Illinois State Police Pre-Model 14?
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Very nice! Forum member linde knows quite a bit about 5" K38s of the ISP and MSHP types and should be along shortly.
What's the S/N? There was a couple runs total of only 250-300 guns in 5" heavy barrel (actually a pre 15) for the IL State Police, most were used I understand by the various pistol teams of the ISP. There was also a short run of 5" for the MO State Police with a standard barrel.
Both of these have collectible status and are wonderful shooters. Member Linde is the Forum guru on the 5" guns and has shipping #'s on a lot of them.
Both of these have collectible status and are wonderful shooters. Member Linde is the Forum guru on the 5" guns and has shipping #'s on a lot of them.
I have the invoiced serial numbers of the 470 5" K-38s that were shipped to the ISP (billed through S&W Distributor H. H. Harris).
The ISP 5" K-38 serial numbers are scattered from K272174 to K307370 with the majority within the K302xxx to K305xxx range. There appear quite a few more that shipped to S&W dealers.
If you'll send me the serial number I'll look it up and let you know what I find.
Russ
OP
SN is K303466.
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K303463 and K303467 were among the 470 units invoiced to the ISP . . . but not K303466. It is, however, the same fine revolver that balances perfectly . . . congratulations.!
Russ
edit to add: from my research ISP troopers were not issued revolvers in 1957 but were required to purchase their own . . . some purchased their 5" K-38s directly from S&W dealers such as H. H. Harris or from police supply houses such as Fishman's in Springfield that sold revolvers as well as uniforms and other duty gear.
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OP
Thanks! That was quick.
It is indeed one helluva revolver.
I can't wait to shoot it. Weather is warming, snow is gone,
so I'll take care of that tomorrow.
Now I won't feel bad about shooting a collectible piece, and I
won't feel like I need to give Mark (Lonegle57) any more money.
Lonegle57
Member
Being more of an N frame sort, I couldn't think of a better person to send this K frame to. It is nice to know a Smith goes to someone who appreciates the gun and is excited to have it in their herd. Enjoy it Red.
Few years back I did a trade with linde and got a 5" ISP over run, one of 5 sent to Miami. The gun is a tack driver and has some wear on it from being shot. The hammer and trigger were changed to the target variations somewhere in its life. Russ is the K-38 guru. Have a real ISP and I'm in negotiations to sell it. Never shot the section one. Nice gun you have, enjoy it like it was meant to be enjoyed. Larry
I shoot my MSHP 5" Combat Masterpiece (one of 365 sent to the Missouri State Police in 1952) and never feel bad about doing so.
I shoot my 5" 14-2 (not in S&W company records) all the time and just love it. One of the nicest balanced revolvers I own. It is a real tack driver. At my club I am constantly being asked if I want to sell it. hahaha!!
ADDITION: Although the S&W historian had no record of my gun, the S&W Historical Association did. The paperwork shows a special order for 2 M14 K-38 revolvers with barrels cut to 5" and sent to W.S. Darley & Co. and shipped to their store in Chippewa Falls, WI. My serial number K49455x and K413229 were in this order of 2 guns dated 11/7/1962 and shipped 11/21/1962. Guns were 59.80ea. and $10 to cut both barrels.
Stu
ADDITION: Although the S&W historian had no record of my gun, the S&W Historical Association did. The paperwork shows a special order for 2 M14 K-38 revolvers with barrels cut to 5" and sent to W.S. Darley & Co. and shipped to their store in Chippewa Falls, WI. My serial number K49455x and K413229 were in this order of 2 guns dated 11/7/1962 and shipped 11/21/1962. Guns were 59.80ea. and $10 to cut both barrels.
Stu
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Yes, I shoot my 5" ISP K38 from time to time also, and it is a great shooting gun. This was all rapid fire, 12 yards, one handed. And, yes I let that one in the right corner get away.
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That is indeed a great acquisition. Enjoy it!
Well sorry Combat, but the 5" K38 did stay in the forum group. Met redlevel today to pick up a K38 Combat Masterpiece to match my K22 Combat. When he came out with this 5" and said he was interested in letting it go I just couldn't resist. What a beauty, and the only 5" I've ever owned.
Since it still resides in Georgia maybe a trade one day, you just never know...
Russ, was it unusual for what would seem to be a 'group' of serial numbers to go to a different spot? I'm the new owner of K303466 now, picked it up from Red not long ago, went to pick up a K38 Combat he was selling and he pulled this one out...long story short I went home with two.
I know you are the ISP 5" guru here, just wondering what your thoughts are. Really curious now as to where it did go, so I also sent a letter request to Roy, can't wait to see what he says. I do know from him it shipped in November 1957, but no more than that until the letter arrives.
Thank you sir, any info or opinions would be very much appreciated.
Not unusual at all. Once stamped with their serial number they were no longer kept in s/n order during production, storage or shipping. I'm told the shipping clerk would simply go into the vault and pull out the quantity of a particular model & features needed to fill an order. One of those could have been placed there yesterday and another several weeks ago (sometimes months and even years).
As to where it shipped . . . there were a number of distributors & dealers who were known to order several of most any non-catalogued or special order run and may even have placed standing orders for them (Olympic Wholesale in L.A. is one). And then there were those who had a special fondness for 5" barrel lengths (H.H. Harris comes to mind).
Congratulations on picking up one fine revolver . . . a true Masterpiece of balance and accuracy.
Russ
Look at the serial numbers for my 5" above. K49455x and K413229 were taken out of the vault and had barrels cut at the same time.
Stu
Stu
Thank you, it fits nicely with my other K's, now own the K22/32/38 in the Masterpiece series, and I've added the K22 Combat (18-3), K38 Combat, and now the 5" K38 Masterpiece. Darn sure I'll never fill out the set with a K32 Combat...but you just never know, a man can dream.
Attachments
Russ, as it turns out it did go to one of the suppliers you mentioned in an earlier post. It and 39 like it were shipped to Fishman's Sporting Goods Company in Springfield, IL. So it's fair to at least think it may have wound up in a Law Enforcement holster at some point, but since it doesn't speak, even when it just me and the gun, so I'm not sure if it's stupid, or just pretending to be stupid.
I'll never know for sure, well, never say never, but not likely. Either way I'm sure happy it now resides here.
Never want to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, so is it a Masterpiece, or a Combat Masterpiece? Roy says Combat, but reasonable men can disagree.
