OP
The factory letter has been sent for, just another 5 months 20 days to wait.
14-2 with 5" barrel
- Thread starter stu1ritter
- Start date
Your forum name tells us you're a revolver fan . . . welcome to the Forum . . . you're in good company here.
Yes, except for the few collectors who owned them, the special-ordered 5" barrel length K-38s were not studied and documented until fairly recently. Thanks to the efforts of Roy Jinks (S&W Historian), the S&W Collectors Association, the S&W Historical Foundation and this Forum, we are learning more that will hopefully benefit future collectors.
If you would, please add to our collective knowledge with any more information you may have on your 20-year old 5" K-38. Is it Model 14 marked? If you'll share the serial number we may be able to identify it as being part of a known batch.
Thanks for sharing,
Russ
OP
Well, the letter has arrived. This is NOT what I was expecting. Anyone have any additional thoughts?
thanks,
thanks,
That's interesting . . . we can only speculate what happened.
In the past we would see factory letters report . . . " this gun is open on the books". Perhaps that terminology is no longer acceptable.
Basically serial numbers are pre-listed in the shipping log and as guns are logged out the shipping information is added. Whenever the shipping information columns are still blank one of three (or more) things could have happened.
1 - the gun is still inside the factory and never left. I suppose in your instance that one doesn't compute.
2 - the shipping clerk forgot to enter the information . . . we found ten such examples among the 365 5" Combat Masterpieces that shipped to the Missouri Highway Patrol. The Patrol records confirmed that it was received with others in a shipment but the factory had no record of where it went.
3 - the gun was pulled from the production line by a company official and either gifted or sent home with a factory rep or whoever and the account information it was charged to was never entered in the shipping log.
Even though we don't know where it shipped, it would have been good to learn that it was in fact a special ordered 5" barrel.
Russ
edit to add: Before posting my comments above I read only the last paragraph of Roy's letter . . . which normally contains all the information specific to the gun. I now see he had already provided the full "open on the books" explanation in his first two paragraphs.
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OP
That had sort of been my hope Russ, that it was a special order. Oh well, lost in the ravages of time. Sure is fun to shoot though.
YeshuaIsa53
Member
Glad I didn't bid on it, but even more glad I didn't spend fifty bucks for that. What's fifty bucks?
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I don't care what our distinguished collectors say, I would love to own that gun. The cool factor, along with Mr. Jinks' multiple apologies, are priceless - well almost 
I don't care what our distinguished collectors say, I would love to own that gun. The cool factor, along with Mr. Jinks' multiple apologies, are priceless - well almost
Open on the books letter aside, there are many of us who would love to own that gun. The balance and ease of handling a 5" K-38 with heavy barrel and ramp front sight makes it the ideal target-grade holster gun . . . it don't get no better!
Russ
Stu, when I got a shipping date from Roy on mine, he mentioned they were two K38's with the same number. One went to Europe and the other went to ISP. I guess my goal would be to find the other gun.
YeshuaIsa53
Member
To me, I would have been happier with documentation showing the gun left the factory with that barrel length. I was basically comparing that to the letter received.
I already own a gun that cannot be explained why it is the way it is from a salesperson. Love the gun. Wouldn't think of trading it. Know what most likely happened. The threads in this forum regarding guns like these do make them somewhat of a story in and of themselves.
I would RATHER the letter have stated the five inch barrel; that's all. I certainly meant no harm otherwise.
Knowing 8 3/8" barrels and gold bead front sights were placed on a lot of S&Ws did make the one I have more explainable. To each his own, I always said.
I already own a gun that cannot be explained why it is the way it is from a salesperson. Love the gun. Wouldn't think of trading it. Know what most likely happened. The threads in this forum regarding guns like these do make them somewhat of a story in and of themselves.
I would RATHER the letter have stated the five inch barrel; that's all. I certainly meant no harm otherwise.
Knowing 8 3/8" barrels and gold bead front sights were placed on a lot of S&Ws did make the one I have more explainable. To each his own, I always said.
OP
I would imagine Roy looked long and hard (as he is known to do) for further information on this 5" er. I can leave it to my imagination as to how the gun moved out of the factory and moved on and ended up on gunbroker. I don't mind living with an untold story. The gun is such a fine shooter I enjoy it immensely. I've put a set of Jordan Troopers on it and just love the way it feels. H Richard, talk about looking for a needle in a haystack. Finding just one is rather momentous. :~)
So what kind of premium would one have to give for such a rare gun? 20 percent maybe?
OP
I think you will find that folks that own them won't sell them. I know I have no intention of ever selling mine, it is just too nice to shoot. I think you might accidentally fall into one but other than that, they are just not available. I don't think 20% would move anyone to sell one.
Bill Cross provided the factory invoice for my gun. It is one of these two listed on the invoice.
Stu
Bill Cross provided the factory invoice for my gun. It is one of these two listed on the invoice.
Stu
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