Where were K-38 serial numbers located in the pre model era? The one I'm looking at is a 6" Target Masterpiece and is s/n K278682 which should date to 1956.

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Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

None of my 38s are as new as you are looking at, but I think the serial numbers should be located on the butt, on the barrel under the ejector rod, on the back of the cylinder, the right stock, and on the back of the extractor star. The crane and frame have a matching assembly number that will not match the serial number.

Pre war targets had serial #s in 8 locations. In addition the the 5 glowe listed, the serial # is also on the rear face of the yoke but can only be seen thru one chamber of the opened cylinder with a flashlight above the front face of the cylinder. The other two are the front sight blade and bottom of rear sight. Both must be removed to see the #.

Post war guns until c.1956 are stamped in the same 6 locations on fixed sight guns. The target sights are not usually stamped on post war guns but some early post wars sights can be.

After c. 1956 and about the same time Model #s were stamped only the backside of right stock, butt and extractor locations were still stamped.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Does the serial number appear on the inside of the side plate?

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Dave

Bullmack
A 6" 4 screw K-38 Masterpiece with a serial number less than 40 digits away from yours is in my collection. According to Roy, it shipped in November, 1956.
The serial number does not appear on the rear face of the cylinder or on the barrel flat. I also cannot see it on the back of the extractor star (I looked pretty darn closely, too). It is on the inside of the right stock panel.
I don't doubt Jim's testimony, but it does not seem to be true with respect to my particular revolver.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Hi Dave,
No, but the factory assembly # is stamped there that matches the # on the yoke arm and on the butt under the left stock (alternatively on the frame opposite the yoke #). And it serves a similar purpose; proving that the parts are original to that particular gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hi Jack,
A gun assembled in 1956 is on the 'cusp' so to speak or right in the transition period with regard to serial # locations. And the missing # on the extractor star doesn't surprise me but is unusual since the serial # is stamped there thru 1980.

Thanks for your observations. As you've proved once again, with Smiths, the main rule is, there are no rules. (smile)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have a 1956 4 screw K-38 s/n 287xxx, about 9,000 higher than bullmack’s and JP@AK‘s. It also only has its serial number on its butt. Except for its Herrett stocks, it matches donadler’s k-38 posted today in his thread K-38 question. Both have 6” heavy barrels, 1/2” target hammers and .265” service triggers. When I bought mine last summer, because it was missing extra serial numbers and had the modern hammer, I thought its barrel, cylinder and hammer had been replaced with model 14 parts, along with a bright reblue. I learned from these two threads that its parts are original. Now I’m wondering if its bright blue is also. I thought its $200 price was a great bargain as a parts-n-pieces shooter. Now I see it was a steal. I’m glad I read these threads.

k22fan,
Is your K38 chambered in .22 or is it actually a K22?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That matches exactly with the one I am looking at! Matching numbers on the butt and right stock panel. I'll be picking it up today for $475.

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Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

It is hard to pin down exact time frames for numbering the K38's. In my collection, # K 272318,lettered shipped 1-9-1957, has all the usual numbered parts, while # K 286893, shipped 2-1957, has only numbered stocks, butt, and under the extractor star if I remember correctly. Cyl. and bbl. unmarked. Big Larry

It is a .38 special. I should have typed "model 14 parts," not "model 17." It was past bed time.

I dated my K287xxx to 1956 using the SCSW, but comparing serial numbers with Big Larry's it looks like both mine and bullmack's would have shipped about Feb. 1957, not long before model numbers were used.

Yes, Jim. That is the only dependable maxim when it comes to S&W revolvers.
Regards,
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Yes, and shipping dates can be all over the map. As previously noted, my # K278720 shipped in November, 1956. It falls in between your two in the number sequence and shipped about two months earlier.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Good for you. If it is in any kind of good shape at all, that is a pretty good price. The one I mentioned is 98% in the original box and has all the accessories except the parts list. I paid a whole lot more than $475 for it!
JP

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Hello Dave,
Since no one else has answered you I'll tell you what I remember. I've taken apart S&Ws that cover every decade from WWI to the present. I don't recall one without the assembly number on the inside of its side plate and I don't remember one with its serial number there.

This is speculation, but it could be the assembly number keeps the frame yoke and side plate together before a serial number is assigned. Perhaps yokes formerly got both numbers to keep a yoke together with the revolver’s cylinder while separated from the frame but side plates already had a number matching them to the frame so adding the s/n to side plates wasn‘t useful.