A Pair of Early 1950s Masterpieces

[TheTinMan]

K-38 Heavy Masterpiece (1954-ish)

K-22 Masterpiece (1951-ish)

That divot on the right side of the cylinder is just about the only flaw on the K-22. There is a little blueing loss on the left side of the K-38’s muzzle. Both came with boxes but no tools or goodies, and both have that early 1950s quasi-matte finish. That is growing one me…

I finally got a light box and am just beginning to learn how to make the most of it.

Chip

 

[arjay]

I really like the early post war satin blue

 

[Green Frog]

What's not to like? My pair both date to 1947 and we are all very happy together. I would love to find a K-32 of similar vintage but I can't seem to win the lottery to be able to afford one.

I've often stated that these will be among the last firearms that will ever leave my possession. They're just so right!

Forge

 

[JP@AK]

TheTinMan

Very nice. Thanks for showing them.

I wonder if you'd be kind enough to show us the end label on the box for the K-38. It appears to be a Heavy Masterpiece and I'd like to see how the box is labeled. Thanks in advance.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Masterpiece...perfect name for the two in your pics. I've come to like the early post-war matte finish, somehow conveys "precision instrument". Which they are for sure.

 

[TheTinMan]

TheTinMan

Very nice. Thanks for showing them.

I wonder if you'd be kind enough to show us the end label on the box for the K-38. It appears to be a Heavy Masterpiece and I'd like to see how the box is labeled. Thanks in advance.

The box is fairly beaten up. Printed on both ends is:

Smith & Wesson
K-38
Masterpiece
Blue Finish
6 Inch Barrel

The serial number is hand written in pencil on one end and on the top of the box. There is no other writing anywhere on the box.

This one needs a letter!

Chip

 

[Engine49guy]

Don't see too many early K38 Heavy Masterpiece box pics,
Jack is correct your K38 is a " Heavy" Masterpiece, the narrow rib K38 was still available till around 1954 iirc.

Wanna say the earliest Heavy Masterpiece box's were burgundy, not sure if 1954 would have been the gold box or blue box but others will, the early gold box K38 madterpiece should have a sticker that said HEAVY applied, by 54 it likely was printed in the name, the word "Heavy" was discontinued after the older narrow rib version was discontinued, serial numbers on gold boxes were usually handwritten in grease pencil on the bottom.
Btw the change to the wider rib was an attempt at getting the K38 closer to the weight of the K22, the K32 rib was also widened but not as wide as the .38's rib.

Just wanted to add that 54 was the end of the satin blue and it changed back to bright blue sometime abt 1955

 

[Valmet]

Wonderful brace of 1950s goodness…thanks for sharing OP

 

[Hawg Rider]

Very nice! Now you need to keep your eyes open for a matching K-32 Masterpiece...oh yeah, and make sure you have one good kidney to trade for it! Congratulations, and enjoy!

 

[TheTinMan]

Pics of box as requested:

Let me be clear - I typed “1954-ish” because there is another K-38 in the serial number lookup section that shipped in August of 1954 with a last digit of 9 vs. 6 on my gun. Here is the chunky monkey of a top rib. It is virtually the same width as the top strap with a serrated central surface and angled surfaces of almost the same width on both sides. Heck the rib is nearly as wide as the barrel.

If this shipped in 1955 or later, is it simply a K-38?

Note: in his reply about the nearly adjacent serial number Roy Jinks added “It is an interesting gun.” Normally I wouldn’t even consider a letter for a revolver that cost me only $780.00, but in this case it might be worth the investment. What do you all think?

 

[Retired W4]

Based on Roy's comment the price of a letter would be money well spent.

BTW, your light box photography is coming along great.

 

[Engine49guy]

From my records
K 195134    Shipped Nov    1953
K205445    Shipped Feb     1954
K246498     Shipped May   1956

From 1946 to 1949 except for a small amount of early examples the 6" K38 Masterpiece had the narrow rib barrel like your 1950 K22, The new wide rib K38 Heavy Masterpiece First appears in the 1950 AMC as well as the narrow rib version but it did not replace the narrow rib version yet,
Since both versions were available for order they needed a way to identify one from the other so in that era if you say K38 Masterpiece it is assumed you are referring to the narrow rib version, if you say K38 Heavy Masterpiece it's instantly identified.
Problem is most people just say K38 Masterpiece when referring to a wide rib gun.
Once the narrow rib version was discontinued the Heavy moniker was dropped, so if u say I have a 1956 K38 Masterpiece it's assumed it's a wide rib.
In the 54-55 time frame could be either rib in either bright or satin so being specific helps.
In describing your gun to remove any doubt I might say it's a 54 , six inch, K38 Heavy Masterpiece in satin blue with wide target hammer and factory Magna stocks.

 

[JP@AK]

Comparable serial numbers:

K217789 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped May, 1954
K218559 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped June, 1954
K220943 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped March, 1954

 

[JP@AK]

Pics of box as requested:

Thank you.

Note: in his reply about the nearly adjacent serial number Roy Jinks added “It is an interesting gun.” Normally I wouldn’t even consider a letter for a revolver that cost me only $780.00, but in this case it might be worth the investment. What do you all think?

Well, Roy's note about K219309 doesn't necessarily mean the "interesting gun" note has any relevance to K219306. It most likely means K219309 shipped to an "interesting" location or to a famous person. Roy once told me about an interesting shipment in reply to a date request. Turns out it was a gun that shipped to a well-known and historically significant mine in Arizona.

