need some help - vintage K 38 nomenclature and date UPDATE July 16 see last post!!!

[cmansguns]

Hello Forum, I am way out of town and away from all my gun stuff for a week but wouldn't you know it...a chance stop in a off the path small town pawn shop to check on a guitar in the window and dang there is a K 38 6" blue 3T's sitting in the case at a decent price. I took some pics, some cash got me a hold on it till Monday, the guy will honor my C&R, no tax, no 4473....just out the door. It has been there a long while and I think negotiable a little further.

I told him it is definitely C&R as there is no model number in the yoke and S & W started model numbers in 1957, so clearly earlier than that. He is OK with that for C&R transfer but I'd like to know more from you folks that have your 5th edition of SCSW close at hand. The serial number is K 92692, numbers match on cylinder and barrel flat. Will pull grips to check butt but assume match. Big wide checkered target hammer, serrated trigger, diamond checkered walnut grips, square notch adjustable rear, Patridge ramp front. 6" barrel, bluing loss on high spots and both sides of barrel towards muzzle. Action locks up tight, no end play, no push-off, bore is crisp and shiny.

Questions: I'm guessing 1951 shipment, maybe earlier, would one of you with SCSW close-by just let me know what it shows for that serial number assignment year?

More questions are about the correct nomenclature and accessories. Would this be known as a K 38 Masterpiece as the K 22 Masterpiece of the post WWII times are known? I believe they were sold in those days as very close in weight for target shooters. What is the correct box? I have a blue/silver two piece but it is Bangor Punta and labeled for a Model 14 so not period correct. What tools would a K 38 have shipped with? What would be the proper dated instruction manual or parts list?

Thanks in advance for your help with this gun. I'm pretty much a sucker for these old diamond grip wheel guns and I will probably take a flyer on this one on Monday when the guy opens again, but would appreciate any further id help I can get.

Cell phone pics below

 

[Truckman]

Oooh!...Unrelieved targets!...If original to the gun, wouldn't that put it closer to 1954?...Just guessing, I'll look it up later......Ben

 

[Wiregrassguy]

From the K frame database, I'm seeing serials around that shipping mid-1950. It was called the K-38 Masterpiece and shipped in a gold box with a black 8 or 9 row knurled SAT, cleaning tools and paperwork. The non-relieved targets were not standard and likely were made later. Would have shipped with sharp-shouldered magnas, probably.

 

[JP@AK]

Yes. It is a K-38 Masterpiece, but at that time it would have been called a K-38 Heavy Masterpiece because of the barrel profile. It probably shipped late in the year 1950. K93203 is also K-38 Heavy Masterpiece, probably from the same production run as the one you found.

The target hammer is probably original, since they became available in 1950. The same is true of the non-relieved target stocks.

Your Bangor Punta box is much later, not earlier than 1965. The revolver you are looking at would have shipped with a gold box, a Helpful Hints brochure, cleaning tools and a Sight Adjustment Tool (small screwdriver).

The unit looks good. I'd be a buyer if I were you.

 

[glowe]

Almost certainly a 1950 ship year. The Heavy Masterpiece was introduced in in 1949 -K76XXX sn range, but narrow rib barrels were shipped all the way into 1953 - K157XXX sn range. Your revolver does have a heavy barrel that matches the weight of the K 22 Masterpiece revolver. Target hammer and stocks that were first introduced in January 1950. I have no notes on when the target trigger was introduced, but your gun does not have the third "T".

 

[Goony]

If it were to letter as having been shipped with those target stocks, that would make it pretty special.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Nice find.

 

[cmansguns]

UPDATE Jul 16, 2025,

Well went back last Monday morning, looked it over again, still looked righteous and I had "cheated" somewhat, knowing I was going to buy I asked over on the SWHF for a ship date and Mike Helms came back with September 1950...right smack on the money. Travelling back home but got to pull the grips and take some more pics and found some neat stuff.

It is clearly a K 38 Heavy Masterpiece although there is only scant info in SCSW 5th, about a "Heavy" version. I did find the unrelieved Target stocks and the deep checkered wide spur hammer to be factory options for the year 1951, so am doubtful my gun which shipped in 1950 had the traget stocks originally, but it could have shipped with the hammer as this was available. My source?? An old (very old) gun mag from 1951 showing and describing the K 38 Heavy Masterpiece ($71.00 retail)!

So definitely a K38 Heavy Masterpiece, with square butt, factory target stocks, 6" pinned barrel, all numbers matching, square notch adjustable rear, Patridge front, serrated trigger, wide spur hammer, narrow rib....September 1950 nice gun.

Some pictures show the infallible proof that the target stocks did not ship with the gun, but someone put them on years ago...long ago enough for tow "tracks" of marks to appear on the frame...one "row" of tracks exactly resembles sharp shoulder Magna's, the other depicts the exact placement of the current Target grips.

The action is really great with a crisp, steady trigger pull in DA, and a real decent slight squeeze crisp let-off in SA. Of course that's dry firing and lead nose ammo is banned at the indoor range I frequent so I'll have to check stash for some jacketed or semi jacketed rounds and get her out for some exercise soonest possible.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Can we call a heavy Masterpiece to have a narrow rib, though?

