K-38 Questions

ghetojedi · #1 02-03-2017, 04:49 AM

Hello everyone. I have a couple of questions regarding my late fathers old service revolver. It's a model 15-3 that as far back as I remember always wore a Pachmeyer gripper (that I have since put back on) on it. But a few years before he passed away, he gave it to me. I was very excited to open the box hoping to see a well worn gun. However he had it refinished somewhere. It was wearing a set off woods grips dated May 1,1991. I also got a bag of K frame grips, some of which were worked on... One slimmer grip has part of the revolvers serial number stamped on the back, however it has a smooth outer surface. I have looked at a lot of photos and don't see any like it, leading me to believe he may have done some work to them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ghetojedi · #2 02-03-2017, 04:56 AM

Here are 2 more sets of grips. The nicer of the 2 was on the revolver when I received it.

Waveski · #3 02-03-2017, 09:48 AM

If I were you I would put those nice target grips back on your revolver right away.

Despite the refinish your Model 15 is as fine a shooter as Smith and Wesson ever offered , and you have a keepsake from your Father which will last through your lifetime with proper care.

As others have said : the formula is simple : shoot , clean , repeat.

Please - give us a picture with the crisp targets installed.

steamloco76 · #4 02-03-2017, 10:01 AM

I completely agree with Wavessi, put the nice target grips back on and enjoy a fine revolver. Rubber grips lead to rust if not removed and cleaned under often.

By the way, the re-blue job looks very well done.

Targets Guy · #5 02-03-2017, 10:27 AM

Welcome to the forum. If the stocks are matched to the K38 I would guess someone sanded them smooth. The medallions have been removed for sure. But not a stock expert.

You've got a treasure there. Take care of it and you will have years of enjoyment and more memories for the firearm and you.

ghetojedi · #6 02-03-2017, 05:19 PM

As requested... Here it is along with my first service pistol. We have sinch switched to Sigs...

Aircrewman · #7 02-04-2017, 12:23 AM

Wow. Very nice. I am in agreement with the others posting here. The very nice newer grips will look very good on that Combat Masterpiece. The Pachmyr's will allow the gun to be shot well. Better than the wood. But, that is subjective. Now as to the gun itself, your dad must have had it refinished due to finish wear. I can't detect any pitting or other real issues on the revolver. So, it might have been just blue worn. The refinish is simply just beautiful. I carried a Combat Masterpiece for quite a few years. One of the best service revolvers ever made. How wonderful to have this piece of history from your dad and something to be proud of. Very, very nice.

ghetojedi · #8 02-04-2017, 01:07 AM

Thanks for the replys everyone. That gun has sat in it's box in a gun safe for many years. I just recently got to thinking about it after a trip to the range with my brother who has our dad's model 10 with a 2" barrel (i think). I can remember both of them very vividly from my childhood and really enjoyed shooting the model 10.

JP@AK · #9 02-04-2017, 01:59 AM

ghetojedi
Could we see a picture of the right side of your Combat Masterpiece?

ghetojedi · #10 02-07-2017, 08:32 PM

Sorry about the delay, here's the requested photo. Also, I'm posting a picture of the box it was in when I got it. It appears to be much newer. Could any of you hazard a guess how old it is? Thanks

JP@AK · #11 02-07-2017, 09:23 PM

Thanks for the added pictures. I'm glad to see the sideplate and I'm wondering why you think this revolver has been refinished. Even the left side of the gun had me wondering, and now that I see the right, I have a hard time thinking that is anything but a factory finish job. It looks original to me.

And yes, that box is much too new to have been used for a Model 15-3.

Engine49guy · #12 02-07-2017, 09:37 PM

The blueing looks VG, almost too good which combined with the 1980's era box and wood grips might be a clue that it was refinished at the factory in the 1980's.

BTW the 15-3 had a fairly long production run from around 1968 to around 1976/77 IIRC.
If you would like an approximate ship date post the serial beginning with the letter K that is stamped on the heel and inside the yoke cut just ahead of the cylinder.

If you remove the wood stocks and post a picture of the left side grip frame there are sometimes markings there that would indicate if it was factory refinished and when.

ghetojedi · #13 02-08-2017, 02:56 AM

I had to re-read my original post and saw that I neglected to mention info regarding the serial number. I checked it on the very long thread on northeast shooters and it appears to be from 1971. The serial is 3K129XX. I'm at work right now, and will have to take the grips off and get a better look tomorrow. Also, the grips that are on it are stamped May 1, 1991.

ghetojedi · #14 02-08-2017, 03:17 AM

One more thing that kind of puzzles me. I recall my dad saying they were required to purchase their own guns when he was hired. This would have been back in 1969. If this gun wasn't made until 1971, what was he using? I was always operating under the assumption that this was his original duty weapon.

OLDSTER · #15 02-08-2017, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Thanks for the added pictures. I'm glad to see the sideplate and I'm wondering why you think this revolver has been refinished. Even the left side of the gun had me wondering, and now that I see the right, I have a hard time thinking that is anything but a factory finish job. It looks original to me.

And yes, that box is much too new to have been used for a Model 15-3.

I agree that it could be factory, but the front sight insert and the pristine finish would lead me to believe it is a really fine re-blue ( like S&W or something from Fords). Regardless, it's a really nice looking 15-3 and should wear the target stocks

serger · #16 02-08-2017, 10:16 AM

Pull the grips on it and look for a rectangular cartouche with the capitol R B inside it. If that's there then the 15 was sent to Smith for refinishing.

Depending on the time frame it went there might be a date code on the left of the frame with a month and year stamp. I have a NYPD M&P revolver that went back in March of 1974 with the stamp 374.

There might also be a diamond stamp adjacent to the Serial Number if Smith worked on it.

FWIW it doesn't look reblued. But if Smith did it , it wouldn't look that way.

ghetojedi · #17 02-08-2017, 06:08 PM

Here are to photos with the grips off. I saw a rectacular mark on the left side but it had R-S instead of RB in it..

serger · #18 02-08-2017, 11:05 PM

You have the RS code which I believe means Refinish Standard (blue). And the date code 677 which is probably June 77. A lot of the time you can see a darker line "under" the bluing on the cylinder where the cylinder stop notches are. If you can see this line along with the RS code then Smith did the re-blue. Other than that tell, they do such a good job you can't tell it's been done. And the line is not always there.

Here is a link with more info:

S&W Factory Repair/Refinish Stampings