I have previously pictured this K-38 here and there is various threads where appropriate, but it probably deserves a thread of its own, so here goes.
About a year ago at the Nations Gunshow in Chantilly, Virginia, this K-38 made an appearance and was for sale. Although I am mostly drawn to Pre-War .357 Magnums with researchable provenance, this gun got ahold of me and wouldn’t let go - much like the effect that Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky previously had on me. Although I was having a hard time releasing it from my clutches at the show, I did manage to take some quick phone pictures and message them off to one of our well known resident engraving connoisseurs, RKmesa. I could quickly tell that my pictures and the information I sent to RK got his immediate attention. That was all I needed to proceed with the purchase, and for what I thought was a fairly reasonable price.
Anyway, as you can see in some of the pictures below, the gun is marked “Kurt Jaeger, Mainz” on the left side of the top strap. So naturally I initially thought the gun was engraved by Kurt Jaeger. However, in my subsequent discussions with RK, he made me aware of the fact that many of the engraved guns marked as such were in fact engraved BY Claus Willig FOR Kurt Jaeger’s engraving business. RK also gave me Mr. Willig’s email address and suggested that I contact him to confirm that my K-38 was engraved by him. I subsequently emailed the serial number and pictures of my K-38 to Mr. Willig and asked if he could confirm it as one of his works. This was his exact reply:
“Hi Mr Lester. Your S&W is engraved for sure in our shop, before the 1960s. At that time ( 1955) I started recording all my engravings . In your case my father did the scenes and I did the goldlines and the English. It is always a great pleasure to see early jobs so many years later again. Sincerely Claus Willig”
Claus Willig was approximately 20 years old when he engraved this piece. His father’s name was Emil. Their engraving shop was in Schweinfurt and they did many engravings for Kurt Jaeger. For those that are interested there is an excellent article about them on the German Hunting Guns Website at
Willig, Emil & Claus – German Hunting Guns and so I will not repeat that information here.
As I stated above, I have now had this K-38 for about a year. When I was trying to research it I discovered, with RKmesa’s assistance, that it had previously sold at a Morphy Auction in November of 2018 (note a couple of the below pictures are credited to Morphy Auctions). When I purchased it at the Nations Gun Show in July 2019 the dealer told me that he got the gun as part of a collection from the previous owner’s widow. The dealer also mentioned that the K-38 was basically a one-off in essentially a long gun collection. Anyway, this is the way I now have it identified:
•S&W K-38 Masterpiece Pre-Model 14, Serial No. K272259•
•6" Barrel, Patridge Front Sight, Square Notch Rear Sight•
•Factory Shipped November 30, 1956 to H. H. Harris Co., Chicago, IL•
•Engraved by Claus & Emil Willig In Late 1950’s•
•For The Engraving Shop Of Kurt Jaeger of Mainz Germany•
•Finished In French Nickel & High Polish Blue•
•Complete Coverage With English Scroll & Gold Outlines•
•Includes Two Gold Inlay Scenes, Engraved Butt Cap, & Checkered Ivory Grips•
I have literally taken dozens of pictures of this gun but none of them accurately portray its beauty. The scroll background is relieved and lined which provides tremendous contrast especially in the areas finished in nickel, and in certain lighting angles the scenes almost appear three dimensional. Anyway, below are a few of those pictures. I know there are other fabulous Willig engraved pieces residing with our members; please share them in this thread as they cannot be seen too often.
Photo Credit - Morphy Auctions
Photo Credit - Morphy Auctions
About a year ago at the Nations Gunshow in Chantilly, Virginia, this K-38 made an appearance and was for sale. Although I am mostly drawn to Pre-War .357 Magnums with researchable provenance, this gun got ahold of me and wouldn’t let go - much like the effect that Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky previously had on me. Although I was having a hard time releasing it from my clutches at the show, I did manage to take some quick phone pictures and message them off to one of our well known resident engraving connoisseurs, RKmesa. I could quickly tell that my pictures and the information I sent to RK got his immediate attention. That was all I needed to proceed with the purchase, and for what I thought was a fairly reasonable price.
Anyway, as you can see in some of the pictures below, the gun is marked “Kurt Jaeger, Mainz” on the left side of the top strap. So naturally I initially thought the gun was engraved by Kurt Jaeger. However, in my subsequent discussions with RK, he made me aware of the fact that many of the engraved guns marked as such were in fact engraved BY Claus Willig FOR Kurt Jaeger’s engraving business. RK also gave me Mr. Willig’s email address and suggested that I contact him to confirm that my K-38 was engraved by him. I subsequently emailed the serial number and pictures of my K-38 to Mr. Willig and asked if he could confirm it as one of his works. This was his exact reply:
“Hi Mr Lester. Your S&W is engraved for sure in our shop, before the 1960s. At that time ( 1955) I started recording all my engravings . In your case my father did the scenes and I did the goldlines and the English. It is always a great pleasure to see early jobs so many years later again. Sincerely Claus Willig”
Claus Willig was approximately 20 years old when he engraved this piece. His father’s name was Emil. Their engraving shop was in Schweinfurt and they did many engravings for Kurt Jaeger. For those that are interested there is an excellent article about them on the German Hunting Guns Website at
Willig, Emil & Claus – German Hunting Guns and so I will not repeat that information here.
As I stated above, I have now had this K-38 for about a year. When I was trying to research it I discovered, with RKmesa’s assistance, that it had previously sold at a Morphy Auction in November of 2018 (note a couple of the below pictures are credited to Morphy Auctions). When I purchased it at the Nations Gun Show in July 2019 the dealer told me that he got the gun as part of a collection from the previous owner’s widow. The dealer also mentioned that the K-38 was basically a one-off in essentially a long gun collection. Anyway, this is the way I now have it identified:
•S&W K-38 Masterpiece Pre-Model 14, Serial No. K272259•
•6" Barrel, Patridge Front Sight, Square Notch Rear Sight•
•Factory Shipped November 30, 1956 to H. H. Harris Co., Chicago, IL•
•Engraved by Claus & Emil Willig In Late 1950’s•
•For The Engraving Shop Of Kurt Jaeger of Mainz Germany•
•Finished In French Nickel & High Polish Blue•
•Complete Coverage With English Scroll & Gold Outlines•
•Includes Two Gold Inlay Scenes, Engraved Butt Cap, & Checkered Ivory Grips•
I have literally taken dozens of pictures of this gun but none of them accurately portray its beauty. The scroll background is relieved and lined which provides tremendous contrast especially in the areas finished in nickel, and in certain lighting angles the scenes almost appear three dimensional. Anyway, below are a few of those pictures. I know there are other fabulous Willig engraved pieces residing with our members; please share them in this thread as they cannot be seen too often.
Photo Credit - Morphy Auctions
Photo Credit - Morphy Auctions
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I love that gun and the SD Meyers leather you paired it with is also outstanding. Claus and his father Emil are some of my favorite engravers. There work is always over-the-top in a way that looks just right rather than gaudy. As usual, your research and write-up add color and enjoyment for the rest of us. Thank you for sharing. 
