K38 Target Masterpiece

[deserttrans]

Picked this one up recently. From Approx 1953, with all matching numbers, target hammer, and custom box built by original owner. Came with a period Henshaw trigger shoe which I removed. I do not believe S&W started installing the target triggers until around 1955? I could sure be wrong on that date.
He said he shot it very little. This could be true because it is very tight and the grips show very little wear. $500

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Great five screw K-38. Great price, too.

 

[Reddog]

I would say you stole it! I have one from 1950 without a box and wouldn't take $500 for mine.
Dick

 

[t4halo]

Very cool. You can tell by the nice hand built box, the gun was loved

T4

 

[DCWilson]

Bargain! Congratulations.

 

[BigBill]

good buy congrats. I see these older k series hitting $900 at my LGS.

 

[cbjordan76]

Beautiful, wish some of those would pop up around me for that price range. Really like the custom box. Nice find.

 

[glowe]

Very nice pick up - I have bought a couple of tK38s from the early 50s for under $500 just a year or two ago with original Good boxes, but they seem to be still heading upward in selling price, so $1000 is probably going to be the new norm. BTW, you have a K38 Masterpiece, without the "Target" word. It also looks like yours is a heavy barrel. The heavy barrel was introduced in the early 50s to match the overall weight of the K22 for target shooters. I have never been a good enough shot to see how it made a difference, but it was certainly popular.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Why is it, that with so many K frame Masterpieces around, we all say "Ooh & Ahh" every time we see one? I'm no different! That is a beautiful K-38! Nice price as well. Did you try shooting it with the trigger shoe? I kind of like them.

 

[DWalt]

Trigger shoes were very popular among target shooters back during the day when competitive bullseye shooting was popular (and in fact was about the only competitive handgun sport around). Later on, wide target triggers became available from the factory, and the use of trigger shoes declined. I sort of like them on target guns (both rifles and handguns), others do not.

 

[deserttrans]

No I have not fired it yet. With or without the shoe. I really like the K frames. I needed this one to fill in the gap on the Mod 17 no dash, the 10-5, 5 inch barrel and the Mod 15.

 

[DWFAN]

I would put the shoe back on. The trigger is already marked from it. See if you can get a personal letter from the owner about when and where he bought it. Maybe he has the receipt hanging around.
DW

 

[deserttrans]

He mentioned the Henshaw shoe had been on it forever. It will always stay with the package as I purchased it.

 

[smitholdtimer]

deserttrans

Nice Revolver, great photos and nice one of a kind oak box thrown in for the very reasonable price of the revolver! Yep, its a keeper!

 

[Engine49guy]

Very nice satin blue "Heavy Masterpiece" ...
IIRC "Bright Blue" reappears in 1954 and is standard by 1955.