Old school bullseye guns

moosedog

moosedog

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I shot these old beauties today. Early 50's Masterpieces, K-22, K-32 and K-38. The K-22 is from 1953, the K-32 is from April 1952 and the K-38 was shipped 4-18-1953.
The K-32 is the first K-32 I ever bought back in the late 80's after putting an ad in the old Shotgun News. The K-38 I bought from one of my old Detroit Police friends who got it from his father. His father, also DPD, shot on the Detroit Police Department Bullseye "B" team in the early 1950s. The "A" team at that time had the likes of Harry Reeves and Al Hemming.
Al Hemming also owed his own reloading company, note the box.
 

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I love the guns!! Thanks for showing us your fine trio. Looks like a King front sight on the gun with compensator. Very very nice. The K32 is in a price range most of us can not afford these days. You had very good foresight to get the gun's when you did and they have some history attached which is always is a nice adied benefit. Enjoy
 
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"Do you know the story on the front sight on the K 38 ? " We discussed that undercut front sight on the forum years ago. The factory letter does not mention it, and we never did come to a conclusion who done the work. Sadly, my friend's father had passed by the time I acquired it.
 
Really nice, thanks for sharing. Many years ago (80's) there was an gentleman who shot the matches with his K 38. I didn't appreciate the gun back then. You always learn lessons to late. He was 85 years of age and still competitive and almost always placed.

Walt
 
Stunning ... beyond words.

Are those Fitz thumb rest grips? I believe that they were popular in that era and application. (I have a Colt Official Police which was wearing black Fitz grips just like those when I acquired it , story was that it had been owned by a cop some time back.)
 
Yes, those are Fitz wooden grips. Most were plastic. Several decades ago, I bought a bunch of round butt grips off of Fitz from his remaining stock. Over the years I converted them to square butt. Fitz made grips in plastic, Walnut and these were some type of a fruit tree and hard as a rock to mill out.
Straight out of the box, the Fitz grips fit my smaller hands perfectly.
 
When I shot Bulleye, I used a K-22. I wish there were still Bullseye matches around here. I know my shooting has never been as good as when I participated in that discipline.
 
We were issued the Model 15 in my former agency when most police departments were issuing the Model 10. About a week ago I met the man who convinced our chief back then to order the more expensive Model 15 in the early '60s. That was an interesting conversation.
 
A WISE MAN

Hondo44 said:
Very cool!

I shot a Mod 41 and a Gold Cup 1911A1.

I didn't even know S&W made a compensator for their revolvers.
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You're very discerning-----I used the same guns---at the end at least---after I got older and wiser.

As to the compensators, I know they made two (K-38 and Model of 1955), because I have one of each. I'm told they also made one for the K-32-----which I've never seen.

Do they work? The only one I ever used (K-38) provided no objective improvement---but they look kinda neat---at least until they've been used. Then the muzzle blast removes the finish----pretty much RIGHT NOW!!

Ralph Tremaine
 
Jtown said:
Really nice, thanks for sharing. Many years ago (80's) there was an gentleman who shot the matches with his K 38. I didn't appreciate the gun back then. You always learn lessons to late. He was 85 years of age and still competitive and almost always placed.

Walt
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*laff* While I personally wouldn't define the '80s as 'many years ago,' even then that fellow was an anachronism, autoloaders having supplanted revolvers for serious target competition for at least a decade. I have no doubt a K38 could win the slowfire stage. The problem came with the top level shooters who routinely shot maximum scores on timed and rapid fire, the winner being decided by the the number of Xs. At that level of competition everything counted, and hammer manipulation was a handicap championship shooters couldn't afford.

I assume the compensator on the pictured revolver was meant to aid timed and rapid fire. I'd be interested to shoot a national match course with that piece, but I suspect the hammer cocking issue would still tilt the odds in favor of a self-loading target gun.
 
Compensators

I have owned for many years a nickel-plated Model 25 which I rarely shoot. A few years ago, I was able to purchase a nickel "compensator" to go with my revolver. These respective specimens are the only ones I've ever seen. I am well-versed in the use of compensators due to many years shooting compensated 38 Super race guns. Compensators are most effective when high-pressure rounds are involved. I do not intend to damage the finish of my revolver and compensator by firing them. At most the compensator on a Model 25 Bullseye gun might provide some stablizing weight. The compensator on a .38 Special Bullseye gun would also be of little consequence given the wad-cutter loads utilized.
 
My Dad shot bullseye with a 38/44 Outdoorsman with Herrett grips that were custom made for his hand. He was on the State Highway Patrol Pistol Team. We had a bullet trap in the basement of our house. Everyone in my family should have ear damage and lead poisoning. According to Mr. Jinks the gun was shipped in 1959. Still shoots like a champ.
 

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I had a bullet trap in my basement and shot .22s, lots of .22s. I should have lead poisoning for sure as I have also cast a ton of bullets.

So here is a K-38 story. You can tell me that I am a retard but I saw this happen. My shooting buddy Jack Rouse was a real good shot and knew how to load for this revolver. Someone had a Ransom rest at the range one day. He had a tuned .45 auto and was testing it. For some reason he had K frame inserts so Jack asked if he could use the rest with his revolver. The guy said yes and Jack proceeded to put the .45 to shame.
 
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22 bullseye shooting

My dad and I shot 22 indoor in the 70s and he gave me the hi-standard trphy and he went back to his K 22 and had no issues holding down a VERY competetive spot on the team, but that is my Dad...
El Biblioitecario said:
*laff* While I personally wouldn't define the '80s as 'many years ago,' even then that fellow was an anachronism, autoloaders having supplanted revolvers for serious target competition for at least a decade. I have no doubt a K38 could win the slowfire stage. The problem came with the top level shooters who routinely shot maximum scores on timed and rapid fire, the winner being decided by the the number of Xs. At that level of competition everything counted, and hammer manipulation was a handicap championship shooters couldn't afford.

I assume the compensator on the pictured revolver was meant to aid timed and rapid fire. I'd be interested to shoot a national match course with that piece, but I suspect the hammer cocking issue would still tilt the odds in favor of a self-loading target gun.
Click to expand...
 
Somebody (I wish it were me, but they aren't mine!) posted these two excellent pictures of an ammo can with what I first assumed were three K Masterpieces but it seems more likely there are two Ks and the N frame 45 since there are a couple of half moon clips on the top tray. I'm now guessing the top gun is the N frame and it is apparently wearing a set of period target grips if I'm seeing it right. I'm impressed with the quality of the woodwork in the box and with the fact that the box itself is an old type, side opening ammo can. Class that cannot be hidden! :cool:

Froggie
 

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