 

[1Celticfozzie]

I just picked almost the same gun last week. Except mine has the cut out in the grip and was made in 1958. $550 OTD and happy to pay it. Zero play and a sweet trigger. I was smiling when I left

 

[1Celticfozzie]

If I am not mistaken, it was pretty common that dealers had target stocks on hand and would swap them out for customers. Possible that is what happened in your case.

 

[glowe]

S&W target stocks were sold in blister packs at almost all hardware stores shortly after they were released. No hand-fitting required with these stocks. I have only read references to targets being numbered, but never seen in person.

I do not know exactly what the question is above, but you do not call a narrow rib K38 a Heavy barrel Masterpiece. Not only is the rib wider, but the barrel has a larger diameter. They did not have their own gold box, but rather a glue-on label.



Let me add that company flyers also listed both types in the early 1950s.

 

[kscharlie]

Comparison of K-38 tapered barrel/rib, 1949, to K-38 Heavy barrel, 1950.

 

[JP@AK]

The rib on the K-38 is narrower than the one on the post-1950 (or so) K-22, but broader than the one on the tapered barrel K-38 IIRC. I can pull all three out of the safe and check if you need me to.

 

[Green Frog]

What a great find! Were you somewhere in our home state when you found it? I’m guessing no since you had to pull your C&R card! Plenty of good shooting spots down in your area, so we should hear a range report soon, huh? Don’t you hate indoor ranges that spend a gazillion dollars on filtration systems then ban lead bullets though? Can you get by with powder coated or the copper “plated” ones like Berry’s Bullets sells?

My K38 is only two years older than yours and is as sweet shooting as the day it left Springfield. It, along with my K22 that was made the same year are both among my most treasured possessions. I only wish I could find (and afford) the matching K32 to complete the set. Oh well, “Our wants should exceed our grasp, otherwise what’s heaven for?”

Regards,
Froggie

 

[Jimmyjones]

Mine is K34264 book says 1948. Lots of honest wear.

 

[cmansguns]

OK......OK.... you guys are always correct, and I always learn something every time I get on this Forum. So now....I have revised my insurance write-up to note only 2 T's (the hammer and the grips), and deleted "narrow" rib and added "wide rib" on Heavy Barrel. Hope I now got it right as far as description goes. As far as collecting goes...I really bought this as a shooter and fun gun...it WILL git SHOT! Rounded up 2 boxes of Fiocchi 130 gr FMJ so the RSO at the local indoor range won't have a hizzy. I'm still allowed 38's 9mm's, and 22's but no more full house maggies (357 or 44), but I didn't mention to the doc that I took some 44 Special with me a couple weeks ago when the no 1 son touched of my 29-2 with full house maggies aboard. I switched out to the 44 Special and also had some fun with that gun, but really looking forward to the K 38 Heavy Masterpiece.....it just FEELS RIGHT whenheld and pointed!

I cannot see any signs that the trigger or action has ever been worked on yet the action (either SA or DA) feels so good you just wonder that the factory was THAT GOOD in 1950.....what the heck happened since. NOTHING like good old USA, American craftsmen...doing their thing day in and day out.

@ Froggie....It was in Virginia....but way to heck and gone and like I said didn't even look like he had guns...just guitars and gold and I don't need gold but did like the looks of a classic guitar in the window. The flashing my 03 C&R gets me listed as a "business" and a "dealer" with these people. (I have the same arrangement with 3 other pawn shops). What it saves me is background check, no Form 4473 required, all the pawn shops I deal with back out any sales tax so once a OTD price has been negotiated...I hand over the cash (Bennies, Franklins or combo thereof)...and I am out of there. I usually ask for a "genuine XYZ (the name of the Pawn Shop) soft side carrying case" and when they look at me all funny like I say "AKA brown paper bag". Most of the time they will give me a Allen cheapo gun rug or a plastic bag.. but these guys are way over in the woods and we got to talking real, genuine barbeque and I love to sample local and these guys knew just the place so he said here put that gun in this thing...I don't know what it is, or who made it, but it would be a shame for you to get genuine barbeque sauce all over that gun.

Below pic shows whatever it is.....your guess is as good as mine. Never saw one before.

Money wise lets just say that I paid a lot more than the $71.00 MSRP in 1950, about 6 times, but I just saw another K38 Heavy Masterpiece this morning with cracked Magna stocks and the guy wants $900 and he seems to be firm. I was only searching for some FMJ ammo but I did mention to him good luck with the busted stocks. He said these things are marketing around $1,200 to $1,400. Really? Maybe on GB but not around my house.

 

[cmansguns]

Sheesh.................forgot the pics of the strange gun rug. Below for your viewing pleasure.

 

[desi2358]

I have a couple gun rugs like that one. Bought several of them from a vendor when we were doing gun shows in Virginia a few years ago. Don't know who made them but they came in a couple different sizes, would hold a variety of different handguns.