Matchin' Masterpieces

[ksingltn]

2 of my favorite guns. 1951 K38 Combat Masterpiece and matching 1952 K22 Combat Masterpiece.

@tennexplorer says I have an affliction for target fishhook hammers and sharp shoulder diamond magnas. He might be correct.

The K22 was a lucky late night gunbroker snag a couple years ago, I think it shot all the small game in Texas, as it has a good bit of honest wear and came with a nicely used Bianchi holster.

The K38 was in a gun shop, marked as a model 10, and priced as such. Its in great shape, with only minor handling marks and a bit of muzzle wear.

 

[tennexplorer]

We need pictures. I have a similar pair but both are -2 models as you have seen.

 

[DV0]

I have a nickel 53’, love the sights and HB.
Your photo is not showing for me.

 

[ksingltn]

Thats odd... is it showing now?

 

[Truckman]

Thats odd... is it showing now?

No, not for me either......Ben

 

[ksingltn]

We need pictures. I have a similar pair but both are -2 models as you have seen.

my second attempt at fixing it... maybe it works now

 

[cowboy94916]

I can see your pic post. Nice pair have similar pair of -2. Enjoy.

 

[Pizza Bob]

My Vintage Bullseye battery...

Front to back:
K-22 from 1950 w/Hurst stocks
K-38 from 1951 w/Farrant stocks
1950 HE .45 Target from 1952 w/unrelieved Target stocks

Adios,

Pizza BNob

 

[bobsguns]

Does anyone know why the hammer shape was changed? I'm guessing some sort of cost-savings impact?

 

[NavySCPO]

I never miss the chance to show my trifecta off, so here I go again. The boxes aren’t original, but I can’t have everything.

1953 K22
1955 K32
1949 K38

Also have the K22 and K38 Combats, but the K32 is my favorite

 

[45NUTT]

Well you are proud you posted the trifecta three times!!

If I had a K32 I'd show it off every chance I got also

 

[NavySCPO]

Well you are proud you posted the trifecta three times!!

If I had a K32 I'd show it off every chance I got also

LOL, my fingers got excited, deleted the other two.

 

[damienph]

My K-22 on top and K38 on bottom.
I have the diamond magnas stored away for the K-22 but the K-38’s are long gone.

 

[Engine49guy]

I never miss the chance to show my trifecta off, so here I go again. The boxes aren’t original, but I can’t have everything.

1953 K22
1955 K32
1949 K38

Also have the K22 and K38 Combats, but the K32 is my favorite

Beautiful trio, did I ever mention I have SW OCD ?
Something in your photo is triggering my SW OCD, hear me out,
Your satin blue , steel medallion narrow rib K22 is beautiful but it doesnt quite belong in that trio, there was a matching satin K38 (and K32?) narrow rib version to your K22 with matching frame notches by the barrel rib but the K38 and K32 in your photo are the weight matched wide rib versions without the frame notches, the wider rib K22 doesnt appear until 1955, bad news is the 5 screw version had a fairly short production run before it was changed to the 4 screw frame.
Btw,
The early post war narrow rib guns had the same outer dimensions and features but were not weight matched, the later versions were weight matched by adjusting (widening) the barrel ribs.
There I got my demons out, hope you do not take offense.
It actually gives you a reason to collect the 3 variations that you are missing, then you will have both trifectas !

 

[HuntFish918]

I sold my four screw K-32 (with box) at the spring Wanenmacher to a very old guy for $4000.
Sure was fun owning it.

 

[bdGreen]

Matchin' Masterpieces, that's what the man said, right?​

Enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[nedlate]

Here are my Masterpieces, K22, K32, K38. They are all 4 screw guns.
Oh yes! I have posted them before!
Ed

 

[NavySCPO]

Beautiful trio, did I ever mention I have SW OCD ?
Something in your photo is triggering my SW OCD, hear me out,
Your satin blue , steel medallion narrow rib K22 is beautiful but it doesnt quite belong in that trio, there was a matching satin K38 (and K32?) narrow rib version to your K22 with matching frame notches by the barrel rib but the K38 and K32 in your photo are the weight matched wide rib versions without the frame notches, the wider rib K22 doesnt appear until 1955, bad news is the 5 screw version had a fairly short production run before it was changed to the 4 screw frame.
Btw,
The early post war narrow rib guns had the same outer dimensions and features but were not weight matched, the later versions were weight matched by adjusting (widening) the barrel ribs.
There I got my demons out, hope you do not take offense.
It actually gives you a reason to collect the 3 variations that you are missing, then you will have both trifectas !

No offense taken at all, always nice to learn something new about these beautiful revolvers. Probably have to stay with what I have, K-32’s come up for sale so rarely, and so expensive to boot. These 3 and my other S&W’s are promised to my Grandaughter. My Daughter got the matching s/n slide and frame 1943 Colt 1911, WWII Winchester M1 Carbine and Korean War M1 Garand, hopefully that will keep them both happy with some of Papa’s favorites. At 74, my days of dropping that much coin on a single firearm are behind me, but it sure was fun while I was collecting.

 

[Engine49guy]

Can I be your grandson ?
Jk,
to complete your trio you actually would just need the wider rib bright blue 5 screw K22 in the K256xxx range from 1955-56 just prior to the change to 4 screw frames.