K38 grips numbered?
- Thread starter sfal7418
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Target stocks were seldom numbered to the gun. They didn't need to be since they were not hand fitted to the frame.
Agree with Sceva. K99831 puts it in 1950. Do the target stocks have a football cutout?
Not seeing the pic you mentioned...
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This one with a 6" barrel is a K-38 Masterpiece. The same basic gun with the tapered 4" barrel is the .38 Combat Masterpiece.
From the end of WW II until about 1955 all S & W revolvers except the .357 Magnum had a matte blue finish, except on special order, so this one looks correct.
It is possible (but unlikely) the Target stocks were original to the gun. If they do not have a dished area at the top of the left panel that style was first made in 1950. Only a letter of authenticity from the SWHF would tell you for certain.
From the end of WW II until about 1955 all S & W revolvers except the .357 Magnum had a matte blue finish, except on special order, so this one looks correct.
It is possible (but unlikely) the Target stocks were original to the gun. If they do not have a dished area at the top of the left panel that style was first made in 1950. Only a letter of authenticity from the SWHF would tell you for certain.
I show a few in the K99000 range and they shipped in December, 1950 and January, 1951. So yours is certainly not too early to have been shipped with target stocks. As others have noted, they would be non-relieved. The only way to know if yours shipped with target stocks would be to purchase a letter for the revolver. Even then, you cannot be certain the stocks on it now are original, since target stocks for the K-38 were not numbered to the gun. But if the letter confirms targets and yours do not have the extractor relief, your chances are good.
Can someone confirm when the K Targets with no relief were made? I've seen different dates posted online. The SCSW just says "used early 50's", but no specific years. Example below (acquired thanks to the Classifieds here). I was not able to correct the color balance in the pics. The grips are a chocolate brown color in neutral light. TIA!
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Pete I believe the wood is goncalo alves which, IIRC, S&W began using around 1955. I have some similar except for the football cutout that came on my 1959 Model 16.
Guy: I have a later version which is definitely Goncalo Alves, and one I am not sure of. (first pic side-by-side with the above grips). From the more open grain on yours, I would have guessed Rosewood, but I don't have many samples.
The pics below are on a fabric which is close to neutral grey.
First pic is the grips I asked about above, and a Goncalo Alves set from late 50's~early 60's).
Second pic is same grips and darker walnut N magnas from ~1960, s/n 203xxx. None of the grips are as nice and shiny as the ones in your pic. More satin than glossy, but I believe original finish.
3rd pic is all three sets, walnut magnas in the middle.
The pics below are on a fabric which is close to neutral grey.
First pic is the grips I asked about above, and a Goncalo Alves set from late 50's~early 60's).
Second pic is same grips and darker walnut N magnas from ~1960, s/n 203xxx. None of the grips are as nice and shiny as the ones in your pic. More satin than glossy, but I believe original finish.
3rd pic is all three sets, walnut magnas in the middle.
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handejector
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Are they diamond relieved or unrelieved? As mentioned, targets were no doubt not numbered.
If they are unrelieved, they may well be walnut and beautiful
handejector
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They are walnut.
Pretty sure these are walnut targets on this 1954 K-38, they lettered as such, but I acquired used.
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