A Masterpiece Trifecta

22hipower

22hipower

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I've wanted one of each of the early Masterpieces for quite awhile although any of the later ones are great too. I've had the 22LR Masterpiece (SN K143198) for a long time. The 38 Special (K90302) showed up at the Tulsa Symposium auction this summer, and the 32 Long (K103979) finally arrived last weekend. I think all three are in the 1950/51/52 timeframe.

I doubt that any of them left the factory with non-relieved targets. . . .but they should have.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

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I have 2 38's and 1 22. I'd love a 32 but won't pay the insane prices.

My 6" 38 came with a set of plastic imitation stag that I couldn't stand looking at so I subbed these for the moment. Actually they feel really good.
 

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.38SuperMan said:
I have 2 38's and 1 22. I'd love a 32 but won't pay the insane prices.

My 6" 38 came with a set of plastic imitation stag that I couldn't stand looking at so I subbed these for the moment. Actually they feel really good.
Click to expand...

I think we need a little bit more discussion on that second set of grips. Some better pictures of those please and a little more info.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
22hipower said:
22LR Masterpiece (SN K143198)
38 Special (K90302)
32 Long (K103979)
Click to expand...

Jeff
Based on my list, here are approximate dates for your trifecta.
K-22, 1952
K-38, 1950
K-32, 1951

Nice collection. Based on my experience, it is most likely that all of them shipped with Magna stocks. And all of those would have been of the sharp shoulder variety. For what it's worth.
 
JP@AK said:
Jeff
Based on my list, here are approximate dates for your trifecta.
K-22, 1952
K-38, 1950
K-32, 1951

Nice collection. Based on my experience, it is most likely that all of them shipped with Magna stocks. And all of those would have been of the sharp shoulder variety. For what it's worth.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jack. Those were roughly the dates I suspected. I'll probably letter the K-32.

Agree that sharp shoulder magnas were likely on all three from the factory. Oddly, I find nice sharp shoulder magnas harder to find than non-relieved targets. Which is ok I guess, since I prefer the targets anyway.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
2 in my trifecta came with numbered to the gun, magna high horn stocks. My K38 also had a target hammer. The K32 had the round top stocks, also numbered to the gun.
K22- 1947
K32- 1952
K38- 1949
Got the K32 a few years ago on this forum. I was 1st to call a "I'll take it" Got a great deal on it. Big Larry
 

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Don't forget that there were 6 Masterpiece revolvers. I am still looking for the perfect Combat Masterpiece guns in the box to fill out the set, but here are my 4 guns. Two of mine were 1948 guns so definitely did not ship with non-relieved targets.

attachment.php
 

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glowe said:
Don't forget that there were 6 Masterpiece revolvers. I am still looking for the perfect Combat Masterpiece guns in the box to fill out the set, but here are my 4 guns. Two of mine were 1948 guns so definitely did not ship with non-relieved targets.

attachment.php
Click to expand...


Gary,


Not to hijack,



Are the 4" full underlug guns considered Masterpieces as well? Would they be Combat Masterpieces, or just Masterpieces?
 

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I always think of a barrel underlug as what all S&Ws have to lock the extractor rod knob in place. If you are referring to what I call on post-WWII barrel shrouds that enclose the extractor rod, those were only found on N frames for many years after WWII before K frames came out with them. Masterpiece revolvers are those named models with target sights and barrel ribs and named by the company as Masterpiece guns from 1946 to sometime after 1958. The name was gradually changed to the model number designations which started in 1957-1958.
 
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glowe said:
Don't forget that there were 6 Masterpiece revolvers. I am still looking for the perfect Combat Masterpiece guns in the box to fill out the set, but here are my 4 guns. Two of mine were 1948 guns so definitely did not ship with non-relieved targets.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

So Gary name the 6"? Target, & combat?
Another group would be the Outdoorsman. Prewar no rib. How many different guns would that be? Just the N and the 22?
 
rbmac52 said:
Those grips are likely from eBay gripmaker "vitoonmaker."

Here's a link:

MOTHER OF PEARL GRIPS FOR S&W K, L FRAME SQUARE/ROUND BUTT BLACK FLOWER NICE | eBay
Click to expand...

This is the maker I got my grips from. My wife has a blue set on her 317 and I have a black set on my 317. She's had them for a few years and they're holding up very well. The fit and finish are excellent with all 3 sets we bought.

My wife is an artist and the finish on her 317 was rough so she had it Cerakoted red.
 

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MHF said:
So Gary name the 6"? Target, & combat?
Another group would be the Outdoorsman. Prewar no rib. How many different guns would that be? Just the N and the 22?
Click to expand...

Not sure of what you mean by target?? Post-WWII K frame target revolvers were made in the Military & Police line and were plain barrels with standard target sights. Of course, the K frame Masterpiece line was also introduced post-WWII. Combat word is used with regards to the K frame 4" Combat Masterpiece revolvers in 22LR, 32 Long, and 38 Special, and the K frame Combat Magnums starting in 1955 and continuing as the Model 19. The Outdoorsman's revolvers were the 1930s K frames made from 1930 to 1940 as a K frame 22LR. In 1940, the K frame K-22 Masterpiece was briefly introduced. Outdoorsman revolvers were N frame guns in 38/44 caliber starting in 1931 and named a Model 23 in 1957. All handguns went to numbered models in 1957-1958 with some continuing the names and model numbers, while others were renamed. Confusing, you bet!!
 
glowe said:
All handguns went to numbered models in 1957-1958 with some continuing the names and model numbers, while others were renamed.
Click to expand...
Gary
I'm curious. Which units were "renamed?" I'm not aware of any. As far as I know, all of them retained their names, with the model numbers added. Some, of course, like the Model 49 weren't introduced until after model numbers appeared, but even those got names (e.g. Model 49 Bodyguard).
 
glowe said:
Don't forget that there were 6 Masterpiece revolvers. I am still looking for the perfect Combat Masterpiece guns in the box to fill out the set, but here are my 4 guns. Two of mine were 1948 guns so definitely did not ship with non-relieved targets.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Gary,
I'm intrigued by the K 38 combat box, lower left. Is that a seperate "compartment" for tools? I have never seen anything like that before.
 
LEO918 said:
K-22 Masterpiece in .22 Magnum. First offered in 1959.
Click to expand...

Those stocks are sure to start the K frame "cokes" discussion again. Are they non-relieved targets as shown on my three above? Some of those non-relieved targets had checkering patterns very much like those on N frame "cokes."

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
Thanks, maybe I should have said "Masterpiece" series but I was thinking about getting postwar, and adding prewar as a comparison. And I was not even thinking about Leo918 22 mag. So the trifecta becomes 4 of a kind?
Or a superfecta?
I guess another thread instead?
 
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