1954 K38 Worth it UPDATE with new photos UPDATE

[handejector]

It won't get any better looking. Judging by the scratches and the lack of red rust, someone has already cleaned it with steel wool or some type of scraping. So, what you see is more or less what you will have.
I have shot many speckled/browning/worn Masterpieces through the years. The targets never knew the difference between them and the mint ones.

 

[DETROIT]

I would buy it, also look into boiling the parts to convert the rust. Boiling is the best way to preserve the original finish

 

[Gun Relics]

I have a chance to buy this revolver, but it has some concerning freckling on the side plate and the front of the yoke. You think it could be cleaned up. Posted some not so good photos. I can get it for $450. A deal or no?

Yes, a decent deal. Change out the sideplate (a used one is cheap) and the condition would go from fair to very good. Looks to me like it was not shot a lot but was improperly stored.

 

[got2hav1]

Update: I made an offer of $400 to the seller. Ball is in his court now. I am good either way, at 400 I don't think I can go wrong. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[minconrevo]

Years ago I bought a blue N frame that had some very light speckling here and there. It had been back to the mothership for a reblue and was so marked. In the pre-purchase process, I found it had carry up issues and valued it as such. It took fitting a Power oversize hand to get it working properly since an OS S&W hand wasn't big enough to work with. The light speckling is still there. I've taken care to not abuse it further and can enjoy shooting it without worry.

Back to the revo at hand, at $400 seems like it would be a good buy, provided it passes all the tests. If not, then value would need downward adjustment.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Were that a 4" I'd be on it like a duck on a june bug.

 

[AlHunt]

Update: I made an offer of $400 to the seller. Ball is in his court now. I am good either way, at 400 I don't think I can go wrong. Thanks for all the help guys.

I'd cry if I let it get away for the cost of a box or two of ammo.

But, that's just me. Good luck with it!

 

[jrog100]

HARD PASS. Spend that 450 on hookers and blow instead!

 

[50 target]

Dave Chicoine (my apologies if misspelled) told me one time "Bob, some things you just have to forgive" She is a shooter. OK spending the money to make everything great isn't going to pay great rewards. The freckling doesn't bother me. My wife is a redhead and has plenty of them. Dpesn't matter. I am a little more tolerant of finish issues (all but rust and pits) since I am reminded of them every time I look in the mirror. Looks like it may have a TT & TH, a bonus if it does and if the grips number to the gun., even better.. In my area $450.00 means I would telling you what a great deal I got. If you get it and it is accurate which I suspect it is the smile on your face means your brain will never think about the money. Just make sure she is good to go mechanically.
Hope you get it and shoot the heck out of it.

 

[sodacan]

I'm sure your photo makes the freckling look worse than it actually is. I'd be more concerned with the mechanical aspects of the gun. If it runs ok, $450 is a good price. The TT and TH are pluses. If the stocks are numbered to the gun, even better.

 

[Dosgatos]

I once bought a .357 Magnum wich looked much like this gun in places. Oil and bronze wool followed by cold blue greatly improved it.

 

[Dvus]

HARD PASS. Spend that 450 on hookers and blow instead!

For $450, you are either going to get a hooker OR blow. Not both, unless the hooker has WAY more age spots than this gun does.

 

[schutz5]

Make sure it is mechanically functional I bought a very nice early k38 4 screw ( or 5??) Anyway looked great as did bluing. No wear on ratchet rod etc. Once delivered and range tested the cylinder hung up on a couple of chambers. Gunsmith took it apart and determined unrepairable cylinder wobble. No shims would help . Returned it and lost $150 Price for revolver was $635 plus shipping.,. Good luck!

P.s your target trigger and hammer is a plus!

 

[boykinlp]

its so nice that you have places that actually sell revolvers, especially used ones.

the only gun places i have inside 50 miles, only have a few charters, a few tauri snubs, a taurus raging hunter, and some armscor revolvers as a nod to users of revolvers.

nothing i want... and the remaining gun places doing ffl wont let me inspect the gun beyond verifying the serial number matches until the transfer is complete.

Dang KittenPics, where do you lay your head at night? Where ever it is, I'd have to change the location! How far do you have to go to actually find "proper" gun shops? I just checked google and I have right at 20 within 10 miles of my house. But, I also have WAY TOO MUCH traffic, too many people, and too much other stuff that gets on my nerves many times. I'm hoping that you don't have those issues anyway.
Larry

 

[Drm50]

I bought a S&W one time, on line. Pictures looked good, not a lot of them but I saw enough to convince me it was in rather high condition. Seller claimed it was mint and had belonged to his FIL. I take all that will grain of salt. Gun arrives. In its box, with everything it was sold with. This hadn't been mentioned. To boot I don't believe it has been fired. The price was about half what gun in this condition / box goes for.
I wanted the gun to shoot but it when to safe queen status and I found another nice shooter which cost me almost as much. I hate to get a mint
Firearm because I'm hesitant to shoot it. I've got 3 revolvers that I got new
Over 60yrs ago. Shot them thousands of rounds over the years. They sure won't pass for mint but I would never have them refinished.

 

[SlamFire]

Because I am interested in shooting my revolvers, I would get it, assuming that the rifling and cylinders are rust and pit free. Take a cleaning rod, a brush, patches, solvent, and clean out the tube first. If the barrel is beautiful, then go through the cylinder.

My K38 shoots great. I do believe the action was assembled by experienced assemblers, and who ever did mine, made sure the single action is crisp, and the double action smooth.

I asked very old Bullseye pistol shooters, and the K38 was a well regarded target pistol in its day.

Twenty one feet: bah!

If I had an optical sight on top, I could tighten the group. I am sure the pistol will hold three inches at 50 yards, but I can't offhand, with one hand.

blast from the past

 

[Paddy O'Doolin]

I would have paid $450 for that K38 yesterday, all day long, speckled just as is, if I had had the chance.


Yesterday, I went to a "gun show" in Amarillo. I was the first person through the door at 0900. It was the sorriest/worst gun show I've yet been to. Nothing but tactical militia rigs, cheap import guns, garbage knives, and all the non-2A carnival craft show junk. There was only ONE Smith & Wesson in the whole "show"...which was a NIB Classic something or other. Total waste of time, $10 entry fee, and the diesel to get there - it took me 22 minutes to scan every table. I had "plenty" of C-notes, but nothing to spend them on....

 

[zonker5]

That would go nicely next to my 1954 K22. I'd be on it in a flash if it's mechanically sound.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I would have already bought it .

 

[got2hav1]

**UPDATE**

Well we have a deal at $425 assuming it checks out mechanically. I will inspect it tomorrow and if all goes well, I'll post some more photos. Thanks for the encouragement guys.