K-38 Combat Masterpiece Picture Thread

[Goony]

Here's one to start off with, this example dating to circa 1952.

What do you have, including later Model 15's, particularly if marked or documented as having been military or law enforcement issue?

[DCWilson]

Great idea for a thread; thanks for starting it. I'm pretty sure I have one of those around here somewhere.

Yup, here it is...



K101707, shipped January 1951 and thus a fairly early specimen of the design (though I'm not ignoring the fact that several were shipped in second half of 1950). I acquired this one from a fellow SoCal forum member a few years ago.

I don't shoot this one anywhere near as much as I ought to. Now that I have reminded myself it is in the safe, I need to get it to the range.

[gripper]

Harry Jarvis engraved K38 Combat Masterpiece wearing KB Redheart Ropers.

Chad Gripp

[montegomx]

Originally Posted by gripper

Harry Jarvis engraved K38 Combat Masterpiece wearing KB Redheart Ropers.

Chad Gripp

i want a m15 bad,your killing me, she is a beauty ,who made the stocks?

[bgrafsr]

Originally Posted by montegomx

i want a m15 bad,your killing me, she is a beauty ,who made the stocks?

The stocks were made by Forum member, Keith Brown, a master stockman if there ever was one.

[gripper]

Originally Posted by montegomx

i want a m15 bad,your killing me, she is a beauty ,who made the stocks?

The stocks were made by Keith Brown. The gun actually shipped with smooth rosewood target stocks. I have the original stocks, it's just that the redhearts really make the engraving stand out.

Chad Gripp

[AirCommando]

For over a year I thought my CM was born in 1952. Roy looked up the number I gave him, K119114, but a forum member caught the fact that K199114 is too high for 1952! I just made another request from Roy for the right date.



I think it will be around Nov., 1953. Another forum member has one 26 #'s off shipped then.

Update: Roy says Nov., 1952. Interesting they are 1 year apart!

Being a picture thread....

[linde]

Originally Posted by Goony

What do you have . . . particularly if marked or documented as having been military or law enforcement issue?

Goony, thanks for the opportunity.

My favorite documented law enforcement Combat Masterpiece is the 5" version special-ordered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in October 1952.








Russ

[Mike McLellan]

Okay. I don't have one. But, I sure like looking at the pictures.

[Engine49guy]

A Muzzle comparison (L to R) of the Models 19-2, 14-2 Hanen, 15-2 and pre 10.

[shawn mccarver]

How about another Missouri State Highway Patrol 5 inch .38 Combat Masterpiece. This one is owned by a friend of mine who was lucky enough to get all of the papers and gold box, which is factory labeled "Combat Masterpiece."

[hunterdeneugene]

here's a Combat Masterpiece from around 1955: K2487XX




15-2 K7728XX:

[Goony]

It strikes me that the real challenge is to find the duty holster (or better yet, the entire ensemble) to go with one of these....

[wetdog]

Combat Masterpiece


15-3


15-4

[GF]

Is there room for a Model 15 in this Combat Masterpiece thread!?!

It's a little later than the other fine specimens, and posting after wetdog makes me wanna cry!



GF

[Old Corp]

Mine's not even worthy to grace the same pages as the other ones here.
Mine's an ol' workhorse from 1970 or so.....

[STCM(SW)]

Originally Posted by Old Corp

Mine's not even worthy to grace the same pages as the other ones here.
Mine's an ol' workhorse from 1970 or so.....

Same with mine from 1970......

[Toyman]

1 of 7 shipped to KC MO. PD in 1970

[45Wheelgun]

Probably not what you were looking for, but a rather unique 15-3:

[0le]

Here' another old duty revolver. It does show some holster wear, but not too much, and probably carried more than it was fired. Numbers match all over it.

[mbliss57]

Pay no attention to that J frame on top I picked this 15-3 Snub up at a gun show this last weekend. Dates to 1974. I will get better picks. It has no carry marks on it anywhere. Truly a 99% example. I
shot her on Sunday. Shoots just like her cousin Model 19 with .38's!

[CJS57]

Bright blue special order K137501 with "B" stamped on all major parts.

[Goony]

Originally Posted by CJS57

Bright blue special order K137501 with "B" stamped on all major parts.

Also a 1952 or so gun. Have you lettered it to verify the special order status, and if so, who was it for?

[66Park]

Goony, my compliments on thinking of such an incredible thread topic. I simply must have a Combat Masterpiece for my growing collection!

[bgrafsr]

Model 15-2 with TT & TH. Shipped 1962.

[vrichard]

4 screw mdl.15 no dash.
Dick

[turnerriver]

Myres holster.

[Stophel]

The .38 Combat Masterpiece seems relatively neglected here on the message board. Glad to see this thread.

Here's mine:



Made the handle for it back when I was in my "Fingergroove phase".

[wetdog]

^^^^^^ Nice pic and stocks.

