A pair of K38 Masterpiece revolvers

[SmithNut]

Click on the pic for a larger view....

The top revolver is my trusty 1958 K38 Masterpiece, it's been a friend for over 30 years, not only as a photo candidate but it was also my League gun back when we shot weekly at a local indoor range in Bellevue, WA.

Didn't think I'd ever find another in decent shape Masterpiece of that vintage, but the bottom gun just came home last week, it's a 1953 model, varies from the above in finish - it's a matte finish blue versus the 1958 gun with a bright blue finish - but that's OK, it has all the other cool features, i.e., good condition, Hi-Speed (Fishhook ) hammer and original sights. The grips that came on it were rubber Pachmeyers and they didn't leave the shop. Fortunately I had this set of Spegel Bolivian Roseweek SB Targets with medallions, sporting the same shape speedloader style that the 1958 has (which is factory). (In fact all my Spegels use the same speedloader cut and Craig refers to it as such, i.e., the 1958 cut)

This is just a quick cellphone pic, I'll get around to taking better pics in a week or so, we are in Eastern Washington visiting family, but I brought it along so I do the right thing by shooting it in the next couple days to see how it shoots...

 

[TheTinMan]

What a beautiful pair!

Question: it seems like target sights and target hammers are common on K38s but I don’t remember seeing wider, target triggers. Are they out there?

 

[rct269]

It'll shoot like the bullets are guided by radar!

WAY BACK when I was a lunatic fringe reloader, and testing loads for accuracy with a machine rest, the K-38 of the time made ragged one hole groups---didn't make any difference worth talking about if the range was 25 yards or 50!

It's really frustrating when you get to the point where there's nothing to improve upon. It's even worse when you're standing on your hind legs, holding the gun with one hand, and absolutely, positively know your significantly larger groups are entirely your doing----and not the gun's--nor the ammo's. It just ain't fair---but you keep on keeping on.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[SmithNut]

Yes, target triggers do exist in the K38 line, most of the ones I've seen have been in the M14-1 and M14-2 guns.

I did own some in those engineering changes, you can see them in the Notable Thread about the K38 Masterpiece

At one time I had most of the early post war models and throughout the Engineering changes, but the majority of those guns left the collection back when I first retired, miss them all....

Here's the link with pics of those guns showing Target Triggers on some:

Informal Pictorial Essay - K-38 Masterpiece (and Model 14) variations

 

[HughD1]

1958 vintage. I assume the target trigger is original. I have been wrong before.

Hugh


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[SmithNut]

....snip...... I assume the target trigger is original. I have been wrong before.

Hugh

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Hugh,

Really the only way to confirm it would be a factory letter....
Nice gun for sure.

.............SmithNut

 

[TheTinMan]

Yes, target triggers do exist in the K38 line, most of the ones I've seen have been in the M14-1 and M14-2 guns.

I did own some in those engineering changes, you can see them in the Notable Thread about the K38 Masterpiece

At one time I had most of the early post war models and throughout the Engineering changes, but the majority of those guns left the collection back when I first retired, miss them all....

Here's the link with pics of those guns showing Target Triggers on some:

Informal Pictorial Essay - K-38 Masterpiece (and Model 14) variations

Thank you! That thread is great.

 

[JP@AK]

sporting the same shape speedloader style that the 1958 has (which is factory)

Seriously? A speedloader cut from the factory in 1958? On diamond targets? I don't think so. Even after 1978, when the speedloader style came out for the K frames, it didn't look like that.

For comparison, here is a picture of a K-38 Masterpiece Model 14-4 with the factory speedloader cut target stocks. This one left Springfield on July 21, 1980, and shipped to Boise, ID.

 

[SmithNut]

Seriously? A speedloader cut from the factory in 1958? On diamond targets? I don't think so. Even after 1978, when the speedloader style came out for the K frames, it didn't look like that.

For comparison, here is a picture of a K-38 Masterpiece Model 14-4 with the factory speedloader cut target stocks. This one left Springfield on July 21, 1980, and shipped to Boise, ID.
......pic removed....

Jack,
If it's nomenclature you are having an issue with then call it a relieved area behind the cylinder opening thingamajig what you want. Maybe a thumb indentation....??

If it's the shape of the thumb indentation then se-la-vie, I've personally not seen another set like them, but 20-25 years back some very knowledgeable collectors in the NW inspected these grips (oh sorry, you might call them stocks, whatever) and said that they've seen others and that they were factory produced.

But thanks for your input nonetheless....

 

[DETROIT]

Yes, target triggers do exist in the K38 line, most of the ones I've seen have been in the M14-1 and M14-2 guns.

I did own some in those engineering changes, you can see them in the Notable Thread about the K38 Masterpiece

At one time I had most of the early post war models and throughout the Engineering changes, but the majority of those guns left the collection back when I first retired, miss them all....
Here's the link with pics of those guns showing Target Triggers on some:

Informal Pictorial Essay - K-38 Masterpiece (and Model 14) variations

I have a 14-1 with 3T’s, that thread above is awesome!
This is the only pic I have at the moment.

 

[RKmesa]

I had this set of Spegel Bolivian Roseweek SB Targets with medallions, sporting the same shape speedloader style that the 1958 has (which is factory). (In fact all my Spegels use the same speedloader cut and Craig refers to it as such, i.e., the 1958 cut)

In all of my years of collecting, I do not recall seeing that speedloader cut before in a factory set of stocks/grips... I love it!!! It looks super cool and is very practical. I know that in the 1950s the factory still employed talented craftsman who could and would do all sorts of creative things with stocks and grips. Have you seen other sets of target stocks with that specific speedloader cut (other than the beautiful smooth Spegels that adorn many of your guns), or do you think this diamond target set is a one-off or a very small batch made by the factory?

Congrats on putting that beautiful set of Masterpieces together.