My five inch Combat Masterpiece

[badge70]

That's a solid looking revolver. I'd be proud to own one.

I saw a Model 14 in my local shop for $300 and it had the target hammer, trigger and grips. One small problem -- someone had whittled away the top of the grip! Apparently they wanted a "custom" fit for their thumb but - man it ruined it for me. Otherwise would have bought it right then and there.

 

[ljmvaw124]

I want a 5" Model 19, that would be a great revolver ! I have a 4" 19-2, but to have it in the 5" length would be even better. Same thing for the N frames, S&W really missed the boat on the 5" barrels.

 

[j38]

Very nice, ... congratulations! I missed that one, and others, I'm sure. I was dazzled by the number of unusual models for reasonable prices, and by the time I thought I should plunk down some cash and buy one - they were gone.

...and Russ is a class act. It was a pleasure to meet and chat with him.

Jerry

 

[H P Bushrod]

Here is one of 24 special ordered 5" Model 14-2 K-38's that shipped to American Wholesale Hardware in Long beach, CA in January of 1964. The Diamond Targets were already on it so I couldn't complain about the Magna's being missing. The seller had it priced as a used K-38 Masterpiece and I almost set my wallet on fire getting it out so fast. The box and contents all came with it and the label notes 5 in the barrel section.

I've got a 14-1 4 inch gun that has the same barrel profile as your 5 inch gun (heavy, not tapered). Thanks for sharing the pics of that historic firearm.

 

[CBA44]

A few years back I handled one of the 5" Combat Masterpiece's that had originally been an Illinois State Police duty weapon. I'm a sucker for the five inchers anyway, so needless to say I loved both the "look" as well as the balance. Thats when the quest for a five inch CM began.

I saw a few on GunBroker and other sites, but they were always either sold quickly or the prices were far more than I could rationalize paying.

Fast forward to this past weekend and the S&W Collectors Association Annual Meeting in nearby Boise. Well..nine hours IS "nearby" by Montana standards.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found this guy on Russ Lindenlaub's table. A short time later it was in a case aong with a period correct set of diamond magnas.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol started taking delivery of these five inch guns in 1953. The Illinois State Police also carried a very similar configuration with a heavier five inch barrel. The differences and history of these two similar models would take several pages to do them justice. The S&W Collectors Association Journal has THE definitive article on these two variations in the Spring 2011 issue. Authored by Russ Lindenlaub, Shawn McCarver and Roy Jinks.

I know this is far from a pristine LNIB example. But as a former Highway Patrolman ALL of my duty weapons took a beating as well. Simply the nature of the job.

The issued grips would have been diamond magnas, but the diamond Targets simply appeal to me and they WERE installed on many, many duty weapons instead of the issued magnas. I had them on my Duty revolvers so they are "right" for me.

FN in MT

Great find! Working guns should LOOK like they worked! If that could talk, huh?
I'd love to own that.
Stocks look great on it as well.

 

[DWFAN]

ISP 5 inchers

Two ISP guns. First one is from the first order the next is from the second order. Russ has provided me with some very good information and I was able to provide him with a copy of the original shipping documents for the first order with all the serial numbers. I'm sure Russ will correct me if I am wrong but I think there were about 100 overrun guns that went to distributors so there are a few out there.
DW