But the only way to know is to pay for a letter. If you can afford to part with the bucks, go ahead. I probably would, but not just because of Roy's statement about a different revolver.

 

[JP@AK]

Jack is correct your K38 is a "Heavy" Masterpiece, the narrow rib K38 was still available till around 1954 iirc.

Some of us strongly suspect that the last of the 6" narrow rib barrels were cut to 5" and shipped on the special order 5" Combat Masterpiece units that were sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1952 and 1953 (one is pictured below). Hence, most, if not all, K-38 Masterpiece revolvers by 1954 were of the Heavy variety.

Wanna say the earliest Heavy Masterpiece box's (sic) were burgundy

Maybe, but I tend to doubt that many, if any, were. Full production of the K-38 started in May, 1948. By that time, gold boxes were standard.

not sure if 1954 would have been the gold box or blue box but others will

K-38 K104706 shipped February 26, 1951, in a gold box. Gold boxes were still being used in 1954 and I have a K-38 shipped in November, 1956, that left Springfield in a blue box.

the early gold box K38 madterpiece (sic) should have a sticker that said HEAVY applied, by 54 it likely was printed in the name, the word "Heavy" was discontinued after the older narrow rib version was discontinued

Surprising anomalies do occur. I own a K-38 Model 14 that shipped in July, 1959. It is in its original blue box with a pasted-on end label that says, "K-38 HEAVY MASTERPIECE." No model number on the label.

 

[Engine49guy]

Rule #1 with S&W is there are no rules with S&W.
Iirc this is one of Lee's pics from years ago.
Hopefully it posts

https://hosting.photobucket.com/alb...bums-k-38-heavy-masterpiece-picture4493-a.jpg

 

[Engine49guy]

On a side note Jack brings up a good point with his 5" narrow rib K38 , Exceptions to the rules of standard production models as well as rare anomalies do exist and that's what makes the hobby so much fun when one is unearthed.
You get into the hobby thinking that all 4" Combat Masterpiece revolvers were narrow rib barrels with long ramps and Baughman blades until you see a factory wide rib 4" or one with a short ramp and Patridge fs blade,
Or a 6" K22 with a long ramp and Baughman blade , IIRC the 5" versions came in both wide and narrow rib, sometimes these anomalies were built to test interest, sometimes to fill a special order for a PD or a distributor, sometimes a customer just wanted his guns finish in bright blue instead of satin, SW would oblige them for a small fee.
Today not so much.

There are btw variations I have not seen and keep waiting for one to surface like an early K38 Combat Masterpiece with a factory Patridge blade on a short ramp, or a 6" wider rib K22 Masterpiece in satin blue.

 

[rct269]

Some miscellaneous bits on K-32 values-----and the end of Satin Blue.

K-32 Values: These are the three of mine sold during the liquidation of my collection------2021-2023 (+/-).

K-32 1st Model: $7135. In terms of original finish, 95%. In terms of appearance, scruffy----damage, as opposed to honest wear. You wouldn't have been proud of it aside from the fact it was what it was.

K-32 2nd Model: $3825. Narrow rib/Satin Blue---very high condition excepting an inexplicable discoloration opposite the sideplate---maybe 1/4" in diameter.

K-32 3rd Model: $3525. Wide rib/Bright Blue, 98-99% gun.

One of these two above had THE box. I'm thinking it was 3rd Model, but not sure.

Okay, when I started off here I thought this was going to be more meaningful than it turned out when I got the copy of the letter out, but consider it a piece of the puzzle rather than a shocking revelation. This is a wide rib/heavy barrel K-22 shipped January 10, 1956---in Satin Blue---so the SWAG up above about when the finish changed from Satin to Bright Blue is close enough for government work!

Ralph Tremaine

In terms of credibility, the 95% appraisal of remaining finish on the K32 1st is not mine (which can be considered as worthless, because I don't bother with such niceties---it's either a nice looking gun or it isn't as far as I'm concerned.) I was happy to have this gun on the one hand, and not all that proud of it on the other hand. Along comes the possibility of trading it even up for a BRAND NEW IN THE BOX 6" 2nd Model Single Shot---and I was hot for that deal!! I took the K-32 down to David Carroll's digs for an expert opinion on the finish. He sat and stared, and said 95%. I'd come to consider his opinions on such as money in the bank-----considering the fact all I'd ever seen from him looked better to me than what he'd said it was to begin with! The folks with the single shot were smart enough to pass on the trade----and I was just older but a little bit wiser---and NOT happy! This K-32 1st was far and away the WORST piece in my collection---a true embarrassment!! But then again, it was what it was!

 

[TheTinMan]

Comparable serial numbers:

K217789 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped May, 1954
K218559 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped June, 1954
K220943 K-38 Masterpiece – shipped March, 1954

K-38 Masterpiece K219309 shipped in August of 1954. Mine is 3 digits away, although I know it could’ve shipped years later.

 

[USBP SW]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but it appears that the K38 has the target hammer. I haven't looked at the box for some time but I don't think there was any mention of the target hammer on the box, only an additional charge on the original receipt. Actually, the original receipt, dated May 1950, Klein's Sporting Goods, Chicago, listed the price as $67.50 with the "large hammer", it also has the heavy barrel but there is no mention of the barrel contour on the box or the receipt.