1951 K38 Masterpiece by shear luck

[eddiewhiteshoes]

So a couple weeks ago, I'm going over my daily saved auction searches, one of which is Model 10's. Listing says 1964 Model 10-6 Target 38 special. Hmmm, there is no such animal so I look at the pictures. Looks like a very nice K38 in the Gold box to me. I was able to manipulate one of the pictures just enough to barely make out the serial number. Standard Catalog says dead on 1951 model year. What the hell, lets roll the dice. If it really is a worn out model 10, I can bitch that the ad was wrong and return it maybe. Starting bid with no reserve was on the high end for a Model 10. Since most people don't really follow model 10's, I was first and last bidder. I said to myself, ok, I'm either going to receive a 10-6 I have never seen, or I'm going to get a K38. So I'm sweating it out for a week to get here. I get the call from my LGS that they have a package in for me. When I get there, I tell my FFL, this is either going to be very good or very bad. He pulls out the gold box. So far so good. Open the box and praise Jesus, its a beautiful K38. One of the counter guys yell's over to me, "What you got there?" I said it's supposed to be a 10-6. He says, "Not with a micrometer sight on it, it's not." So all the guys come over and we have a good laugh at my good fortune. She appears barely shot, number matching grips and box. Just a hint of muzzle edge wear from sliding around in the box. Needless to say I'm a happy camper.

 

[19leben]

Nice Masterpiece. I don't know what you paid for it, but if it was in the realm of a 10-6, I'd say you did well. Congrats on the new gun!

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[H Richard]

Did you go out and buy a lottery ticket also? You lucked out and got a good one.

 

[lrrifleman]

Congratulations on a beautiful Masterpiece!

 

[federali]

Real Nice!

Back in 1966, when I first started with Treasury, the Combat Masterpiece was spoken of with nearly hushed tones. It was the quality standard. I owned a nickel K-38 but sold it before I knew any better and when I tended to make wrong decisions emanating from the wrong end of my anatomy.

Congrats on a great acquisition.

 

[usm1rifle]

Very nice! Me likey...

 

[fyimo]

Congratulations on the purchase as I have one from 1952 and it's an awesome revolver.

 

[crsides]

nice model 10. Maybe the nicest one model 10 I've ever seen.


Charlie

 

[cbjordan76]

Great score!! Congrats.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Ah, ha, so it was you.

I, too, watch Model 10s, but I'm really looking for post-war, very "Pre" Model 10s. I saw that one "10-6" and never gave it another thought.

Congratulations. What's that bit about a blind squirrel and the nut? Nice nut to cull out of all that fodder.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Engine49guy]

Your revolver is actually known as a K-38 "Heavy" Masterpiece.
First appeared in the 1950 AMC and sold alongside the narrow rib K-38 Masterpiece so the "Heavy" Moniker was applied to distinguish between the two .

Around 1954 the satin blue changes to bright blue , by 1955 the narrow rib version is discontinued and the "Heavy" Masterpiece name goes back to K-38 Masterpiece.

On a side note the wider K-38 barrel rib added weight to make the K-38, K-32 and K-22 Masterpiece revolvers more closely weight matched.

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

Thanks guy's. Yeah, I guess the sun does shine on the sleeping dog's behind every once in a while. Funny thing is the seller was an FFL. There was an additional uproar of laughter when the guys heard it came from Cailfornia. Seriously, I'm not gloating but it sure is nice to snag one from an online auction. Thats getting few and far between.

Bob. I've watched every pre-model 10 variant and up to the 10-8 online, for the last 4 years. They are still pretty much under the radar of collectors and thats what I like. Pristine examples are quickly disappearing while they used to be everywhere. Yes, it takes some time to sift through them all but I've managed to collect some "as new" in the box, tools and papers at prices I see guys pay for worn out Police trade ins. Go figure.

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

Thanks engine49. In the hand, I'm liking this wide rib barrel. She's already a little dirty and dry from sitting in the box so long, so out to the cabin she goes this weekend for a little exercise.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Smith & Wesson 10-6 Heavy Barrel target 38 Spec : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

 

[Engine49guy]

Side by side comparison of the narrow and wide rib barrel profiles




If you look close you will notice the frames are different as well with the narrow rib version having notches where the barrel meets the frame

 

[OLDSTER]

Rare Model 10

Wow ! You've landed the rarest Model 10 I've ever seen

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thanks guy's. Yeah, I guess the sun does shine on the sleeping dog's behind every once in a while. Funny thing is the seller was an FFL. There was an additional uproar of laughter when the guys heard it came from Cailfornia. Seriously, I'm not gloating but it sure is nice to snag one from an online auction. Thats getting few and far between.

