K-38 Target Masterpiece (Pre-14)

[BC38]

Looked at this one yesterday. Seemed good mechanically. Pretty finish worn, and a pair of Mustang finger-grip stocks instead of the factory stocks.

My cost with taxes and transfer would be right around $510. What do you guys think? Seems a little high for the condition to me.

They had another with about 90% finish and original stocks, and the out the door price would be just over $690. Still shooter grade though, and not enough nicer the be worth the difference, at least not to me.

 

[HeloMt]

It does have more wear and tear than most I've seen lately. But the nicer ones do command more money. If you are just looking for a good shooter grade revolver, you found it. As to whether or not it's worth it, just stroll down the gun case and see what Tupperware semi-autos are selling for. Hold both your hand and see which one says "value" to you. $510.00 for the quality of a pre-model K-38 is a fair price, even though the finish is a bit challenged. (I would loose those grip though!)

 

[bigmoose]

I can't add much more as HeloMt pretty much nailed it.. I do notice though, that one of the side plate screws is in the wrong hole. So someone has been into the revolver, and at least from this indication, did not reassemble it as a pro would. So perform a good mechanical check before you decide to purchase it.

 

[Goony]

My bias is oriented towards originality. Disregarding the question whether a K-38 Target Masterpiece in 90% condition is "worth" almost $700, unless the difference was really extreme and unaffordable, I'd always take the gun with a bit more finish plus the correct factory stocks. You can always put any grips you prefer on it for the purpose of shooting it. On the other hand you'll never be able to make the other "right" again. But it's your money and choice.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Tried to have a wigeon mounted years back. Blew his rump off with a full choke, be he was really mature. Never had shot a nice drake before.

Called my taxidermist about a mount and alligator bite.

He told me "where there's one wigeon, there's usually more. Another will come along." Another came and he is on the wall.

Clean bore, tight gun, timing right, and proper ammo may cost a wee bit more, I sent back a Kansas City that looked pretty bad. I have found that buying one just so you can have one isn't my cup of tea.

 

[Forefinger]

I tend to avoid buying vintage firearms where i have to make excuses or do alot of explaining. Find a better one and spend more money, so you don't regret it later. Cry only once.

 

[BC38]

I tend to avoid buying vintage firearms where i have to make excuses or do alot of explaining. Find a better one and spend more money, so you don't regret it later. Cry only once.

LOL, yeah, my "excuse" is NO SAFE QUEENS.
I buy shooters. I'd rather have two finish challenged shooters for $400 apiece rather than one $800 near pristine safe queen.
But that's just me.

 

[sigp220.45]

$510? Oh hell yeah. Grips are an easy fix. No safe queens in my safe, either. They have to earn their keep.

 

[Valmet]

I tend to avoid buying vintage firearms where i have to make excuses or do alot of explaining. Find a better one and spend more money, so you don't regret it later. Cry only once.

This x100 ^^^^^

 

[series guy]

For me $510 for a target sighted K frame is a no brainer. Ratty Model 10s bring that.

 

[jimmyj]

S&W K-38

You did Ok.
Love the grips.

 

[ncairman]

For what I have been seeing lately, for a shooter I would be glad to find one at that price. I am a shooter as well, safe queens are out of my budget.

 

[H Richard]

I would try those grips before tossing them out. Kind of look like they might fit pretty well in your hand. Never can tell.

 

[Targets Guy]

If it is sound I think you'd enjoy the purchase.


I bought this one on-line in 2013 and paid $677. It shipped Nov 1951





Shoots just fine

 

[glowe]

I bought this one for $550 a 3 years ago and will never find one today for that price. I believe it would sell for $880 today. If your out the door price is $510, the price must have been well below $500 which is very good. THe Masterpiece line is one of the best models S&W ever made and if finish is the only thing negative it will shoot forever!!

 

[Retired W4]

I can't add much more as HeloMt pretty much nailed it.. I do notice though, that one of the side plate screws is in the wrong hole. So someone has been into the revolver, and at least from this indication, did not reassemble it as a pro would. So perform a good mechanical check before you decide to purchase it.

I bought a 4" 57 a while ago with the side plate screws in the wrong place. When I took it apart the hammer block safety was missing. If they didn't know how to angle the gun to get the side plate on WITH the hammer safety they did not know where the screws go. Beware.

 

[Goony]

Grips are an easy fix.

Well. they are & they aren't. I've certainly bought guns sans their original stocks, provided I know I have a correct vintage set I can fit up (particularly if the model in question came or could've come with factory target stocks). But for me to go down that road, the gun has to be either a tough one to find, or really priced right (like the 1st Model K-22 Outdoorsman I recently posted here, which was both).

I don't disparage those who prefer only guns that are NIB, wanting to conserve rather than shoot them. Preservation is a legitimate pursuit. I also get it that guns are after all meant to be used & that maybe it's better to acquire ones that aren't so nice so as to discourage that. There's room in this hobby for both points of view, & I've tried to be flexible enough to have gotten guns in each category for those differing purposes. But I totally agree with the sentiment expressed above that on the whole I don't want to be buying guns for which I have to make excuses. While every individual has a minimum standard as relates to what they acquire (& in some cases that may be nothing more than functionality), for me a certain degree of honest use & wear is fine, but I avoid really abused, thrashed, heavily worn, badly refinished, or amateurishly altered guns unless there is some really compelling or overriding historical consideration.

 

[Green Frog]

While there is a lot of blue wear and those grips qualify as just plain ugly, what you're left with is a fairly undamaged early K-38. Assuming the action is tight, the bore is good, and the cylinder comes up as it should when cycled through, it should make a good shooter if that's what you want. Does the shop have a gunsmith on site or on call to pop the side plate and make sure nothing "hinky" has happened inside? If so, you could satisfy that concern right away. As little as ten years ago I would have run from that gun at that price, but prices are what they are, and that's inflated! If you want one at ten year ago prices, you should have bought it ten years ago. I wouldn't hesitate to try a little bargaining, but if you want a K-38 to shoot, you probably won't do a lot better any time soon. jMHO and probably worth exactly what you paid for it.

Froggie

 

[HeloMt]

Okay, with all this sage advice...I want to know what the OP's decision is. Purchase or not?

 

[BC38]

Okay, with all this sage advice...I want to know what the OP's decision is. Purchase or not?

LOL, tomorrow will be my first time opportunity to return to the shop. I don't even know if it will still be there, but if it is, I'll be taking another long hard look, and if I don't find anything worse wrong with it, I'll probably buy it.
So I should have a definite answer for you by this time tomorrow - stay tuned...