K-38 Masterpiece Factory Box Question

[MGWLLW]

Purchased a very nice K-38 Masterpiece (5K56474) recently and it came in a tattered blue box with the white label pictured below

I take it that since my serial number doesn't appear on the box, this is not the proper factory box that this revolver shipped in?

Is the number "4016044" on the label a SKU number for this model?

And a little off-topic, but would this pistol have shipped with the target stocks that are on it or with Magna's numbered to the gun?

 

[sandog]

I'd be interested in the answer, as I have a 66-1 I got a few months ago, and it came with the correct box showing the specs (model, barrel, length, etc.) but no serial number either.
Was wondering if it had originally come with the gun, or was just a box that someone picked up later ?

 

[smith17]

That label was generally used when a revolver was shipped back to an owner from the factory for a repair.

 

[MGWLLW]

That label was generally used when a revolver was shipped back to an owner from the factory for a repair.

Thank you for that information!

Perhaps that’s why the top of the box has two dates written on a piece of tape; maybe the pistol was received by S&W for repairs on 2/9/91 and the work was completed on 2/24/91?

 

[kscharlie]

The remaining label on your box was on it when it left the factory the first time. Your box is missing the label containing the model, serial number, etc. Here are the labels from my Model 17-4 that I purchased new way back in April of 1980. The label like yours is still attached to the box, the other label has fallen off the box, but I still have it.





Notice the difference between your remaining label and mine. Yours has the letter "T" at the end of the second line, indicating "T"arget stocks. Mine does not have a letter there, indicating standard (or magna) stocks. Mine is a "22 Masterpiece, 6 inch barrel, square butt, blue finish". Yours is a "38 Masterpiece, 6 inch barrel, square butt, blue finish, target stocks". If you had the other label, it would have been marked with a T in the box labeled "STOCK". Yours would also have had a check mark in the boxes labeled "TH" and "TT" (for Target Hammer and Target Trigger). What the top line means I have no idea. Perhaps an inventory number at the S&W factory.

The stocks on your gun are quite likely the ones that were on it when it shipped. What the dates on the tape mean is anybody's guess.

 

[MGWLLW]

The remaining label on your box was on it when it left the factory the first time. Your box is missing the label containing the model, serial number, etc. Here are the labels from my Model 17-4 that I purchased new way back in April of 1980. The label like yours is still attached to the box, the other label has fallen off the box, but I still have it.

View attachment 772352

View attachment 772354

Notice the difference between your remaining label and mine. Yours has the letter "T" at the end of the second line, indicating "T"arget stocks. Mine does not have a letter there, indicating standard (or magna) stocks. Mine is a "22 Masterpiece, 6 inch barrel, square butt, blue finish". Yours is a "38 Masterpiece, 6 inch barrel, square butt, blue finish, target stocks". If you had the other label, it would have been marked with a T in the box labeled "STOCK". Yours would also have had a check mark in the boxes labeled "TH" and "TT" (for Target Hammer and Target Trigger). What the top line means I have no idea. Perhaps an inventory number at the S&W factory.

The stocks on your gun are quite likely the ones that were on it when it shipped. What the dates on the tape mean is anybody's guess.

Thank you, Charlie, for the thorough & detailed explanation. Much appreciated!

Mike

 

[sophie]

Congratulations on your purchase of that nice Model 14.
I believe I watched that one sell also. Nice gun.
I believe kscharlie hit the nail on the head when he said the other end label fell off. I’ve got 2 or 3 boxes from that time period and the end label with all the identifying information just fell off, due to dryness I guess.

 

[RKmesa]

The glue was not very good on the labels. Many of them have fallen off over the years. Great gun!!!

Thanks for sharing,