Looking to get some info on a gun inherited from my grandfather. It is a .38 special with a 4" barrel and stamped K914824.

Secondly, he also had a .22 caliber S&W with the same markings (no pics) but instead of "38 S&W Special CTG" it has "22 S&W Special CTG". He mentioned that the smaller calibers were used for target practice by LEO's, specifically the Texas Rangers, while carrying the larger caliber on duty. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks in advance for the help and I look forward to participating in the community

It's a .38 "Combat Masterpiece" or Model 15 made in 1969. Open the cylinder and the model number is stamped in the yoke cut.

K848,782 – K946,391....1969

It's what would be called a Model 15 Combat Masterpiece, once fairly popular in law enforcement circles, and was also the official handgun of the USAF for awhile.

There was also a .22 version called the Model 18. I suppose it might have been used for practice by a few LE agencies, I don't know about that.

Man you guys are good! Thanks for the guidance and yep....Inside the cylinder it is marked MOD 15-3.

So I guess he wasn't blowing smoke when he said it was the pistol the Texas Rangers used or if not them other LE agencies.

Any idea on the .22 caliber with the same markings? It seems odd that LEO's would practice with only .22, but the gun is almost identical with the exception of a longer barrel.

He has several other models that family members are positioning for but I hope to keep the pair together especially if there is a real relation

I don't think the Texas Rangers used the Combat Masterpiece, but I'm not sure about that. In general, LE agencies usually require training using the duty weapon, but I can't say that .22s weren't used on occasion by some. The Model 18 was probably more popular among outdoors people than LEOs. They're a little unusual and fairly desirable.

If the 22 has a 6 inch barrel it's a model 17,4 inch would be a model 18.The 17 was the masterpiece and the 4 inch was the combat masterpiece,just like the 38s.

Yeah when he mentioned the Texas Ranger thing he was pretty out of his senses, so I didn't put too much stock into it. However I loved both the 38 and 22 models for the traditional styling and the "twin set" factor.

A really great pair of classic pistols if you ask me. I passed on a Colt M1991A1 and a Ruger Super Blackhawk to keep the pair together.

Thanks again for the help

What existed were Masterpieces (6" barrels standard) in .22, .32, and .38, also called the K-22, K-32, and K-38. Those were predominately target revolvers, but the K-38 saw some LE duty. Combat Masterpieces had 4" barrels as standard in both .22 and .38 (no .32s) and are identical to the Masterpieces except for the shorter barrel length. Occasionally they were made up with non-standard barrel lengths.

Rangers have wide latitude in what they can carry. I think most use a SIG in .357 SIG at present, but the .45 Government Model was virtually universal for a long time. There's the story about the lady who asked an old Ranger why he carried a .45. He reportedly said "Ma'am that's because they don't make a .46." I think some also carried the Model 19 in .357 Mag for awhile.

Interesting! So the .38 is the model that saw some LE action and the .22 caliber with the 6" barrel was the sportsman's sidearm. It makes sense as the 22 feels like a hell of a snake/varmint gun but is a bit long for heavy activity. However the 38 just feels like bull in your hands but is also very efficient.

If we want to get technical, there actually are a couple other minor differences, in most cases. Starting in about the very early 1950s, the K-38 Masterpiece had a slightly different frame - right where the barrel threaded in, the top of the frame was flat on the sides and the Combat Masterpiece (later the Model 15) had scalloped edges. Also, the front sight was different. The K-38 Masterpiece (later the Model 14) had a Patridge target front sight, and the Combat Masterpiece had a Baughman ramp. The following photos show the difference on the frame corners:
K-38 Masterpiece:

Combat Masterpiece:


Yes. Like the one in the following photo. This is a special order gun, made up for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. It is a Combat Masterpiece with a 5" barrel. There were only 365 of these put together for the MSHP in 1952-53. There were a very few overruns also that were sold to distributors. At present, only two have been identified. Notice the Baughman front sight.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318