1951 K38 Masterpiece

rjm6120 · #1 09-23-2018, 07:45 AM

This past Thursday, a good friend and I went down to Lexington, KY so I could pick up a nice 19-3 TTT from an LGS, which I had on layaway. They had nothing else in that shop that piqued my interest, so we went to another shop just down the road a ways. Long story short, I walked out of there with a gorgeous 1951 K38 Masterpiece, with its numbered to the gun gold box. The diamond magnas were also numbered to the gun. A find I did not expect.

CptCurl · #2 09-23-2018, 07:55 AM

Congratulations! That is a lovely find.

Roofuss · #3 09-23-2018, 09:59 AM

Very nice !! I have been on an avid search for awhile now for one very similar , but so far, no luck. Looks like a beauty ...

glowe · #4 09-23-2018, 10:05 AM

I love the Masterpiece line of revolvers. Well made, shoot straight, and look great. The only thing I see is that the left stock is not original or matching to the sharp shouldered stocks from that era. Look at the round bottom outline on the left one compared to the right.

Bakebfr480 · #5 09-23-2018, 10:16 AM

Good lookin' pistola.........how's it shoot?

CajunBass · #6 09-23-2018, 10:41 AM

That's a nice one. I've got a '54, but it's not as nice as yours.

dscampbell · #7 09-23-2018, 11:27 AM

Very nice!
Here is my 1951 birth year grail gun

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

larryofcc · #8 09-23-2018, 11:30 AM

My 1951 K38 is in it's numbered box, has a factory target hammer and was shipped to H.H. Harris company March of 1951. It is a minty revolver. Big Larry

sceva · #9 09-23-2018, 11:48 AM

That is a beautiful K-38 with box.

Is it me or a play of the light but the right (numbered?) grip appears to be the correct sharp shoulder magna while the left on looks like a later more rounded top one???

Either way, it is VERY nice

Sorry Glowe;l I missed reading your post # 4 completely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjm6120

The diamond magnas were also numbered to the gun. A find I did not expect.

glowe · #10 09-23-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sceva

. . . Is it me or a play of the light but the right (numbered?) grip appears to be the correct sharp shoulder magna while the left on looks like a later more rounded top one . . .

See post #4.

Forgot to mention that your K38 is a Heavy Barrel version. I have a K38 that shipped in July 1951, with K107617 serial number. This was an era of transition for barrel shapes, as they were producing the standard barrel and the heavy barrel version for a couple of years. Boxes like mine had a paper label stating the gun was a heavy barrel. Standard narrow rib barrels were available until 1952. What does the end label state on your gun?

bulletslap · #11 09-23-2018, 12:40 PM

Outstanding acquisition!

JP@AK · #12 09-23-2018, 12:47 PM

I think Gary is correct on both points. The left stock panel appears to be the later style which did not show up until early 1953. Also the barrel profile looks like this is a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece (no flare at the breach end of the barrel). The end label should reflect that fact.

JP@AK · #13 09-23-2018, 12:50 PM

Also, the front frame bridge has the correct taper for the Heavy Masterpiece. This differs from the side taper that appears on the older lighter barrel version.

rjm6120 · #14 09-23-2018, 12:50 PM

Glowe & Sceva: You both are indeed correct---the right grip is a sharp shouldered magna while the left one is not. The diamond on the sharp shouldered panel seems to be more proud in the center than the other, too. I had not noticed that until you pointed it out. Well, at least I got ONE numbered to the gun grip panel! As for the box itself, the serial number is written on the bottom in grease pencil. It's not readily legible and I have to angle it a bit in the light to make it out. There is no end label on the box....both ends just say "Smith & Wesson K-38 Masterpiece Blue Finish 6-Inch Barrel". It does not appear that mine has a heavy barrel. OTOH, the s/n dates to 1951 (K112xxx).

Bakebfr480: I have not had a chance to shoot it yet. Probably won't be able to do so for at least a couple weeks.

JP@AK: Looking over my gun a bit closer and, maybe mine is a heavy version, but the box doesn't say so. Maybe the end labels fell off that said Heavy Masterpiece? I dunno.

Regardless, I appreciate the input from everyone. Learned a bit more valuable info about this gun from you and I appreciate it!

JP@AK · #15 09-23-2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjm6120

I (sic) does not appear that mine has a heavy barrel.

I'm 99% sure it is a Heavy Masterpiece. See my previous two posts.

If you could post a closeup picture of the point at which the barrel enters the frame, shot from an elevated angle to one side or the other, we can close the book on this question.

rjm6120 · #16 09-23-2018, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

I'm 99% sure it is a Heavy Masterpiece. See my previous two posts.

If you could post a closeup picture of the point at which the barrel enters the frame, shot from an elevated angle to one side or the other, we can close the book on this question.

Jack, these are pics of the barrel/frame meeting point, as well as the muzzle end and one more better lighted, full pic of the gun. Thank you again for all the info!

JP@AK · #17 09-23-2018, 01:37 PM

Thanks.

The pictures confirm it is a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece. The rib is the wide type, the step-down taper on the frame bridge goes forward only (not to the side) and the barrel shows no flare at the breach end.

