K38 Spl, five screw & patridge sight

[Engineer1911]

A friend has purchased a S&W K-38 Target Masterpiece five screw with full-size checkered grips with a diamond around the screw hole. The serial number is K160XXX on the frame, yoke, and cylinder.

We believe it is a pre-Model 14 because it has an adjustable rear sight and Patridge front sight. The chambers in the cylinder are numbered 1 thru 6 in front of the cylinder notches.

Is it a pre-14? Are the grips from a later K-frame gun? SCS&W indicates year of manufacture was 1952.

Thank you

 

[murphydog]

If it has a 6" barrel, it is a K-38 Masterpiece (the 4" would be a Combat Masterpiece). If the Target stocks do not have a cutout on the top of the left panel they are correct for that era, and even if original to the gun would probably not be numbered to the gun.

 

[DCWilson]

Numbering the charge holes was something done by serious target shooters so they could analyze their gun's performance to the finest degree. The cylinders did not come marked that way from the factory.