1951 K38 Masterpiece

[rjm6120]

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]

Congratulations! That is a lovely find.

 

[Roofuss]

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]

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]

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

 

[CajunBass]

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

 

[dscampbell]

Very nice!
Here is my 1951 birth year grail gun

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[larryofcc]

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]

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.

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

 

[glowe]

. . . 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]

Outstanding acquisition!

 

[JP@AK]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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