38 Double Action Perfected 4" Target

[larkworthy]

Group,

I recently acquired a 38 Double Action Perfected 4" Target. I won it on one of the auction sites and crossed my fingers nobody else wanted it (or found it). It is not a perfect specimen- some surface rust from sitting in a box in Mississippi (what I was told) before it was found by someone renovating houses. It is not a safe queen, but it exists and is the only one I have handled in person. Looking forward to hearing input from the group on the other Perfected Target Models in various collections. The 5th edition does not mention much about the target models, curious if anyone has a guess on total production. Regards, Lyle

 

[red9]

You won, I lost. I passed on it not believing the rear sight was correct. I have been trying to get a 6" target from a friend of mine for many years. Amoskeag sold a 4" target Club Gun not too long ago from the Pete DeRose collection. Congratulations on a great gun.

Bob

 

[toad67]

Never seen one, nice gun, thanks for sharing

 

[gmarshall99]

I have one ( not a target model ) and use it in class to show the evolution of Smith & Wesson handguns. They are hard to find.

 

[huthike]

I have never seen a target one before; thanks for sharing and adding to my want list.

 

[larkworthy]

You won, I lost. I passed on it not believing the rear sight was correct. I have been trying to get a 6" target from a friend of mine for many years. Amoskeag sold a 4" target Club Gun not too long ago from the Pete DeRose collection. Congratulations on a great gun.

Bob

Thank you for having mercy on me! I saw Peter's club gun (front sight looked off). that is only one I had seen before this one.

 

[glowe]

I would venture an opinion that target Perfected revolvers would be well under 5% of production. At the time that gun was made, K frame targets were being manufactured at around 5% targets and 95% M&Ps. So maybe a couple thousand target Perfected revolvers manufactured. Of course, the 38 Perfected remains somewhat uncommon here in the US, because the gun was very popular in Central and South America. Europe was also a strong export market. Roy once opined that over half of this model was exported.

 

[SgtDog0311]

First time I came across the term "Perfected" was this thread. Learned a little since then. Mine is not a Target model I reckon but am anxious to see what accuracy it produces. One spot in the bore us sketchy.

Congratulations in your!

Post in thread '38 S&W Perfected Model, Unk Grips'

Jul 22, 2025

Arrived! And the grips do appear to be MOP.

Some pictures. You won't get any glare off stupendous bluing. Condition is what it is but I like it. Have not run a patch down the bore yet; could improve slightly!

Came with a nice little Hunter holster.

Only other top-break I had was my grandfather's. I gave that to my son who was named for him.

• SgtDog0311

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