For those of you who opened this thread hoping to see a 22 3rd model SS Perfected target, my sincerest apologies 
Like many of you, I have always found the 38 Perfected model to be interesting. I finally got a hold of a nickel 38 Perfected some time ago, but I always keep my eyes and ears open for good S&Ws I always hoped I would find one without the thumbpiece cylinder release, with only the barrel latch release, which is a rare and sought after variation.
Anyways, while browsing online, I came across an ad for a 38 Perfected that had its original box. That's really neat, I thought. Not everyday you see a Perfected 38, let alone with the original box. As I looked over the ad, I said "OMG it has target sights!"
Despite the gun not being lettered, a friend of mine noticed that the box label was marked "TARGET". I missed it because the stamp had faded over the years.
The seller knew the gun was special, and after some consideration, I decided I had to have it. FWIW, its the only 38 Perfected target I have ever seen. I found a photo of 1 other 38 Perfected "target" online, but it didn't have a letter, so we don't know if it shipped with the adjustable rear sight or not. Since the auction was over, I was thus unable to verify its originality.
This particular gun has much of its original finish, and the grips match. The box is in respectable shape. This gun looks like it was hardly fired. I waited nervously for the letter to arrive, and when it did, I grinned like a butcher's dog! A quick google search turned up no search results for the surname of the original owner.
Enjoy!
The only significant wear is this spot on the bottom of the frame. No indications of a refinish, and no factory rework markings are present.
Getting the box for this was one was really special. "TARGET" is stamped on the lower left corner of the end label. After I got the revolver, I was surprised to see "TARGET" stamped on the bottom of the box as well.
I was ecstatic when the gun lettered needless to say. I at first thought finding info on the original owner due to the uncommon last name wouldn't be hard, but google has turned up nothing.
The Lyman ivory bead front sight was a nice touch for the revolver.
For those of you who never saw a target top break latch, here are close ups of this one. This target latch style was also found on the 22 SS 3rd model perfected pistol. Previous top break target latches were different.
When I opened up my SCSW4th (p.97) to read up on 38 Perfecteds, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book did mention the target variation for the model under the "Variations" heading. I cross checked this with the SCSW3rd and it didn't mention it either. Typically, when there is a target variation of a model, the SCSW says "target model worth premium" or "add 200% for target model" or something similar in the "Variations" section of the aforementioned model. I believe this omission to be because of how rare these 38 Perfecteds must be with target sights. The write up for the model itself does say that "...both service and target sights (scarce) were available".
Here is the gun with another scarce 38 S&W top break target revolver I have, a 38 DA 4th model which lettered as is. This 38 DA 4th target was part of the Gary Garbrecht collection.
Although I was happy that the grips matched, since the gun was a custom order, I was and still am a little surprised that the K-man (Kysofrulos) went with standard grips. Target grips or special order grips would have added to the gun, but I am pleased to have the original set.
I think the revolver looks great with these 2 screw hard rubber extension target stocks, even though the K man didn't opt for them.
Woops! A 1913 ship date probably means that the recessed gold medallion stocks found on 22/32 Bekeart revolvers would be more correct!
I love the look of this gun with red mottled grips, how about you?
And finally, pearl. Vintage blue S&Ws and factory pearl - whats not to love
Here are a few period ads for the Perfected model. I imagine since a standard 38 Perfected was $14 at that time, an adjustable rear sight and a Lyman ivory bead front sight would have added $3 or $4 to the cost of the gun.
For those of you who were really burnt that this thread was not about a 22 perfected single shot, here is a photo of the 38 perfected, with my 3rd model 22 Perfected SS. The 22 Perfected has the olympic chamber. I now have both of the Perfected targets 
As I get further into S&W collecting, my taste likewise increases for the rare and unusual...
Like many of you, I have always found the 38 Perfected model to be interesting. I finally got a hold of a nickel 38 Perfected some time ago, but I always keep my eyes and ears open for good S&Ws
I always hoped I would find one without the thumbpiece cylinder release, with only the barrel latch release, which is a rare and sought after variation. Anyways, while browsing online, I came across an ad for a 38 Perfected that had its original box. That's really neat, I thought. Not everyday you see a Perfected 38, let alone with the original box. As I looked over the ad, I said "OMG it has target sights!"
Despite the gun not being lettered, a friend of mine noticed that the box label was marked "TARGET". I missed it because the stamp had faded over the years. The seller knew the gun was special, and after some consideration, I decided I had to have it. FWIW, its the only 38 Perfected target I have ever seen. I found a photo of 1 other 38 Perfected "target" online, but it didn't have a letter, so we don't know if it shipped with the adjustable rear sight or not. Since the auction was over, I was thus unable to verify its originality.
This particular gun has much of its original finish, and the grips match. The box is in respectable shape. This gun looks like it was hardly fired. I waited nervously for the letter to arrive, and when it did, I grinned like a butcher's dog! A quick google search turned up no search results for the surname of the original owner.
Enjoy!
The only significant wear is this spot on the bottom of the frame. No indications of a refinish, and no factory rework markings are present.
Getting the box for this was one was really special. "TARGET" is stamped on the lower left corner of the end label. After I got the revolver, I was surprised to see "TARGET" stamped on the bottom of the box as well.
I was ecstatic when the gun lettered needless to say. I at first thought finding info on the original owner due to the uncommon last name wouldn't be hard, but google has turned up nothing.
The Lyman ivory bead front sight was a nice touch for the revolver.
For those of you who never saw a target top break latch, here are close ups of this one. This target latch style was also found on the 22 SS 3rd model perfected pistol. Previous top break target latches were different.
When I opened up my SCSW4th (p.97) to read up on 38 Perfecteds, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book did mention the target variation for the model under the "Variations" heading. I cross checked this with the SCSW3rd and it didn't mention it either. Typically, when there is a target variation of a model, the SCSW says "target model worth premium" or "add 200% for target model" or something similar in the "Variations" section of the aforementioned model. I believe this omission to be because of how rare these 38 Perfecteds must be with target sights. The write up for the model itself does say that "...both service and target sights (scarce) were available".
Here is the gun with another scarce 38 S&W top break target revolver I have, a 38 DA 4th model which lettered as is. This 38 DA 4th target was part of the Gary Garbrecht collection.
Although I was happy that the grips matched, since the gun was a custom order, I was and still am a little surprised that the K-man (Kysofrulos) went with standard grips. Target grips or special order grips would have added to the gun, but I am pleased to have the original set.
I think the revolver looks great with these 2 screw hard rubber extension target stocks, even though the K man didn't opt for them.
Woops! A 1913 ship date probably means that the recessed gold medallion stocks found on 22/32 Bekeart revolvers would be more correct!
I love the look of this gun with red mottled grips, how about you?
And finally, pearl. Vintage blue S&Ws and factory pearl - whats not to love
Here are a few period ads for the Perfected model. I imagine since a standard 38 Perfected was $14 at that time, an adjustable rear sight and a Lyman ivory bead front sight would have added $3 or $4 to the cost of the gun.
For those of you who were really burnt that this thread was not about a 22 perfected single shot,
here is a photo of the 38 perfected, with my 3rd model 22 Perfected SS. The 22 Perfected has the olympic chamber. I now have both of the Perfected targets
As I get further into S&W collecting, my taste likewise increases for the rare and unusual...
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