38 Combat Masterpiece

[Rob613]

Picked up a 38 CM at a local show today, my first 5 screw.

 

[DETROIT]

Looks clean

 

[STCM(SW)]

Nice pick up!

 

[GF]

Is that a wood block in the box?

Looks like a nice revolver!

 

[JH1951]

Very nice find. It is a attractive piece.
The wood block belongs there. It was a factory way to make a 4" barrel fit well in a 6" barrel box. Nice 'plus' IMHO. Does the box have a number on the bottom in grease pencil/china marker? If so, does it match the SN of the gun?

 

[murphydog]

Very nice ".38" Combat Masterpiece!

 

[glowe]

. . . The wood block belongs there. It was a factory way to make a 4" barrel fit well in a 6" barrel box . . .

Nice revolver, no wear shows in your pictures. Did you find factory documentation about the pine 2" x 2" in the box? Rough cut, not even square sure looks like something an owner would do. I have seen multiple boxes with a pasteboard partition, but never with a chunk of wood? Don't even know for sure that the partition was factory.

 

[Rob613]

Yeah, it’s very clean…not something we usually see at shows here.

I wasn’t sure if the box was correct but it was a good deal nonetheless. Here’s the box ends….serial does match.

 

[Retired W4]

Just a couple observations. The box is embossed 32 Heavy Masterpiece with 8 written over the 2, which I think is a bit strange. I'm not sure the SN was normally written on the label in that manner (by the factory).

 

[glenwolde]

The box is highly dubious but the gun looks great!

 

[bobsguns]

Might I ask price?

 

[MarkHayden]

The SCSW 5th edition mentions a wood block in 6” gold boxes with 4” pre-Model 15’s in them. My pre-Model 15 (2344xx) has a wood block that is very similar to Rob613’s. I think the biggest clue is the additional label on the box end. As has been said many times on this Forum, Smith & Wesson never threw anything away.

 

[Rob613]

Bottom of the box.

 

[65Whelen]

Maybe not to some of the members here but when I got my first 5-Screw, wow. It's historical almost mythical, I stepped over a line and now I want more! I'm hooked on vintage revolvers, mostly the 4&5 screws. Unfortunately, I don't have deep pockets so I look at all the eye candy and wish I could collect this one or that one. I manage to pickup another Smith every couple years but I'm always on the lookout. My current quest is a commemorative firearm in honor of my father who would've been 100 years old next year. Maybe with a little luck I'll find a nice, cheap 44 Triple-Lock from 1926. LOL, hey ya got to have dreams.

 

[Rob613]

Headed to another show in Helena today, hoping to go two for two and find a similar little brother to this .38.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Double thumbs up OP!!!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I believe the wood is correct. I even believe the box is correct. Grease pencil overwrite is common. I have not seen the serial number on the end label, but allow for the fact that a dealer did that along the way to make it easier to locate the box on the storeroom shelf. Looks great to me!

 

[57 Fan]

Very nice piece! I love mine -

 

[robertrwalsh]

Very nice score. Congrats.

 

[Vtgw938]

Very nice all. I just picked up a pristine 15-1 today, but no box.The serial number is out of the way so I could chop the front corner off. I bought a 15-2 with the serial number to the rear so I could do just that.