MSHP Combat Masterpiece K38 5"

[jsfricks]

I wanted to show off my latest purchase that I'm just tickled to death to be its current caretaker. This is 1 of 365 5" tapered barrel K38 Combat Masterpiece revolvers shipped to the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1952. This one went through Shapleigh Hardware Co and was issued to Trooper W. D. West 10/9/52. I purchased this from his son after a lot of price negotiations. It's all numbers matching except the grips, and is one of the few that stayed with the same officer since it was issued by the department and one of the few that has never been refinished. Lt. West was gifted the gun when he retired July of 1976. According to his son he was an excellent shot. He stated that behind the Highway Patrol weigh station where the troopers hung out when not on the road, they had a target range. One of his favorite past times was to trick one of the new troopers (or anyone else, for that matter) into a shooting contest which I'm told he always won. He also shot 45's and 22's competitively on his National Guard pistol team. It has alot of character from 24 years of holster carry. I want to thank a couple of forum members that were a ton of help on this one. The 5" barrel has such a nice balance and I can't wait to shoot this one!

 

[quinn]

That one is a keeper! Did you get a photo of the trooper to go with it?

 

[jsfricks]

That one is a keeper! Did you get a photo of the trooper to go with it?

Not at this time but I'm working on getting additional info and such.

 

[Joe Kent]

jsfricks, Linde is the man for any further questions you may have. He is a good friend and has a fair amount of info on Patrol guns. I also have one from the same bunch and they are a ball to shoot. Enjoy your new addition to your collection. All the best, Joe.

 

[VM]

Congrats on a neat and historical 5"er jsfricks!
I second J.K's suggestion to discussions with Russ - he is very knowledgeable and has shared lots of info in past on these duty guns.

 

[1blindref]

Fantastic gun and first hand history to go with it.

 

[da gimp]

I'm told that it is very bad luck to have a Mo. State HP pistol, if you aren't living in Missouri.... in the sole interest in keeping you from getting warts on your nose & toes & to prevent your favorite bird dog from chasing rabbits & field mice, I'm offering to take this potential jinx off your hands...........Congrats hand on picking up a nice one... back years ago I had one & let our family dentist talk me out of it.... he'd done that many favors for us over the years & it was the first handgun that he'd ever shot...The trooper I'd got it from sold it to me for $85.00, but it had Hogue grips on it.. he couldn't find the originals....If your pistol is as sweet as ours was... it will become your favorite .38 spec handgun, using lead wad-cutters over a mid range load of Unique...The action/trigger broke like glass............

 

[beagleye]

Dang Dude! That's a real cool package. And very nice pictures too.

 

[H Richard]

The 5" K 38 have a real "feeling" about them. I've got one of the 5" HB that the IL State Police had. Enjoy it these guns are few and far in between.

 

[da gimp]

they balance well in the hand............double or single action...

 

[JP@AK]

Great pics, Jeff! Thanks for sharing and congratulations.
As you know, I'm the proud owner of one that shipped the same day as yours in a shipment of 225 units. It is a wonderful revolver to own and to shoot.
Here's a picture:

 

[jsfricks]

Thanks, all, for the compliments. Russ has been a tremendous help in the acquisition of this revolver and I can't begin to thank him enough. Doug West said he would send me a picture of his dad in uniform wearing the gun and one of his patches from his uniform to go along with the package. I was searching the other day for maybe a badge to go along with it but it appears the MSHP never had badges?

 

[RKmesa]

What a Beauty!! Something just looks "right" with that in-between barrel length.

Congrats and thanks for sharing,

 

[da gimp]

our troopers all have badges.. but they are small & silver in color........ someone in the patrol hierarchy had the sense to realize that badges became aiming points for bad guys... long, long ago.

added.. my guess is that you will never own/possess a Mo. SHP badge, unless you become a trooper yourself... I know of none owned by a civilian..

added 2, besides the collar badge, troopers here also wear a small badge on their hats....

 

[RT7.62ammo]

I really am jealous nice revolver I am new to this Smith and Wesson forum I'm 59 and not very computer literate so please be kind I love Smith pistols I have several yours would make any collection I have some questions but don't know how to put them up but I really appreciate any y you could pass on to me I work for the last large bullet ammunition plant in the nation anyway thanks so much for any information you have time to share much appreciated 7.62

 

[iskra]

A beautiful, rare Smith. Yet mixed feelings. Sad that such a piece of family history and a connect with someone's dad would be sold off. Happy that it did go to someone who clearly covets it and is interested in acquiring further accoutrements and history.
Congrats on a really nice Smith!
My take

 

[Muss Muggins]

our troopers all have badges.. but they are small & silver in color........ someone in the patrol hierarchy had the sense to realize that badges became aiming points for bad guys... long, long ago.

added.. my guess is that you will never own/possess a Mo. SHP badge, unless you become a trooper yourself... I know of none owned by a civilian..

MSHP has worn just collar badges forever. I don't know the answer, but I'm fairly certain that it's been decades since MSHP wore an actual shirt badge. Trooper told me it's because the first thing ripped off a shirt in a fight is the badge.

 

[da gimp]

never had a badge ripped off in a fight... nor even one grabbed.... I cannot ever remember seeing a full sized badge on a trooper here, and I'm a certified Old Fart Club member.

 

[firemanhank]

That is a great gun with great provenance!! My kind of history there!

 

[jsfricks]

never had a badge ripped off in a fight... nor even one grabbed.... I cannot ever remember seeing a full sized badge on a trooper here, and I'm a certified Old Fart Club member.

From my research it seems that badges weren't worn on the outside jacket. It seems some may have had wallet badges, but one of their collar insignia had their badge number on them.