1410]

My brain wants me to keep researching to see which police department this wound up with. However, it looks like most of the agencies in those days had officers purchase their own revolvers and not a lot of them were agency marked. This could be Pasadena, Alhambra, El Monte, San Gabriel, Los Angeles…….I don't want to go down that rabbit hole.

 

[august1410]

The final verdict from Michael Helms.

 

[Engine49guy]

Interesting it shipped on halloween.
Any clue on what beefed up cylinder is in reference to?
Is it just the purchasers request?
Doesn't appear to be a longer recessed .357 cylinder or unfluted etc.

 

[august1410]

Interesting it shipped on halloween.
Any clue on what beefed up cylinder is in reference to?
Is it just the purchasers request?
Doesn't appear to be a longer recessed .357 cylinder or unfluted etc.

I'm going to do my best to find out. I wonder if it's old nomenclature for a "plus p" style round.

 

[Engine49guy]

Not sure what wholesale was in 1957 but looks like they shipped 25 std barrel and 15 wide rib, all had target hammers all billed same each at $48.56 each.
They dont show an upcharge for the wide hammer or wide ribs or for the "beefed up cylinder" but if someone knows what wholesale was in 57 and these are more then Id suspect they billed for it.
If " beefed up" means nothing then there'd likely be no upcharge IMO.