Bob. I've watched every pre-model 10 variant and up to the 10-8 online, for the last 4 years. They are still pretty much under the radar of collectors and thats what I like. Pristine examples are quickly disappearing while they used to be everywhere. Yes, it takes some time to sift through them all but I've managed to collect some "as new" in the box, tools and papers at prices I see guys pay for worn out Police trade ins. Go figure.

Yeah, it's crazy. I watch Models 30, 31, 36, 40, and 10 (especially their post-war relatives). Prices are all over the chart on most. Have to be a "shopper" to ferret out the wheat and skip the chaff.

Bob

ps: thanks for posting the two barrel profiles -- great visual aid, even for a guy who likes fixed sights.

 

[LEO918]

I have an early Combat Masterpiece that dates to 1950, bought at a gun show as an "old model 10".

 

[19leben]

I recently bought an Outdoorsman from a local shop, it was marked on the tag as an Officer's Model! I don't recall Smith & Wesson ever offering an Officer's Model.

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[Kinman]

Congrats on your good score, ever now and then it pays to take a little chance when your gut tells you.

 

[mistersmith]

The K38 is the nicest shooting gun I have. Can even make a blind man a marksman. Congrats.

 

[Gryff]

Very nice! I inherited my grandfather's K-38, which was born in 1952. I love shooting that gun.

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

A fine looking example at that. Very cool it has a family history. Honestly I've never shot one, but I will be this weekend. Woohoo!

 

[TiroFijo]

That's a beautiful revolver, Eddie, congrats!

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

19leben. Not to long ago I bought a model 10? from an FFL, at an online auction. The sellers description said something to the effect of, "Nice condition model 10 that somebody has case colored the frame. I have no idea who did it but it looks good." The pictures were for **** and the seller botched one digit of the serial number. Through some heavy detective work I discover it's a model 10-7 or -9 Heritage that belonged to a forum member. The case coloring was done by Turnbull of course. They only made like 80 of them and it arrived in near mint condition. The seller was selling it as part of an estate so sadly I assume this forum member is no longer with us. His handle here on the forum is or was "medxam".

 

[JSR III]

Obviously you are going to return the gun and explain to the seller that it was listed incorrectly. Naaaahhhhh!!!

What we S&W nuts sometimes fail to realize is that not all FFL's can be as knowledgeable about S&W's as this body. They market possibly a hundred or two different guns every year and just can't be up on them all.

I once purchased what was offered to me as a model 14 that turned out to be a 1951 Trophy Gun awarded by the Springfield Revolver Club.

 

[TheHobbyist]

On the subject of misidentifying guns......:

About 10 years ago, I was pretty new into collecting and firearms in general...outside of hunting guns and plinkers.

Well I'm at a show in Oshkosh, WI and this guy has a .357 S&W for sale. Great! I had been considering buying my first .357 at the time.

I'm looking over the mechanics of it and craftsmanship and very interested in the revolver. He tells me something about it being a registered magnum and he won't take less than $ 1,500.00 for it. It was in good condition.

I think the guy is just crazy, because other S&W's are going for about $700 in a similar configuration, kinda laugh to myself and go, wow. Ok. Ya, I will have to pass on that revolver at that price. If I only knew...

Reminds me of the time I bought my first Python and it was about 10 years ago also, and someone offered me about $200 more than I paid for it after owning it about 6 months or a year. I thought I was a genius. This is an education my friends......

 

[sbowenjr]

Good fortune favors the prepared!!!! Way to go.

 

[eddiewhiteshoes]

JSR III, My feeling of guilt was surprisingly fleeting. 1951 Trophy Gun? Wow!

TheHobbyist, I feel your pain. Not to rub salt in the wound but there is a very empty box for that 357 on Ebay right now. The current bid is $723.

Somebody needs to start a new thread labeled "Shoulda, woulda, coulda". Lord knows what pain and suffering might be brought to light.

Not to get sappy on you guys but the first major decision I ever made without hesitation was marrying my wife of 31 years. I was 21 years old and dumb as a box of hammers but something in me said, "do not let that girl go".

 

[ParadiseRoad]

Smith & Wesson 10-6 Heavy Barrel target 38 Spec : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

...I've been looking for one...makes them hard to find if the seller doesn't know what it is...which is doubly puzzling if he read the box...