A .38 Target Masterpiece

[Goony]

Serial # K2930XX, dating to early 1957. Certainly a less than perfect example but on the other hand there's no evidence of its being abused, either. The cylinder and barrel are unnumbered (the practice of numbering these components having been abandoned right around this time), but still a "pre-14". Original stocks and a finely checkered hammer. Double action is just smooth as glass, and the single action trigger pull is light and crisp. An "ordinary" revolver that exhibits all the hallmarks of the extraordinary quality that characterized S&W products from this period.

 

[handejector]

Serial # K2930XX, dating to early 1957.
The cylinder and barrel are unnumbered (the practice of numbering these components having been abandoned right around this time), but still a "pre-14".

Interesting. That is a pretty early 4 screw. I have seen numbers well above 300,000 with numbered parts, but they were K-22s.

 

[JP@AK]

Goony
I don't know whether you have a letter on that one, but I would agree that it probably shipped in 1957. I show K283750, a K-22 Masterpiece, shipping in March, 1957. I also see K-38 Masterpiece K302003 shipping in July, 1957.

I own K-38 Masterpiece K278720, a four screw that shipped in November, 1956. It does not have the serial number on the barrel flat, nor on the cylinder. In addition, I used to own K-38 Masterpiece K285963. It was also a 4 screw without the serial number on the barrel flat or cylinder. It shipped in January, 1957.

 

[wheelgun610]

Seems like an awfully high S/N for one with a factory original fish hook hammer. I've got a Combat Masterpiece in the 290000's that came with a totally different hammer profile. I guess it's what's referred to as a semi-target hammer.

Mark

 

[Goony]

Seems like an awfully high S/N for one with a factory original fish hook hammer. I've got a Combat Masterpiece in the 290000's that came with a totally different hammer profile. I guess it's what's referred to as a semi-target hammer.

The hammer intrigued me also, which is why I mentioned it. Could've been replaced at some point, of course, but perhaps it also might be a case of whatever happened to have lingered near the bottom of the parts bin finally being used up?

 

[handejector]

I own K-38 Masterpiece K278720, a four screw that shipped in November, 1956. It does not have the serial number on the barrel flat, nor on the cylinder. In addition, I used to own K-38 Masterpiece K285963. It was also a 4 screw without the serial number on the barrel flat or cylinder. It shipped in January, 1957.

Interesting. I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I have seen K-22s above 300,000 with numbered parts. I'm pretty sure they built guns in batches, like a batch of K-22s and then a batch of K-38s. Perhaps there was a higher numbered batch of 22s built earlier while they still numbered parts, or perhaps I'm getting senile.

Seems like an awfully high S/N for one with a factory original fish hook hammer. I've got a Combat Masterpiece in the 290000's that came with a totally different hammer profile. I guess it's what's referred to as a semi-target hammer.

Mark

I do think you will find overlap in the hammer change in regards to serial number ranges, probably because of "batch" production.

 

[JP@AK]

Perhaps there was a higher numbered batch of 22s built earlier while they still numbered parts, or perhaps I'm getting senile.

Maybe both?

This proves nothing, but you got me curious. I just pulled K-22 Masterpiece K311533 out of the safe. It shipped in January, 1958, and has no numbers on the barrel flat or the cylinder. Not model marked, of course.

 

[wheelgun610]

Forgot to mention that the Combat Masterpiece I referenced earlier only has the S/N on the butt. It's actually in the mid K 296000's. I've had it for around 40 years which makes it the S&W revolver I've owned the longest.

Mark

 

[Green Frog]

wheelgun610, I can edge you out slightly with my K-38 Masterpiece. It's an early postwar 5 screw, vintage 1948. It's all matching although when it came to me in 1979 it had a set of later target type grips on it. Lo and behold, the previous owner found the original grips and mailed them to me within a week of trading for it. The technicality by which you "win" is that my father insisted I trade it to whims soon as he saw it, and it remained in his possession until about 7-8 years ago when he handed it back. We have had it nearly 45 years between us.. Trust me though, I plan on it staying in the family for a lot longer!
Froggie

 

[dobegrant]

Congratulations that is a very nice find and should be a nice shooter.

 

[Goony]

Not meaning to seem mercenary, but look at how much one of these (albeit an earlier 5-screw) fetched at auction earlier this year (and the estimated range was considerably higher): Smith & Wesson K-38 Target Masterpiece Pre-Model 14 Revolver | Rock Island Auction

 

[paplinker]

Maybe both?

This proves nothing, but you got me curious. I just pulled K-22 Masterpiece K311533 out of the safe. It shipped in January, 1958, and has no numbers on the barrel flat or the cylinder. Not model marked, of course.

I have a non model marked k22 K 300506 shipped Jan 58 that has numbered cylinder and bbl. I assumed it was done as its a original nickel gun.

 

[schwantz]

K-22 number K 299502 has no numbers on the barrel or cylinder.

 

[wheelgun610]

... look at how much one of these (albeit an earlier 5-screw) fetched at auction earlier this year...

Since there's no mention in the description of it being the earlier post-war tapered barrel, it makes me wonder what effect that might've had on the gavel price.

Mark

 

[Jim Watson]

Combat Masterpiece .22 K 210022 - late 1953 per SCSW - is numbered on the cylinder. I would have to dig the original barrel out of the junk box, but I bet it is, too. The factory replacement is not.

It is going to get shot today.

 

[TJm15.38]

That's a really nice piece. I wish I could find one like that.

 

[marlinshooter]

I have a k38 masterpiece k277xxx. Serial number is marked on the cylinder and the barrel flat

 

[Green Frog]

Not meaning to seem mercenary, but look at how much one of these (albeit an earlier 5-screw) fetched at auction earlier this year (and the estimated range was considerably higher): Smith & Wesson K-38 Target Masterpiece Pre-Model 14 Revolver | Rock Island Auction

Mine is about that nice and a year older. I wouldn't take that for it, but as posted earlier mine has too much history to sell anyway. Now I just have to decide which grand nephew gets it when I'm gone!

wheelgun610, IIRC, a 1949 vintage K-38 would by the greatest of odds be expected to have the light barrel and narrow rib. The heavy barrel was commonly seen until 1950 or 51.

Froggie

 

[Goony]

I own K-38 Masterpiece K278720, a four screw that shipped in November, 1956. It does not have the serial number on the barrel flat, nor on the cylinder.

I have a k38 masterpiece k277xxx. Serial number is marked on the cylinder and the barrel flat

Well, this data narrows the serial number range for when this deletion occurred. I'd opine that there likely wasn't a "hard" serial number cutoff, but rather some overlap. But it would seem that the latter part of 1956 is coming into focus as the time frame.

 

[JP@AK]

I'd opine that there likely wasn't a "hard" serial number cutoff, but rather some overlap. But it would seem that the latter part of 1956 is coming into focus as the time frame.

I agree, Goony. Everything I've seen points to the transition starting in late 1956. This is slightly contrary to the "official" line that these serial number locations were terminated when soft fitting was eliminated in 1957. That may still be true, but there are examples of revolvers without those marks having been produced as early as 1956.