A couple of guys competed hard against each other for this this one.

Smith & Wesson K38 Pre 14 Excellent ca. 1948 NR! : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

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Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

Man, that's about as nice as it gets, but damn, 3K?

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Why, I aughta.....

Silly me, thinking that I might have a chance on that gun on a $800 budget

Mike echoes my sentiments exactly!!!! ^^^^

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

That one has me baffled too.

Really? Guess I'll hold on to mine.

Nice gun!

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George Jamison

George, does yours have the large ejector rod knob? That's the key here. I think this is the first one ive ever seen for sale. The only ones I have ever seen are a few that members here on the forum own and that's 2, maybe 3 guns.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

The tale of the one that got away...Had one in my hands at the Orlando SWCA for $800 but I was tapped out buying k22's.....Shoulda coulda woulda ...Doh !

Interesting that this gun was WAY out of the serial number range of known K38 LERKs posted in David Wilson's thread a while back. As I recall, the only higher number was a K32.

Bob

I think that on the K-38s and K-32s there were far less leftover parts than the K-22s and perhaps they thought all the leftovers were exhausted and then sometime later found the parts and made K23280.

I know it seems like a big jump in SN's but we're only talking about a year or so in manufacturing time from Mid -1947 to Mid-1948 (when a gun in the K23,000 range was probably shipped). Seems fairly logical to me that they could have found the parts in the bottom of the bin and put the gun together. Waste not want not.........

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

It went for less than I thought it would. I know of only 4 other K-38 Masterpieces that are confirmed with the Large Ejector Rod Knob. Very cool gun and if I did not own one of the other four, there would have been one more bidder in the mix on this one.

One of our forum members won the auction and I am looking forward to some more photos!

Here's a photo of K4564 to hold us over...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I sat and watched it wondering what it would go for. I have seen 2 or 3 one line address K-38 Masterpieces, but could not recall seeing one for sale EVER with the LERK. Had I had the extra money, I'd have been bidding with them.
Funny thing I've noticed over the years about the grips: I've seen far too many K-38 with non-serial numbered grips that don't match, making me feel it possible for them to have let a lot of them go without matching them.
Great gun. Congratulations are in store. Two other bidders wanted that gun as bad as I did, that at least had the money. Send pictures of it when you get it lettered.

I'm almost positive it has the LERK. Will check again when I get back from vacation.

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George Jamison

Judy and I were at the Las Vegas Annual Gun Show last week end and
This is one of my finds. A K-38 single line address 4 Digit serial number
K-4647 99% no turn line just a couple of handling marks.
This is the first 4 Digit Serial number K-38, I have owned or seen.
Does any one have any 4 or 3 Digit K-38's that are small ejector knobs.
I believe by the ship date Feb 48 this could be the first Single line small knob
shipped.
Jim Fisher

Leave it up to Smith to continually surprise us!
I own single address line k-38 k23297 ... Possibly built the same week as the 23280. Almost like someone got fired or promoted and while cleaning off his bench he found some extra parts.
Very cool piece.

K 4563 LERK may need to be added to the 'four', if you don't have it noted already, Richard. It's ANIB with the Helpful Hints and cello-wrapped tools. I sold this gun many years ago and just recently had the opportunity to buy it back. A keeper for sure this time around --

DLC

Wow consecutive serial numbers,,, K4563 and K4564 and both large ejector rod knob's. We have a picture (Thanks Richard) of K 4564, what about K4563 DC?

We know Jim will post K 23280 and hope David Wilson will post his.

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Mitch
SWCA 2597

David:

... Make it 5... I don't think that K4563 is on my list (I'll check it when I get home). Sounds like a beautiful package.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Well, that is informative. Now we know and thanks.




Leonard SWCA #1308

Richard is correct: with K4563 that David mentioned and the one that sold this morning on Gunbroker, we are up to five known LERK K-38s: K4563, K4564, K4593, K4709 and K23280.

There are actually three known knobless K-38s with K plus four digit serial numbers. Jim mentioned K4647. Nearly a hundred lower is K4562, which makes a known run of three consecutive serial numbers even though they are not of identical configuration. We have also established through previous threads on this forum that K4820 is a knobless gun.

The K plus four digit specimens for which I have shipping dates left the factory in February 1948 except that K4820 shipped in March. K-38s in the K22xxx and K23xxx range shipped no earlier than May based on the data I have.

Congratulations to the lucky winner of K23280. I hope he takes some photos of his own once he has it in hand. I am looking forward to a guided tour of this uncommon specimen.

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David Wilson

K23280 was from a seller that always takes excellent pictures whenever they have an auction - click on the auction link in post 1 and drool away

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Dennis
SWCA #2409, SWHF #353

I am sure most of you know I was the winner of the K-38 LERK sn-K23280 last night on GB. When I saw the gun I knew I was going to own it but I sure did not know it was going to cost what it did. The seller will be on vacation until July 14th and will not be able to ship until then. I already own K-24654 which is a One Line K-38 that shipped in May 1948. I also own a K-22 K-23939 which is a One Liner. I do not yet have a ship date for that one. I am very curious as to the ship date on my K-38 LERK. I will post that date in a few days I hope. I have posted a few of the pictures from the auction. I do not think any I take will be nearly this good.

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Jim
SWCA #2246

A great looking specimen! Can you shoot +P in that?

Since Mitch asked, here's K4709 (or a section of it). The others here look like sock-drawer guns, and this one is OK but not in that exalted class. Maybe it spent time in the burlap drawer. I'm thinking it should be graded around 90%; there is a pretty serious turn ring and high edge wear. There is also a little scratching here and there, but nothing really ruinous like corrosion, tool box gouges or drop scars.

Shipped to Kennedy Brothers Inc. of St. Paul, MN on February 10, 1948.

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David Wilson