Just to add an early 1950s flyer and catalog pages from the 1952 S&W Catalog. Supica & Nahas early books used the term Target Masterpiece, but they have seen the light in their 4th edition SCSW.
4 inch K38 with a Heavy Barrel
- Thread starter Etalksalot
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Just wanted to weigh in for etalks: I've got one of those with a Patridge sight. It's a heavy-barrel .38 Spl, looks likely that it's the "Heavy Masterpiece" shown in glowe's photo #1, top right gun, except with the barrel cut down. I posted about it 3 years ago with photos:
4-inch .38 Masterpiece
I had every intention of sending in for a letter from Mr. Jinks but never got around to it.
4-inch .38 Masterpiece
I had every intention of sending in for a letter from Mr. Jinks but never got around to it.
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Here is what the standard barrel rib & heavy barrel rib looks like. The heavy barrel had a rib width of over 1/2" at the muzzle and the standard rib was about 1/4".
Wanted to add that I think the pre-model CMs all had a narrow rib, so if that gun has a wide rib, it was probably cut. Hope someone can add comments to this guess?
Wanted to add that I think the pre-model CMs all had a narrow rib, so if that gun has a wide rib, it was probably cut. Hope someone can add comments to this guess?
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Etalksalot
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It is definitely a heavy barrel. I finally got a picture of it I'm about to post and it's a 5 inch barrel, so maybe a pre-14?
OP
Etalksalot
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Okay y'all, I finally got a couple pictures. It is a 5 inch barrel, I didn't catch that last time so maybe a pre-14? It's not a model numbered guns, it's a pre-something and they just have K38 on the tag, that's all. It looks like a normal model numbered hammer though, doesn't look like any pre model hammers I've seen, looks just like the one on my 15-3 snub, a semi-target hammer is what I call them, not sure if that's correct or not. And there is no model number on the yoke, just a parts number and serial number I believe. Also, the barrel does say 38 S&W special ctg
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Etalksalot
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Hey, sorry it was at a gun shop and I started wondering about it after I left. I've added photos now. It's a 5 inch barrel also, I was wrong on the length.
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If original, it is one of the 5” K-38 Masterpiece (heavy barrel, “pre-14”) revolvers made for the IL State Police. A serial number in the low K 300000 range would be consistent with one of these.
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Etalksalot
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Thanks! Is that a more rare gun or more common? It may have had police dept markings on it, but I can't remember. I'll check that next time I go back. Should've taken a picture of both sides!
stu1ritter
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I hope you bought it for that price tag!!! I have a lettered 14-2 5" and they are worth a weeee bit more than that price tag. They are also just wonderful shooters, very fine balance with the 5" barrel.
Stu
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If you consider a total production of about 500 "rare", there you have it. Hopefully it is still at your local shop...
Let's put it this way, any heavy barrel K38 Masterpiece with barrel shorter than 6" is scarce. These revolvers were not classified as Combat Masterpiece revolvers, but rather fell into the standard Pre-Model 14 category. The only mention of a 5" Heavy Barrel K38 that I have read about was the Illinois State Police, with only 470 manufactured as noted by Alan.
Does that make the gun you saw valuable?? Certainly does to a Masterpiece collector who wants every minor change and barrel length in their collection, or a Police revolver collector, but maybe not to many others. Lastly, just about anyone with some extra money could probably have ordered a 5" Heavy Masterpiece, so there are likely some civilian examples out there as well.
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stu1ritter
US Veteran
My 5" was a special order for 2 in 1962 sent to S. Darley & Co. The cut barrel charge was $10 with each revolver $59.80. One was ser.#4945xx and the second was ser.#4132xx. These were 14-2's.
Stu
Stu
Yes, the 5" K38 (4 screw) Heavy Barrel made up for the IL State Police back in 1957 are excellent shooters. I have recently seen one go on the market for $2500. It may sit awhile for that price, but I think would move relatively quickly at around $1500+. This one is s/n 2857xx and shipped July 57.
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. . . or an overrun of that special order for the ISP that was shipped to an S&W Dealer &/or Distributor.
As Alan suggests, the majority of the ISP 5" K-38s were in the K301XXX-305XXX s/n range but the first shipment of 150 units had serial numbers spread throughout the s/n range of K277XXX - K293XXX.
To my knowledge, there are no Illinois State Police markings on the ISP 5" K-38s . . . only the s/n matched to a "Ship To ISP - Bill To H.H. Harris" invoice (or a factory letter) will tell.
There were many other 5" K-38s shipped to S&W Distributors and Dealers.
Russ
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OP,
There appears to be some potential damage to the finish at the edge of the grip. If you are interested in the gun have them remove the grips to inspect under them.
The ejector rod shows no wear on the blue to speak of so I doubt it has been shot too much.
You may be able to use any damage to leverage a better price.
If you want a nice shooter 5” masterpiece I would not let that one get away at the listed price. It may be a long long time before you see another for sale.
There appears to be some potential damage to the finish at the edge of the grip. If you are interested in the gun have them remove the grips to inspect under them.
The ejector rod shows no wear on the blue to speak of so I doubt it has been shot too much.
You may be able to use any damage to leverage a better price.
If you want a nice shooter 5” masterpiece I would not let that one get away at the listed price. It may be a long long time before you see another for sale.
daddio202
Member
You have to measure from the from of the cylinder face to end of barrel. Looks to me like 6 inch barrel. If it is a 1/4 shy then it is still 6 inch, they vary a slight bit. Nice gun, I like them a lot and own several myself. Now you just need some wood grips on it. Enjoy
gunnails
Member
There is a ruler below the gun, it’s a 5”