If the serial number is truly from 1951, this is a fairly early K-38 Heavy Masterpiece and a nice find with the numbered box.

Note: some will call this a "heavy barrel" K-38. That isn't quite accurate. S&W referred to it as a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece because it has the wider rib and a straight taper barrel. The actual "heavy barrel" was introduced later, on the K frame fixed sight guns. There was a special run of K-38 revolvers that were built with the true heavy barrel. These are often referred to as Dayton guns. The barrel profile is quite different, mimicking the Model 10 heavy barrel guns.

In any case, your K-38 is a dandy!

rjm6120 · #18 09-23-2018, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Thanks.

The pictures confirm it is a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece. The rib is the wide type, the step-down taper on the frame bridge goes forward only (not to the side) and the barrel shows no flare at the breach end.

If the serial number is truly from 1951, this is a fairly early K-38 Heavy Masterpiece and a nice find with the numbered box.

Note: some will call this a "heavy barrel" K-38. That isn't quite accurate. S&W referred to it as a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece because it has the wider rib and a straight taper barrel. The actual "heavy barrel" was introduced later, on the K frame fixed sight guns. There was a special run of K-38 revolvers that were built with the true heavy barrel. These are often referred to as Dayton guns. The barrel profile is quite different, mimicking the Model 10 heavy barrel guns.

In any case, your K-38 is a dandy!

Very, very valuable information Jack, and I appreciate your time educating me!

Ray

JP@AK · #19 09-23-2018, 02:17 PM

This is a .38 Combat Masterpiece from 1952, but the photo shows the side-taper on the forward frame bridge and the flared breach end of the barrel. This is the same as the early K-38 barrel mating arrangement, and illustrates the difference I've been writing about.

tlawler · #20 09-23-2018, 03:06 PM

Here’s my 1961 birth year K-38 Masterpiece (M14-1).

DWalt · #21 09-23-2018, 03:13 PM

You might be able to find a good pair of sharp shoulder Magnas on eBay for a reasonable price to get the correct left panel.

hkcavalier · #22 09-23-2018, 04:19 PM

These always become pic threads. Not that I'm complaining!

glowe · #23 09-23-2018, 04:57 PM

Here is a little more information for you about the differences. The standard barrel was tapered and had a swell at the rear where it screwed into the frame. The heavy barrel appeared perfectly straight from muzzle to frame, but actually had a slight taper.

I also have a factory flyer from the era showing both styles of revolver for sale. I forgot to mention the reason why the company did this, but you may already know. It seemed that many target shooters used Masterpiece revolvers in all three calibers, 22LR, 32 Long, and 38 Special. Due to the larger bore, the guns got lighter as the caliber went up. Shooters requested that the company make all three guns the same weight, so a narrow rib is found on the 22LR, while a medium rib was added to the 32 Long, and a wide rib was added to the K38. They all weighed 38 1/2 ounces.

rgm36 · #24 09-23-2018, 08:35 PM

I just bought this 1953 with factory target stocks.
I am an N frame guy - but I couldn't pass this one up.
I believe it is unfired except by the factory! The original owner had the old custom white highlight inside the letters. Period cool.

Thanks for this thread! It taught me about the 2 barrel types on the earlier ones. The really interesting part of the light barrel version is the frame difference.

Green Frog · #25 09-24-2018, 08:15 AM

One unmentioned aspect of the OP's recent find. These are by no means rare guns... S&W made large numbers of them because they were very popular among the target shooters of the day. What makes his acquisition unusual is its outstanding condition. These guns were bought to be used and in most cases they really were used! Finding one in such fine condition and still having its original box is truly an unusual happening. Congratulations to the OP on his most excellent find.

Froggie

LEO918 · #26 09-24-2018, 11:49 AM

Here's my well used K-38 from 1951...

Bullet Bob · #27 09-24-2018, 02:31 PM

Doing my part to support thread drift - 1951 M&P:

1951 K22:

kennethg · #28 09-24-2018, 03:08 PM

OP,
That is a nice find. You just can't beat an older K38 or a K22 when it comes to craftsmanship accuracy. The box makes it even better.

CajunBass · #29 09-24-2018, 04:09 PM

I'll do my part to keep the thread afloat. My K-38 from 1954.

It came with a set of speedloader targets that worked perfectly on my 19-4 that came with a set of ugly Crimson Trace grips. I had the diamond targets in a drawer just waiting for the right gun. This one will do for now.

LEO918 · #30 09-24-2018, 08:57 PM

Here's a K-22 from 1951...

Green Frog · #31 09-25-2018, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEO918

Here's a K-22 from 1951...

Having the K-22 and the K-38 both was very cool. Add a K-32 and you reach a whole other level (“Glacial Cool??”). The Registered Magnum and its offspring may have been the pinnacle of Smith-ness, but the Masterpiece series were affordable mass produced MASTERPIECES.. A quick search of how often this topic comes up and the comments they inspire would tend to support this assertion. S&W obviously saw a solid niche in the gun market and enthusiastically filled it. I for one am glad they did!

Froggie

LEO918 · #32 09-25-2018, 01:56 PM

Here's a K-22 Combat Masterpiece from 1951. Ignore the Model 17 in the back.