K38 Masterpiece? B serial number

[oregon1945]

I have a K38 Masterpiece (I think) serial number under barrel is B60854 and on the left side of the barrel it says " 38 S & W Special" then underneath "US Service CTG's" On the right side of the frame is the S&W logo with Trade above and Mark below, but no patent numbers, they seem to be on the barrel under the custom front sight that was installed at a later date. Three screws on right side, two on left. Can anyone give me an educated guess as to age or directions to someone who could date and value it? Shoots like a champ.

 

[DBWesson]

Oregon:
What do you mean when you talk about two screws on the left.
What is the number on the butt?
"U.S. Service CTG's" sounds like a 1899 or 1902.
Are you sure it is even a Smith & Wesson and not Spanish copy?
DBWesson

 

[gjamison]

sounds like a .38 M&P 2nd Model (Model of 1902). need the
number off the butt and some pictures.....

 

[oregon1945]

Oops, sorry, they are not screws on the left side, just some small "pins". It has customer grips so I will have to figure out how to get them off. How could I tell if it was not US made? The US patent numbers are on the top of the barrel.

 

[oregon1945]

Number on butt is 60854

 

[hsguy]

Number on butt is 60854

Welcome to the forum. 60854 is the serial number, the number under the barrel is also the serial and "B" preceeding it indicates it was built as a blued gun and is not part of the serial. You should also find the serial on the rear of the cylinder, the inside of the extractor star and possibly on the inside of the right grip if it is original. The serial is also on the rear of the yoke visible through the chambers but hard to see.

 

[linde]

Oregon1945,

Welcome to the Forum . . . it's a great place to meet and learn from very knowledgeable S&W folks.

The serial number 60854 would make it a Model 1902 1st change made in the 1903-1904 timeframe. The B letter with the serial number on the barrel flat simply means that it is a blued finish (as opposed to nickel).

If you're able to post pictures, it will be very helpful to those here who are very knowledgeable on the 1902-1st.

Russ

edit to add: Your S&W would be a "38 Military & Police" and should have fixed sights. The "K38 Masterpiece" was introduced after WWII and will have a 6" barrel with target sights.

 

[oregon1945]

Here are some pictures of the pistol. The original grips are included. You are all being very helpful, the serial number(s) are exactly where you said they would be on the cylinder, etc. though on the grips they are quite jumbled.

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum!!!

The front sight looks to be an after market addition. Are there any manufacturer markings on the ramp?

Very nice looking gun though.

 

[mikepriwer]

The gun is probably a very early Model of 1905 . It looks to have a
square butt, and there are no square-butt 1902's . Probably shipped
in late 1904 or 1905 . I assume that there is no screw in the front of
the trigger guard ? And there should be 4 screws on the sideplate -
with one being under the grips ?

Its been refinished, and then the barrel has been modified with the
addition of that front sight. Those older grips are not original to that
gun; they are either from the 1930's, or post WW2 .

Are you, or this gun, in a gun shop ? I ask because you referred to
customer grips. Is someone wanting to sell this gun ?

Mike Priwer

 

[hsguy]

Thanks for the photos, looks like the barrel may have been shortened. The gun has target sights and if you take them off they should be numbered to the gun on the bottom of the sights if they are original. If you do remove them be very careful, you must have a proper sized screwdiver and the screws can be easily broken as they are very small in diameter.