K38 Combat Masterpiece

[Breakaway500]

I bought this about a year ago at a gun show. It was wearing a set of Hogue combat grips and was in a display case with other misc tidbits. The seller knew nothing about it other than it was a 38 special S&W. After some haggling and confirming he would accept my C&R license for purchase, I gave him $450.

The Hogues were comfortable but just made the revolver look...scruffy. I decided if I saw a nice set of target diamond grips for a K frame I'd swap them on. I purchased these from a fellow forum member CMYSIX (thank you!) recently and put them on this morning. Just enough wear on the grips to match the condition of the revolver. Serial # K155081 so I'm guessing late 40's or early 1950s build as it has the top side plate screw which was deleted in 1955.

A match made in heaven to my eyes.

 

[Truckman]

Very nice...I have a number of CM's but I'm especially covetous of those unrelieved target grips......Ben

 

[JP@AK]

Nice Combat Masterpiece and non-relieved target stocks. That's a gem on both counts.

I show two in the K155000 range. Both shipped in October, 1952.

 

[Old cop]

I carried one of these as an issued weapon in the early '70s. It was the Cadillac of their .38 line.

 

[JP@AK]

I'm guessing late 40's or early 1950s build as it has the top side plate screw which was deleted in 1955.

It was actually eliminated in 1956. Some early 1956 K frame revolvers still had 5 screws.

 

[murphydog]

.38 Combat Masterpiece. .38 Combat Masterpiece.

 

[Narragansett]

Very nice OP. Love the grips. I have non relieved set that came on a 1949 K38. Enjoy it!!!

 

[DevilDog72]

very nice revolver and the non relieved targets are the icing on the cake.

 

[DWalt]

.38 Combat Masterpiece. .38 Combat Masterpiece.

Translation - S&W cataloged CMs that way, they did not call them K-38 CMs. Same for .22 CMs.

 

[Breakaway500]

I called it a K38 Combat Masterpiece, as that's how the S&W Bible listed it as such. I'm only a simple mechanic by trade and only know enough about firearms to be dangerous.

 

[DWalt]

Reference sources are not always accurate. This is one of those instances. S&W catalogs, advertising and box labels used ".38 (or .22) Combat Masterpiece" for the 4" version. K-38 (or K-32 and K-22) were used in connection with "Masterpiece", the 6" target version.

 

[Inland7-45]

I have 2 Combat Masterpieces. A model 18-3 made in 1972 and an early model 67 made about the same time. One aquaintence of mine with a model 19 and another with an L frame both asked me why I did' nt get a .357 instead. The answer is that I have a model 27 6" that I shoot on occasion and really do like the gun. But I like the Combat Masterpiece more. With the right ammunition it is all the gun that I need. In my opinion nothing shoots as nice in DA mode as a slicked up K frame. Both my .22 and my .38 CM have smooth S&W target stocks that have been slightly reshaped with an egg shaped cross section toward the bottom of the grip. For DA shooting the guns point just right and feel good in my hand. They both hit were they look.

I have fired many model 10s and 15s and they all handled nice. But the adjustable sights on the CM are a nice feature. The CM has a nice style and whether in stainless or blue is a lot more appealing to a lot of us than the more modern stuff.

That early CM is a nice find. I have always wanted a late 40's or early 50's CM. I will keep looking.

 

[glowe]

I have posted this page from a 1952 catalog in a previous thread, but in the early 1950s there was no caliber associated with the name. They also called it the same in a period flyer. The name was simply Combat Masterpiece. It seems that the 22 caliber Combat Masterpiece was not originally intended for a full production model.

 

[JP@AK]

in the early 1950s there was no caliber associated with the name. They also called it the same in a period flyer. The name was simply Combat Masterpiece.

That is correct, Gary. I believe the caliber first started showing up on the boxes, for pretty obvious reasons.

 

[dpsmousegunner]

The Model 15 was my first Department issued handgun in 1972, and I carried for the next 15 or so years, when the Department went to the Sig. The CM was an accurate and reliable weapon, no complaints.

 

[Milleman]

K38CM

I bought this about a year ago at a gun show. It was wearing a set of Hogue combat grips and was in a display case with other misc tidbits. The seller knew nothing about it other than it was a 38 special S&W. After some haggling and confirming he would accept my C&R license for purchase, I gave him $450.

The Hogues were comfortable but just made the revolver look...scruffy. I decided if I saw a nice set of target diamond grips for a K frame I'd swap them on. I purchased these from a fellow forum member CMYSIX (thank you!) recently and put them on this morning. Just enough wear on the grips to match the condition of the revolver. Serial # K155081 so I'm guessing late 40's or early 1950s build as it has the top side plate screw which was deleted in 1955.

A match made in heaven to my eyes.

These are very nice specimens from S&W. I only owned one of those. I won it in a PPC match at Camp Adair, Oregon in July 1978. They were awarded to all those who won first place in their respective class. I was a sharpshooter coming out of Calif., but since this was my first Oregon match, they put me in as Unclassified. I won the category with a high Sharpshooter score and felt a bit guilty, but not that guilty. I traded it years later for something more expensive and now wish I still had it.

 

[DWalt]

For awhile, it was also the official sidearm of the USAF.

 

[Breakaway500]

For awhile, it was also the official sidearm of the USAF.

This is the revolver that started my S&W passion. My Dad carried it in Vietnam. Dad turns 86 in two days.

 

[Engine49guy]

The Combat Masterpiece is one of my favorites,

For those interested in its evolution here is a link that details its changes through the years.
Scroll down to post 26 to start the tour

Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

 

[Retired W4]

This is the revolver that started my S&W passion. My Dad carried it in Vietnam. Dad turns 86 in two days.

Happy birthday to your Dad. That picture of him shows he was a little older in VN than I was (21). Tell him Welcome Home from me.

Tom
RVN 69-70.