[Toyman]

5 inch blue K38 shipped to Illinois State Police October 1957

[SDH]

Maybe my favorite K frame?
Shipped Jan. 1953: Shown with T-Tyler, bench-made smooth English walnut magnas and recently acquired Colorado Saddlery half-flap holster.

[tx7]

Here is mine. K 213949, purchased earlier in the month and now residing in my safe!

Some great pics on this thread! Still learning my way around the forum.





[ATTACH]IMG_1092ssmall.jpeg[/ATTACH]

[AirCommando]

My unfired Combat Masterpiece, K119114, shipped Feb. 1952.

[saemetric]

Wish focus was better on 15-3

[wetdog]

Nice stocks on yours SDH. Some beautiful stocks here.

[fyimo]

Here's my K-38 made in 1952

[mbliss57]

What a great thread. Some great looking Combat Masterpieces.

[Blackcloud2]

I'm almost embarrassed to even offer these two, but I will. A 1950 version I acquired and a 1953 shooter that my father carried while an LEO as his service revolver. Both have been lettered.

The 1950


The 1953 with one later carry duty holster circa 1970's


A much older S.D. Myres holster that carried the 1953 on duty

[JP@AK]

Here's the same revolver I posted earlier in a thumbnail. Finally found out how to post full size pictures - so here it is again.
Model 15-2 3T that shipped in 1966.
JP

[Goony]

Originally Posted by Blackcloud2

I'm almost embarrassed to even offer these two, but I will. A 1950 version I acquired and a 1953 shooter that my father carried while an LEO as his service revolver. Both have been lettered.

I see no cause to be in any way ashamed of either of these. Besides, it was never the intention that only "mint" condition guns were to be honored here.

1950 is an early shipping date for a Combat Msterpiece. Was there anything special about to whom it was sent? Also, with regard to your father's revolver, I'm presuming from the way you put it that he purchased it for duty rather that had it issued to him? Finally, if you don't mind me asking, what agency did your father work for, and when?

[Blackcloud2]

Originally Posted by Goony

I see no cause to be in any way ashamed of either of these. Besides, it was never the intention that only "mint" condition guns were to be honored here.

1950 is an early shipping date for a Combat Msterpiece. Was there anything special about to whom it was sent? Also, with regard to your father's revolver, I'm presuming from the way you put it that he purchased it for duty rather that had it issued to him? Finally, if you don't mind me asking, what agency did your father work for, and when?

Rest easy sir, I’m very proud of these both, it’s just there were so many beautiful examples posted I was sitting somewhat in awe, but I thank you for your kind remarks. As for the shipping of the 1950, which I bought at a swap meet about 9 years ago, it was shipped to Hoffman Hardware Co. in Los Angeles. I know nothing else about it except it appears to have been fired very little if at all.

My dad’s on the other hand got plenty of use and was the first gun I ever fired at the age of 5. He bought it used from a former Town Marshall (Somerton AZ) in 1955 or 56 and had been using his father-in-law’s M&P up to that point. The letter states it was shipped to George Cake Co. in Berkeley CA, which I understand was a big supplier of firearms and police supplies.

My father was a Somerton PD patrolman from 1955 through 1968 when he stepped away from the job until coming back in 1971 as the Chief of Police up through 1977. A year or so later he served as a Deputy Sheriff in Yuma County for 3 years before calling it quits with law enforcement for good. He died just over a year ago and about two months prior gave his revolver to my son who is today an officer for the Phoenix AZ police department. He holds it in very high regard. BC2

[NFrameFred]

Couldn't present the photo I wanted to until just this week - finally nailed down a nickel 4" for the collection . . . .

[steamloco76]

15-3 from 1971 wearing Altamont grips.


15-3 Nickel from 1974. Sweet shooting snub.

[GerSan69]

Hey Blackcloud, those safe queens sure are pretty, but I'll bet your dad's working gun could tell them stories that would make their toes curl... love a gun with that kind of history!

[oldafsp]

One of three Model 15's that I own, a 1969 15-3.

[bellevance]

My two 15-3s and their big brother, a 19-4.

[hunterdeneugene]

Originally Posted by oldafsp

One of three Model 15's that I own, a 1969 15-3.

That my friend is a SAC patch and a 416 SPS squadron patch. I was at Griffiss AFB from 1986-1992 on the security side.

[KEN L]

I've not seen ANYTHING on this thread that anyone has to be ashamed of. ALL are beautiful in their own right, some are just much nicer than others, especially that Feb 1952 NIB specimen. Just one month younger than me, but I haven't been NIB for a lonnnnnng time!

Had this one for a while, but let it go..............still looking for that birthday gun.

[Colokeb]

Smoothest S&W revolvers I have. They were owned by an armorer of the California Highway Patrol. They are marked CHP....Models 67 and bigger cousin, a 68.

[stu1ritter]

15-4 This one just hangs around, maybe 30 rounds through it todate.
Stu