K38 Combat Masterpiece

[Masterbuck54]

I picked this one up today.

Serial K2006XX so I'm assuming 1953 ship date?

Has been holstered and used.

Target hammer but not trigger.

Stocks were pulled off and I placed a set I had close by on it for second set of photos.

I'm sure I have a set of period dia. magnas laying around that would be more fitting.

Will try and give it a good cleaning tomorrow.

Masterbuck54

 

[Bobby B.]

Character is what I see. I like it.

 

[sigp220.45]

Very nice - the smooth targets are a big improvement over those Jay Scott plastic stags.

The 4" blued Model 15 is the best looking revolver ever made.

 

[Targets Guy]

That's a good bet. K2017xx shipped 1/54.

 

[CapnB]

Nice find, Masterbuck, but be very careful. Like all S&W's, they have a tendency to multiply. Seriously, if you haven't owned one before, I predict it will become a favorite shooter in short order.
Good shootin',
Doug

 

[lamarw]

I have one of 1952 vintage, SN: K159800. It is well balanced revolver and a joy to shoot. Congrats on your new gun.

 

[Targets Guy]

Here is mine from 1957;shipped 12/57. The stocks match. Nice shooter.

 

[JSticks]

Pete, Nice K 38 Combat Masterpiece! I have a 1966 model 15-2, which is my favorite revolver! No too long ago I purchased a 1953 vintage K 38 Masterpiece (s/n K19018X), more recently named a Model 14. I learned from the members here, what you probably already know.

Smith & Wesson offered the target hammer as an option, but not the target trigger in those days. The bullseye shooters would opt for a target shoe.

1953 was the year that Smith & Wesson transitioned from the "high horn" Magnas to the more recent design.

Target stocks were offered as an option, checkered with diamonds and no relief cutout, "football" or "speed loader".

My K-38 came with Herritt bullseye target stocks. I replaced those with some age appropriate Magnas and a "Tyler's T-Grip"

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I have a 1954 model with the same features. It's the best-shooting handgun I have. First time out I put 5 out of 6 in the same hole. Would've been 6 for 6 but I was giggling like a fool.

 

[jeffrefrig]

CapnB, that 2nd one from the bottom is very nice; grabbed my eye right away. Nice guns, all 4.

 

[Waveski]

I've never seen a Combat Masterpiece or m.15 I didn't like.

Yours may have the stock hammer ...?

 

[LEO918]

I kinda' like the Combat Masterpiece myself...

 

[Masterbuck54]

New shoes

I finally had the time yesterday after a visit to the gun show to give this one a good cleaning.

It wasn't very dirty at all.

Per Mr. Jinks it was shipped May 1954...so a birth year gun but missed the correct month by 4...

Placed these Dia Targets that I just finished up on it and feels great!!

Now to make time to shoot it.

Masterbuck54

 

[Jersey Doug]

Target Trigger

Have converted a number of 15's to .32 S&W and Jet Mag. One did have a target hammer but not trigger. Thanks for that info.

 

[rwt1405]

Very nice, Congrats!

 

[butchkent]

Very nice CM! These early pre model number CM revolvers are so sexy and fun to shoot. Better than looks though is that every one I have shot are accurate and fast. Love them.

 

[VinnieL59]

Combat Masterpiece

One of those was my first duty gun. I still have it, and it shoots just as good as it did back then, actually even better since it now has a target trigger in it.

 

[reccpd101]

sig 220.45 Great looking Model 15. I don't recognize the medal on the dress blue behind it. The one that contains what appears to be a target as part of the medal. Can you help refresh my memory? I was a civilian DOD police officer assigned to work with the 2750th SP wing at Wright-Pat in 1978.

I carried Model 15-3 that I liked so much. I bought one when I that I carried as an Asheville, NC police officer. I still have it and give it a work out from time to time.

 

[sigp220.45]

sig 220.45 Great looking Model 15. I don't recognize the medal on the dress blue behind it. The one that contains what appears to be a target as part of the medal. Can you help refresh my memory? I was a civilian DOD police officer assigned to work with the 2750th SP wing at Wright-Pat in 1978.

I carried Model 15-3 that I liked so much. I bought one when I that I carried as an Asheville, NC police officer. I still have it and give it a work out from time to time.

Its the Excellence In Competition Rifleman medal. Nobody was sure where it went so I stuck it there and never got jumped about it. I had the pistol version in the bag, too, with my trusty Model 15, but on the last stage the Airman next to me shot my target by mistake. They subtracted 5 or 6 X-ring hits of mine and counted his lousy shots and I came up short. I got out before I had another chance at a leg match.

 

[BGM109]

Nothing quite like the Model 15 Pete. Got introduced to one in the AF so had to pick one up myself. I've got a 15-3 & its a tack driver. Tom