New to Forums - Need Help

[gary1944]

I am new to this forum, and new to all forums for that matter.
I need some direction as to which forum to be in if not this one.
I must confess that I am not well versed in guns.
I have several guns that I am trying to find the value of and I am unable to find them listed in the gun books.
I have 2 S&W 38 masterpieces with 5" barrels. Issued in 1949 to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
I also have 2 50 year commemorative S&W sets. (357 magnum and bowie knife) That I can not locate in the books.
Amy help or advice will be appreciated.

 

[NFrameFred]

You've found the right place. Dig into the FAQ's 'stickied' at the headers and find out how to post photos (it's pretty easy) and you'll have more help here when folks get a definitive look at what you have - lots of knowledgeable folks here.

Welcome to the S&W forum.

 

[wetdog]

Post some pictures and serial numbers. That will be a big help.
The 50 year commemorative sets look to be Model 19s, Texas Ranger.8,000 sets sold with the Bowie knife.

 

[JP@AK]

I have 2 S&W 38 masterpieces with 5" barrels. Issued in 1949 to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

First - welcome to the Forum!

A couple years back, there was an excellent article in the SWCA Journal about the Missouri State Highway Patrol 5" K-38 revolvers (actually they were Combat Masterpieces). It was written by Shawn McCarver, Russ Lindenlaub and Roy Jinks. According to the article, the barrels were forged as 6" barrels and then cut to the length specified by the special order.

I think you might be a bit early on your dates, though. According to to the article, these guns were first ordered in 1952. In any case, these Combat Masterpiece revolvers have a special place in the postwar history of S&W revolvers.

I'm sure Shawn and Russ will have a special interest in your two revolvers, if they are authentic MSHP guns.

Jack

Added: the Journal cited is Volume 45, Number 1, from the Spring of 2011.

 

[Delos]

My recommendation for quick start

If I were you:


At the top of this page click on FAQ (do not read it yet)
Then click on New Posts (you will see todays discussion posts)
Then click on Forum (you will see a list of all subjects (revolvers, semi- autos and such)
Then click on Expert commentary (good stuff)
Click on Pictures (more good stuff)
Click on User CP (your page)

Click on Search (upper right) (note - scroll to bottom - you can go to your Threads (you began) or your recent posts - last one first. You might soon begin there when you first log in, or you might begin reading New Posts. Or you might begin by clicking Forum and picking favorite gun or subject.

Okay now click on and read FAQ at upper left - it will now mean more now than if you read it first, then tried to remember it, before moving around the site.

Be brave and do a lot of clicking around.

 

[gary1944]

Thanks so much from all of you that replied.
I will add some pictures soon if that helps.
With regards to the 5" guns they are combat masterpieces. Some back ground 1 of the guns was issued to my father when he joined the MSHP after his discharge from the Navy after world Two. In joined in mid 1949 and served 35+ years. Some where around 25 years the MSHP changed weapons and offered the Officers the opportunity to buy them at the original cost. He bought his and another one that no one wanted.

Thanks again and more later

 

[gary1944]

The serial Numbers of the two 5" barrel guns are:
K157313
K157144

I tried to put some pictures on. Some one tell me if they came through

 

[JP@AK]

The serial Numbers of the two 5" barrel guns are:
K157313
K157144

Great! Both those numbers show up in the table of known MSHP revolvers. Here are the recorded shipping dates:

K157144 - October 3, 1952
K157313 - October 13, 1953

These are treasures, IMHO. If you plan to keep them, you should definitely get factory letters on both of them.
If you ever decide to sell them, I'm sure some Forum members would be interested, including this one!

I don't see any photos.

Jack

 

[gary1944]

Factory letters? How would I do that? Is there a special address?

Yes at some point I will sell them. I am up in years and don't have anyone to leave them too.

But first I want to know the value of them and I don't know where to look. I have access to Blue Book of Gun Values but I am unsure of what it is saying about them.

 

[JP@AK]

Factory letters? How would I do that? Is there a special address?

The form is available here on the S&W Forum. Go here to download it:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=17

Follow the instructions on the form. You can request up to three letters on each form, so you can get one for each of your MSHP revolvers at the same time. Each letter will cost you $50 and it will take 1-2 months to get a reply, depending on how busy Roy is. I've had them come back in as little as two weeks.

Regards,
Jack

 

[linde]

5" MSHP Combat Masterpiece

Gary,

I am one of the authors of the article that JP@AK referenced. I need to do feeding chores right now but will look up your two special ordered MSHP 5" CMs as soon as I get done and send you a private message with the details available.

Stand by,

Russ

Edit to add: In the meantime I'm sure everyone would enjoy seeing those pictures.

 

[P&R Fan]

Post some pictures and serial numbers. That will be a big help.
The 50 year commemorative sets look to be Model 19s, Texas Ranger.8,000 sets sold with the Bowie knife.

The Texas Ranger revolvers were actually 150 year commemoratives. They came out in 1973. I think what the OP is talking about is a M27 50th year commemorative. It came out in 1985.
Jim

 

[linde]

The Texas Ranger revolvers were actually 150 year commemoratives. They came out in 1973. I think what the OP is talking about is a M27 50th year commemorative. It came out in 1985.
Jim

Actually the MSHP Commemoratives were Model 66-1s with an S&W knife. They were purchased by the individual Troopers . . . i.e. not issued by the Patrol . . . in 1981 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Missouri Patrol which began in 1931.

Russ

 

[wetdog]

I misread the Texas Ranger dates. They are 150 year commemoratives
(1823-1973). 8,000 sets with Bowie knife, 1,950 sold with case only, 50 class A engraved with knife and case.
I have a 50th model 27(1985) and no knife is mentioned. Mine does not have one. Must be the 66-1s. Interesting info.

 

[JP@AK]

I am new to this forum

Gary.
In addition to all the good information that is available on the public side of this Forum, there is a ton of helpful information and many wonderful people to associate with in the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association. Among the benefits of membership is the SWCA Journal that I cited in an earlier post. These are valuable journals, published thrice yearly, with information in them not available anywhere else. Another benefit of SWCA membership is access to the non-public areas of this website.

My point is that if you are really interested in S&W revolvers and their history, you might consider becoming a member of this fine organization.

Regards,
Jack

 

[shawn mccarver]

The serial Numbers of the two 5" barrel guns are:
K157313
K157144

I tried to put some pictures on. Some one tell me if they came through

Sorry for the delay in seeing this thread. Russ may have already answered this, but I am sending you a PM with the history of your two revolvers, both of which are MSHP 5 inch Combat Masterpiece revolvers.

Shawn McCarver