K-38 Target Masterpiece is greatness in steel and walnut

[chech]

hi, everyone! My grandfather left me this gun right before he died. I don't know much about it, just that it is really accurate. For what I've been investigating, the gun is a combat, target masterpiece K38, and that's about all I know of it. I would like to know how much a gun like this can cost. this is an engraved gun. I'm not planning on selling it, I just would like to know If what I have is one of the best guns in the world because my grandfather always said that if this gun isn't the best revolver in the world, is one of the of the best.

 

[netfotoj]

A better trigger than my 14-3 Target Masterpiece?

I didn't think it was possible, but I have found a Smith trigger better than the K-38 Target Masterpiece 14-3 that started this thread. At the gun shop where I work, some misguided soul sold us a S&W 65-3 with 3" barrel.

It's got a great set of grips and a custom trigger job from the S&W Performance Center. My job is to take photos of new and used guns and list them on gunbroker, and as soon as I held this 65-3 and pulled the trigger once, it was love at first pull. No photos for this one at the shop, it went home with me. That trigger is so slick the first time I pulled my pants almost fell down.

Bluebook says: MODEL 65- .357 Mag. cal., stainless version of Model 13, K-frame, has 3 (round butt, disc. 2000) or 4 (square butt) in. heavy barrels, satin stainless steel, current production uses Uncle Mike's grips, fixed sights, 35 oz. Disc. 2004.

The grips may be the "smooth Dymondwood combat grips" which Bluebook says came on the Model 65 Ladysmith. Whatever they are, they fit my hand perfect and shoot great. I love the 3" barrel, which carries great and shoots great too. It's now one of my favorite carry guns, which is something the Model 14-3 6" barrel is not well suited for.

And the fixed sights have been right on the money for every load I've fired so far, so I haven't missed adjustable sights.

I have learned that shooting really hot .357 Magnum loads, like 180-grain Cor-Bon, is not a good idea with a K-Frame. Save those for your N- or L-Frame Smiths. It shoots just fine with 110-grain .357 Magnum loads, which are more than adequate to stop anything short of a charging rhinoceros.

 

[bluetopper]

There's no greater pleasure in shooting than going to the range with a Model 14 and a zip lock baggie full of your 148gr wadcutter cast lead reloads.

 

[Captain38]

Netfotoj,

You've got a Model 14-3 that's apparently been set up to shoot PPC competition. The work was probably done somewhere in the early '70s.

The 6 inch bull barrel is probably a Douglas with 1 in 10 twist. The sights on the adjustable Bo-Mar rib would allow the shooter to take a neck-hold sight picture on a B27 target at 50 yards and still drop a 148 grain wadcutter real close to the X-ring .

PPC rules limited single action trigger pull to a minimum of 2 1/2 pounds.

 

[netfotoj]

Netfotoj,

You've got a Model 14-3 that's apparently been set up to shoot PPC competition. The work was probably done somewhere in the early '70s.

The 6 inch bull barrel is probably a Douglas with 1 in 10 twist. The sights on the adjustable Bo-Mar rib would allow the shooter to take a neck-hold sight picture on a B27 target at 50 yards and still drop a 148 grain wadcutter real close to the X-ring .

PPC rules limited single action trigger pull to a minimum of 2 1/2 pounds.

Thanks for the info, Cap. My digital trigger gauge has gone nuts so I can't measure the trigger but I'm sure your info is correct, it sure feels about 2.5 lbs.

I hadn't considered that it has a replacement barrel. And finding wadcutters to shoot is hard to do these days, all I've shot are FMJs, mostly 158 grain. +Ps, which pattern great.

 

[Captain38]

And finding wadcutters to shoot is hard to do these days, all I've shot are FMJs, mostly 158 grain. +Ps, which pattern great.

A week ago AIM Surplus had S&B 148 grain wadcutters at $14.95 per 50 round box.

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