My local shop has a K38 (marked 38 M&P), 6" barrel (I do not have a 6" S&W revolver-yet), Serial K52XXX that is about 85-90%. Has some muzzle and cylinder wear from in and out of a holster, but does not appear to have been shot much based on lack of flame cutting and general appearance. Carried a lot and shot little is my guess.

I'm guessing front sight might have been replaced with a red ramp, but looks original. I'm thinking it is from around 1950 or so. Sorry can't post pictures as it's not mine (coldbe, though) Shop was just closing up for the weekend and will re-open Tuesday, so it will be there.

If someone can tell me more about it, would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Bill

It is a 5-screw frame and likely shipped in 1952. It probably had the Patridge front instead of the ramp/Baughman, but never say never with S & W. How much are they asking for it?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I need to disagree with Alan on the date by about three years; that serial number suggests a late 1948 to early 1949 ship date. The gun is probably first-year manufacture and should have the desirable (to me, at any rate) narrow rib/light barrel configuration. I agree with Alan that the ramp front sight is almost certainly a replacement for an original Patridge sight. The earliest Masterpiece revolvers had standard Patridge sights up to the introduction of the Combat Masterpiece and .22 Combat Masterpiece in 1950.

At $450-500 I would be a buyer for the described gun. At a little more, I might be a buyer depending on the amount of wear and the perceived tightness of the action. You are not stuck with the front sight. You could restore the original configuration without much trouble.

AFTERTHOUGHT. The replaced sight makes me wonder if the gun's original hammer is still on it or if it now carries a wider target hammer. Are the original magna stocks still on the gun? With replacement stocks and hammer, my judgment of its value would drop some.

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David Wilson

Oops, had a senior moment - 1948 it is. Must've been thinking "52" from the serial number.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for the info guys. If I buy (95% chance on that), it's for a shooter, so whether the sights or grips are original or not doesn't matter much to me. When I said "red ramp front sight but looks original", I was referring to the rest of the gun. I was pretty certain the sights were not original. It is a 5 screw, but I didn't look too close at the outside of the barrel or rib. I think it's pretty much original, and seems to lock up pretty tight. It has target grips (which I like), but not the target hammer. I can get it for $450 including sales tax and fees, so will likely do it on Tuesday.

I'll let you know, and post pictures when I can pick it up (which takes a while in the People's Republic of California.)

The shop's tag says M&P? The K prefix makes it a target grade revolver with adjustable sights, not an M&P.

At $450 for a K-38 shooter I'd be all over that like a chicken on a june bug!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

I have a '48, with a serial number in the 36000 range. If you pick it up you'll be a happy guy!

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Even older, even crankier....

That's a really decent price for the revolver you discribed especially if you are going to make it a shooter as they very accurate.

Thanks for all the info and advice. I have been thinking about it and will be there when they open Tuesday morning.

Yes, it does have adjustable sights. Funny I didn't mention that earlier.