Dont trust a used firearm hang tag!!!!

[Chef]

I kept the 32-20, I only paid 200 for it. This mint K-38 doesn't look like its ever been shot or holstered. I picked it up for 325. I'm pretty good friends with the store owner and he is going to put me in touch with the original owner to see if he still has the box. Keepin my fingers crossed! I also came across a great deal on a NIB Ruger o/u 12 ga. 30" Red Label shotgun. I don't really need it but if anyone is interested it will probably be available for around 1200 maybe less. I had him put it aside for me. I don't really need another scattergun but these are going for around 1400-1600 retail. I'll stick it in the classifieds with some pics tomorrow.

 

[pbslinger]

I used to have faith in hang tags until I bought my pre 35. The tag said rare 6" model 34.

Chef- nice Combat Masterpiece!

 

[Chef]

Scary, this is the difference between the two carts... and even scarier...other high powered 32 carts would have chambered. Double check always and don't trust that tag, don't be a statistic!!! ~Chef

 

[Gatorbaiter]

Late 40's 32 M&P:

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by Gatorbaiter:
Late 40's 32 M&P:


What kind of serial number does it have? "S" or "C"?

 

[handejector]

Originally posted by rburg:

Originally posted by Gatorbaiter:
Late 40's 32 M&P:


What kind of serial number does it have? "S" or "C"?

Dick-
It has to be an "S" because it is a long action TRANSITION!!!

 

[mikepriwer]

The extractor rod and barrel are clearly post-WW2, as well.

This one is probably a C-series gun, judging by those grips.
They don't have quite the sharp upper shoulder as the earliest
post-WW2 magnas.

These are the ones I'm familiar with. 2", 4", and 5" are all
known. Ray Brazille has said that he had a 6" one, at one time.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[bk43]

One line frame mark says "S" no?

Bob

 

[rburg]

Thats why I asked, guys!

 

[handejector]

Originally posted by handejector:

Originally posted by rburg:

Originally posted by Gatorbaiter:
Late 40's 32 M&P:


What kind of serial number does it have? "S" or "C"?

Dick-
It has to be an "S" because it is a long action TRANSITION!!!

Class, PAY ATTENTION-
There are NO LONG ACTION "C" numbers. That is clearly a LONG action gun- look at the hammer.

 

[mikepriwer]

Lee

I have three of these guns - S999xxx, C69xxx and C55xxx. The first two
were shipped on the same day in Aug 1949 to the same place ; the other one
was shipped in Oct 1949 to another destination.

I'm still traveling, but it seemsed to me that all three guns look alike,
insofar as hammers are concerned. We should be back the beginning of next
week - I'll look at those guns then.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[rburg]

Wow, did Lee actually violate the cardinal rule of S&W and say "never"?

 

[handejector]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:
Lee

I have three of these guns - S999xxx, C69xxx and C55xxx. The first two
were shipped on the same day in Aug 1949 to the same place ; the other one
was shipped in Oct 1949 to another destination.

I'm still traveling, but it seemsed to me that all three guns look alike,
insofar as hammers are concerned. We should be back the beginning of next
week - I'll look at those guns then.

Later, Mike Priwer

Mike,
S999xxx, C69xxx and C55xxx- ALL three of those guns will be short actions, so they WILL look the same. All will have the sculpted hammer- what some call the fishhook. The first short actions start at about S 990, XXX.

Dick,
I can't find the word "never" in my earlier post.

 

[mikepriwer]

Lee

You are right. I had forgotten that Robby had taken a picture of the three
guns. Here they are, with the fish-hook hammers :

This is a close-up of the roll marking on one of them :

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[animalmother]

The hang tag is only as good as the person who created it. With the S&W book available, no reason any S&W fan should ever be mislead by a haang tag.

 

[HKSmith]

Originally posted by Chef:
I kept the 32-20, I only paid 200 for it. This mint K-38 doesn't look like its ever been shot or holstered. I picked it up for 325. I'm pretty good friends with the store owner and he is going to put me in touch with the original owner to see if he still has the box. Keepin my fingers crossed! I also came across a great deal on a NIB Ruger o/u 12 ga. 30" Red Label shotgun. I don't really need it but if anyone is interested it will probably be available for around 1200 maybe less. I had him put it aside for me. I don't really need another scattergun but these are going for around 1400-1600 retail. I'll stick it in the classifieds with some pics tomorrow.

Chef:

The gun you referred to as a K-38 is actually a Model 15 Combat Masterpiece with 2 inch barrel. The K-38 is the Model 14 and had a 6 or 8.375 inch barrel. There are a small number of Model 14 stamped revolvers with 4 inch and I think 5 inch barrels, but not 2 inch.

 

[Chef]

HKS,
I was going by the description in the SWSC 3rd edition which lists the model 15 as the "K-38 Combat Masterpiece". It states that the series is continued from the postwar K-38 Combat Masterpiece. It is a 15-2. ~Chef