K Frame Hand Ejector Model?

[ccf9881]

Wondering if someone knows the model of this K frame?
K frame, 5 screw, prewar adj. rear sight, S&W 38 spl. with 6 " barrel. Serial # K 46023 on butt and barrel. Note red insert on front sight otherwise maybe 1902 1st change? Only assembly #'s on yoke.

 

[delcrossv]

Looks like a postwar K38 to me. 4 line address and ejector knob are giveaways. Say 1950's? IIRC, There's no letter designation on prewar HE serial numbers.

 

[Absalom]

Wondering if someone knows the model of this K frame?
K frame, 5 screw, prewar adj. rear sight, S&W 38 spl. with 6 " barrel. Serial # K 46023 on butt and barrel. Note red insert on front sight otherwise maybe 1902 1st change? Only assembly #'s on yoke.

Much later than a Model 1902. Off the top of my head, that should be a K-38 Masterpiece from the late 1940s. Someone else will have it more precisely, I’m sure

 

[Marylander]

Hmmm...my S/N list has K 46,023 in circa 1948 slot....

and from SCSW,
Serial number range 20976 to 33803, with 12,827 manufactured circa 1902-1903.

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (Kindle Locations 5159-5160). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.

Readily admit I am no Historian...therefore info may be way out in left field.... There are lots of real knowledgable folks here...
R

 

[daddio202]

The serial number points to a 1948 date. Definitely a K 38 masterpiece with early narrow rib. The finish looks like it has seen some time on the range and the grips are very nice but not original having football cut out. Looks to me like a very fine gun to enjoy shooting. I am sure more will be along to verify and give even more detail and a shipping month within the year. Take that puppy to the nearest range and let it do what it does best-- eat out holes in the bullseye ring!!

 

[Absalom]

Hmmm...my S/N list has K 46,023 in circa 1948 slot....

and from SCSW,
Serial number range 20976 to 33803, with 12,827 manufactured circa 1902-1903

...therefore info may be way out in left field....

Prefixes!

Prefixes are your friend, but not minding them will indeed leave you way out in left field

The K here has nothing to do with K-frame, it’s a prefix.

 

[handejector]

The K here has nothing to do with K-frame, it’s a prefix.

Actually............
The K ONLY appears as a prefix on K frame Target models.


You have a neat K-38 Masterpiece from 1948 most likely. The Red Ramp and White Outline are very uncommon on K-38s, and I am not sure they were available that early. Pull the grips and show us any marks on the left side of the grip frame, please.
The grips appear to be Goncalo Alves, and judging by the blocky shape (no offense), they are from the late 60s.

 

[Art Doc]

Why do you think it has a pre-war sight? Looks like a 1948-1949 K38 Masterpiece to me. Must have been badly neglected to leave the bluing in that condition. Stocks are 1957 or so to 1967.

 

[daddio202]

Somebody may have changed rear sight leaf to a white outline or the original got bent or broken then was replaced. The front sight may be original but seems the gun is too early for the white outline rear. Am I correct in making this statement? I do not see white outline on guns from the 40's.

 

[ccf9881]

Posted picture of left side frame. I thought pre war because rear sight is adjustable horizontal only.

 

[daddio202]

Posted picture of left side frame. I thought pre war because rear sight is adjustable horizontal only.

That is very strange! The screw on top should make it adjust up and down. Maybe it is stripped out or a previous owner did something else to make it not work. Both pre war and poet war S&W rear sights have the ability to adjust vertically just a different mechanism to make it happen.

 

[ccf9881]

One screw on the side horizontal only but the white outline suggest post war.

 

[daddio202]

Pre war rear sights look completly different. Your gun and the sights are all post war. The white outline leaf is probably from 70's or 80's onto today. My picture shows a pre war adjustable rear sight

 

[steelslaver]

Posted picture of left side frame. I thought pre war because rear sight is adjustable horizontal only.

There are 2 screws on the top. A small one toward the barrel and a larger one above the rear of the cylinder, correct? The front screw holds the long arm of the sight firmly in a slot in the frame. The long arm is actually a spring with a slight curve. The rear screw head is actually attached to a hollow tube, with female threads, that passes through the sight body and engages a stud with a square base. The square base sits in a slot in the frame so it can move forward and back slightly. The screw head has a very small hole in its side. That hole has a tiny spring and plunger. The hole in the sight body isn't round, but a bit of a hexagon. When the screw head is pressed into the hole, with the spring and plunger compressed the plunge will then pop out a tiny bit and click and hold in each corner of the hole. On the bottom of the screw tube there is a shallow groove and a snap rig pops on itt and holds the screw from coming out of the sight assembly when removed from the frame. When assembled in the gun with front screw tight and rear screw post in its slot. the rear elevation screw will pull the sight down when tightened or allow sight to rise by spring tension of long arm when loosened. The tiny plunger is for holding it from turning on its own/

If you elevation screw (the larger headed rear screw on top of sight) will not turn and allow the sight to raise via spring action of the long arm, either the screw is jammed tight, cross threaded or rusted in place. Or possibly the small spring and plunder and screw head are either rusted or gooed up to the point that it will not turn.

It was designed and should be able to be adjusted for elevation.