Is this a K38?

[Recoil1776]

Hello Folks,

I think I just got one of those fabled "deals of a lifetime":

Serial number is K136XXX.

I'm far from a S&W expert, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I have a 1952 5-screw K38 Combat Masterpiece, correct?

You all wont believe what I paid for it either...A whopping $85.00!

 

[Muley Gil]

Well, it IS a Combat Masterpiece, and at a GREAT price. It should be in the 1951-52 range.

Only a factory letter from the S&W historian can tell for sure.

 

[Recoil1776]

Thanks for the fast reply! Glad the sanity check turned out in my favor!

We need a serial number to guestamate a shipping date.

Right there under the picture: K136XXX

 

[DCWilson]

DOALT, indeed. You are correct. You are fortunate. I am envious.

As an aside, does anyone know how big a pile of currency has to be before it begins to whop?



Very nice score.

 

[mikepriwer]

According to the 1952 catalog, and the 1952 All-Model Circular, its
known as "The Combat Masterpiece" The phrase "K-38 Masterpiece"
is used for the 6" revolver.

Mike Priwer

 

[Murphy2000]

Recoil1776,

If by any chance you should start to feel any remorse over your new purchase? Let me be the first to know and I'll show you just how quickly you can double your money back. Heck, I'll even pay for the shipping!

Murphy2000

 

[Recoil1776]

Thank you, Gentlemen.

It was an honest buy too as I bought it from a gun shop, so I didn't screw some old lady or anything. The shop owner called me as soon as he bought it, knowing I like old guns, and told me he had an old Model 10 he'd sell me cheap. I told him I'd stop in and check it out, and so I did. As soon as I saw it, I asked him how much. After a bit of haggling, we settled on $85. I filled out the 4473, trying not to wet myself and get too excited before I could confirm what I had (for all I knew, it could have been some weird target version of the Model 10; like I said, I'm no S&W expert), then I hit the road with my new piece.

So here she is before me, my DOALT!

Thanks again!

 

[Recoil1776]

Another question: for possible future insurance reasons, what is its estimated value? All numbers match (butt, cylinder and barrel), the bluing is probably 75-80% with only a little holster wear, the color case hardening is still visible on the hammer, the thick target grips aren't scratched up anywhere but on the very bottom, and there are no significant scratches or gouges in the steel. It also has a wide grooved trigger pad screwed onto the trigger (not sure if that was normal for this model?).

Also, regarding the "5-screw" thing: what constitutes the fifth screw? I see the three on the side, the one in front of the trigger, but where is the fifth? Is it the grip screw?

 

[lebomm]

A: Those are not target stocks, but Magnas.
B: The 5th screw is at the top rear of the sideplate, under the horn of the stocks. Are the stocks numbered to the gun?

Larry

 

[DCWilson]

I paid $400 for mine last year, which I thought was a good but not spectacular price from the buyer's point of view. Finish preservation on mine is a little better than yours (most apparent at the muzzle, I think), and there has been some upward creep in prices. I'd value yours at $425-475.

For visual comparison:

K101707, January 1951.

 

[Recoil1776]

A: Those are not target stocks, but Magnas.
B: The 5th screw is at the top rear of the sideplate, under the horn of the stocks. Are the stocks numbered to the gun?

Yes, the numbers match.

I'd value yours at $425-475.

Great, thanks. That's a nice looking piece you have too!

 

[Sebago Son]

Value of a 1952 Combat Masterpiece...

I sold one recently in aproximately the same condition as yours and got $350 cold hard cash. I was asking $425.

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice CM's
I picked up a 5 screw recently and thought it was a great deal at $350 with non diamond targets.

 

[Recoil1776]

Thanks for the estimates.

The rear sight blade is a hair dinged up on the corner. Where can I find a replacement?

Also, were the Magna stocks and the wide, grooved trigger pad typical options?

 

[DCWilson]

Magna stocks are standard stocks. Target stocks were the option.

The trigger shoe was an aftermarket option -- S&W did not provide those.

I'm not sure if the rear sight design of the early '50s is the same as the sight design of recent decades. If so, you should be able to get a replacement kit from S&W. Be careful: the kit contains the notched leaf, a new screw, and maybe a tiny spring. It is easy to lose parts. There is a world of trouble you can get into if you take the entire rear sight off the gun, so research it and make sure you have a good picture in your mind's eye of how it all fits together before you start working on it.

Judging from the prices quoted by others, prices have come down a bit from what I thought I had seen not long ago. Or maybe the California effect (higher!) is larger than I thought in the case of this model.

 

[DRB]

I got a minty like 98% one for free a couple years ago, my father got it at an auction for $225 and gave it to me. Same deal no one seemed to recognize it was not a plain old M&P and there were other nicer guns. I think yours is worth in the $350 to $400 range. I hope the gun shop owner does not figure out what he did and report the gun stolen cause $85 is a steal. Heck even if it was a model 10 in that condition it would be a steal.

 

[PMRet]

I hope the gun shop owner does not figure out what he did and report the gun stolen cause $85 is a steal. Heck even if it was a model 10 in that condition it would be a steal.

ANY working S&W revolver at that price is a steal!

 

[rboineau]

Gosh, a screaming deal from a GUN SHOP! Congratulations.

The shops in my city selling used guns only seem to offer **** at laughably-high prices. Guess the shop owners or their friends skim off the good stuff.

 

[mkk41]

It was an honest buy too as I bought it from a gun shop, so I didn't screw some old lady or anything.

Well , you may not have screwed some little old lady out of it , but did the dealer?

If he sold it to you for $85 , what did he steal , I mean buy it for?