Pre- Model 14

[Gordyf808]

Just won the auction on a 1957 vintage pre model 14 K-38
Thanks Dwalt for the help on the dating as it is C&R eligible.
The pictures look pretty good. Hope the piece proves as nice.
Pics as soon as I get it in hand.
If it is a nice as I think it will be, will be giving the 7" Blackhawk
to my son and the K-38 will be my go to target revolver.
Should have it in a week and a half. things go slow here in the provinces.
Aloha
Gordy

 

[JP@AK]

Just won the auction on a 1957 vintage pre model 14 K-38
Thanks Dwalt for the help on the dating as it is C&R eligible.
The pictures look pretty good. Hope the piece proves as nice.
Pics as soon as I get it in hand.
If it is a nice as I think it will be, will be giving the 7" Blackhawk
to my son and the K-38 will be my go to target revolver.
Should have it in a week and a half. things go slow here in the provinces.
Aloha
Gordy

The 4 screw K-38 Masterpiece revolvers are wonders to behold and shoot. Good job picking one up. Did you get the original box with it?
I look forward to seeing your pics!

I'm kind of a nut when it comes to the K-38. Here are some pictures of a few that live in my gun room. The first one shown is a 4 screw from November, 1956, so it is very similar to the one you just bought.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I also like the four screws a lot. Nice grab and well worth the wait.

 

[Gordyf808]

No box was mentioned, I guess we'll see.
That's quite a family you have there Jack.
Thanks guys
Now the wait
Aloha
Gordy

 

[Gordyf808]

Jack
Very similar to the first pic, the same for all intents , from the pictures. Maybe not quite as nice.
Tell me about the second one down. The old one, Diamond grips and medallion.I would have expected a taper barrel on that vintage. That one really has my attention.
Aloha
Gordy

 

[JP@AK]

Tell me about the second one down. The old one, Diamond grips and medallion. I would have expected a taper barrel on that vintage. That one really has my attention.

Hi Gordy
I'm glad you noticed, but it is not as exciting as it seems.
It is actually a Model 14-2 (hence the heavy barrel). The stocks date to the first half of the 1930s, so they really don't belong with this gun. At the time I took this picture, I was shooting that revolver a lot and I just liked the feel of those older stocks on it. I have since restored the original, period Magna stocks to the gun and the 1930s service stocks are back in storage.

I really am nuts about the K-38. This photo only shows a few of those that I'm hording . . .
But, hey! My excuse is that I have four sons and a daughter and 21 grandkids at last count. Shouldn't each of them have a K-38 when grandpa kicks the bucket???

 

[JP@AK]

Here's that same revolver with a target shot during a day at the range. Notice the date on the target - nearly two years ago.

 

[bananaman]

I think that you will be amazed at the accuracy it is capable of. I got a 14-3 in August of last year. (1977) Loaded some 148 gr. lead wadcutters. accurate, and very little recoil. Bob

 

[sailor723]

Congratulations on the new purchase!

I appear to have bought a pre-14 K 38 a well this week. In my case it was sort of by accident as the gun was listed as simply a " 6" S&W .38 special". When i asked about the model designation (after we came to an agreement on price) the seller indicated that it was "a 14-3 I think".I got the serial number and some of the experts here helped to identify it as a 1957 K 38 Masterpiece

I'm not sure if it's 100% original....the seller indicated that he thought it may have been reblued at some point but that in terms of function it was good. I'm fine with that as I was really only looking for another revolver to join my 586 for range use.

 

[DWalt]

Not that it couldn't have been re-blued, but if it has been in the hands of a competitive target shooter its whole life, it probably has not been. Competitive shooters generally take much better care of their guns than most other owners, and target revolvers are normally not subjected to the wear and tear associated with law enforcement use or general recreational/hunting use.

 

[sailor723]

That's a good point. I'm not sure why he said he thought it had been reblued. I don't think he had it long. From his very high feedback score i think he buys and sells a lot on the exchange i bought it on.

 

[Green Frog]

All this talk about K-38s... it seems that this is the pinnacle of S&W K-frame development and remains the one gun we never tire of nor grow out of! Long may it be thus.

Froggie

 

[Gordyf808]

Mine was kind of an accident too. It was simply listed as a S&W 38 spl.
What got my attention first was that it was a C&R noted by way of the marks on the yoke(no model#) and that it was specially cool.
Dwalt helped my ID it and it is on the way as we speak.
Hope it is as nice as it looks in the auction pics.
Aloha
Gordy