Just got a nice 4 screw K38 delivered yesterday.

K271766. Seller thought from 1957. No box etc. Gun was not fired very much from all indications. It now has about 200+ lead reloads through it and a thorough cleaning. The target grips are in very good condition as well, and are in a nice bag in my grips drawer. All my shooters wear Ahrends. I'm waiting for some more to be delivered, so there are a couple guns just sitting gripless in the safe.









It was not shooting anywhere near as well as the 14-3 shown top, but I expect the groups to tighten up considerably over the next few thousand rounds.

Right at $650 otd.

Wonderful gun. I really like the target trigger and hammer. Congratulations.

Hello robctwo
You did well. That's a nice looking K-38 Target Masterpiece. I suspect it was shipped in 1956. I have one only about 7,000 numbers higher that was.
The stocks on yours are magnificent.
Regards,
JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

A great score. Three Ts, too! Nice.

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David Wilson

Nice find. I really like the stocks.

Mitch

"All my shooters wear Ahrends. I'm waiting for some more to be delivered, so there are a couple guns just sitting gripless in the safe."

Oh, the humanity!

"...I expect the groups to tighten up considerably over the next few thousand rounds."

Why would you expect that?

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No life story has happy end.

In my collection I have # K 272318, 552 numbers higher than yours and mine was shipped 1-9-1957 with target hammer, target trigger, and standard magna stocks. How weird is that? I think you did well at $650. Very nice revolver. Big Larry

Maybe because his practice will make him a better shooter?
JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Well, maybe it's not weird at all. After looking at this, I checked and the gun I referenced is not yet lettered. So the 1956 note in my database was an estimate, pending confirmation via a letter. I now expect it to be a 1957 shipment, but we'll see. Sorry to mislead.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Well, we are back to weird. I just got a note from Roy that my K-38, K278720 shipped in November, 1956. Looks like my estimate was right and some guns got shipped out of order in this batch. Not that any of us would be surprised by this.
JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Thanks for the feed back on shipping dates. I was 5, or 6 when it shipped. Fun to shoot a gun made around the time I was in 1st grade.

"...I expect the groups to tighten up considerably over the next few thousand rounds."

Why would you expect that?"

Load development, past experience.

"Maybe because his practice will make him a better shooter?"

There is that. Then there is shooting two very similar guns one after the other and having one shooting more accurately, with the loads it likes.

Agreed.
It's even more fun shooting one that was shipped when my dad was only 4. Like the one in the attached photo - shipped in February, 1926.
To top that, I have a .32-20 HE that was shipped when my grandfather was 9. I don't shoot it much, but I have shot it.
Heck, I'll throw in a photo of it, too. It is a Model of 1902 Target and letters to 1904.
Cheers.
JP

Attached Images

	1905 Fourth - 2-26 right.jpg (84.1 KB, 26 views)
	32-20 HE right.jpg (58.3 KB, 30 views)

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Not weird as to date, weird as it came with service stocks and two "T"s. When I bought it, it had a beautiful set of unrelieved target diamond stocks. I figured that would be wrong, and a letter confirmed it. I could probably get part of my $$$ back from the high $$$'s I paid for it, by selling the stocks. I have installed the proper magnas back on the gun. You live and learn when you are new at this, and I was when I bought it. Would not make the same mistake now for sure. So far, I have two sets of unrelieved targets from mistakes, but these stocks are real nice and I may find a use for them someday, that is why I never sold them.No, my gun is not a shooter. Big Larry

Ran another 60 rounds this evening in the back yard. I have a steel plate. Semi-rural so I don't shoot many rounds here. Seems to like my 125 gr lrn over 3.1 Bullseye pretty well.

My 5-screw serials to 1955, came with the service grips, hammer & trigger.
Had it out today to get it ready to sell on consignment to float some ivory grips for another gun, decided it really should stay. Decided to let a Ruger go instead.

Has some holster wear, not quite as nice as the one pictured.
Nice one.
Denis

Good choice!!!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I have a representative S&W accumulation of various models, thought I probably won't ever do much with this one & it could go to fund the ivories on a gun I WILL do something with, but....

I heard a rumor they're considering dropping the 5-screw K38s from the lineup, so it really should stay on here. Just in case I should ever need one & find S&W no longer makes 'em.
Denis

Took some more pics today.

4 screw K38



5 screw K38

Ummm. I assume you are kidding. True 5 screws have been gone since 1962. Unless you are referring to the special nostalgia reissues they have been making lately.
JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Sunumagun! You mean to stand there with your teeth in your mouth & tell me S&W does NOT make five-screw K38s anymore?
Denis