Questions about my K-38

[hkcavalier]

Picked up an early postwar K-38 earlier this month. S/N in the K49xxx range so 1948. Tapered barrel/narrow rib makes it a nice companion to my "Heavy" K-38 I've had for 10 years. Owner says it's an old school Bullseye gun and given the stocks and modifications, I'd say that checks out.

I've already confirmed the stocks are Sandersons which makes this $650 purchase even better. The charge holes have been lightly chamfered and it's been converted to SAO. I posted a pic of the front side of the hammer. The factory SAO hammers I've seen are solid and smooth faced. Unless an expert tells me differently, S&W wasn't making SAO hammers at this time. 4th Ed. makes no mention of SAOs on the pre-model number guns. But...if they were special order, I'll break down and get a letter.

What's the period of time that S&W polished over the left side (cylinder release side) pins? On my prewar guns, they are rounded and slightly proud. My '53 K-38 has the polished smooth hammer pin. Just curious since I don't want to confuse a refinished gun for a factory original. I know that soon after, these weren't visible from the outside, making it a non issue.

Pic of the side plus the hammer:

Range day with some safe buddies:

 

[kscharlie]

The earliest post war S&W I have is from 1947, a K-22 Masterpiece. I have 20 I, J, K and N frames from between then and 1959. All of the left side frame pins are polished flat. All of my pre war guns have the "proud" pins. So my guess is that the practice of polishing the pins flat started right after the war. Don't know about those guns made post war using pre war frames.

I find it interesting that your gun has a SA hammer with a non-target trigger, which I assume is a DA trigger. The SA hammer/trigger was introduced in 1961, so there is no way yours came from the factory with a SA hammer. I have the earliest known 14-1 SA shipped on June 28, 1961 that letters as such. The SCSW 5th Edition states that SA K-38s spanned the 14-2 through 14-4 models, which is incorrect. I have documents for 3 different 14-1s that were shipped as SA only guns. I am sure there are more.

Here are a couple of pics, one showing a SA hammer side view, the other showing a SA trigger next to a DA trigger. I assume your gun has had the DA sear removed? Also a pic showing the difference in hammer throw between a SA (with both SA hammer & trigger) and a DA. The SA throw is shorter, creating a faster lock time.

 

[kscharlie]

I just noticed that your hammer is not a target hammer. It would appear that someone who had a bit of knowledge about how the S&W hammer/trigger worked machined the face of the hammer flat.

Btw, I love the Sanderson stocks!

 

[JP@AK]

What's the period of time that S&W polished over the left side (cylinder release side) pins? On my prewar guns, they are rounded and slightly proud. My '53 K-38 has the polished smooth hammer pin.

With regard to the hammer pivot stud, it is more of a change than just having it "polished." On January 18, 1946, there was a management change order that directed the hammer pivot stud to be changed to one that is pressed into the frame and then polished flat. This replaced the stud that previously was threaded into the frame, allowing the outer, rounded end to be visible just below the thumbpiece. I believe this change was adopted across all models, once implemented. On the M&P, it shows up around April 1946, at about serial number S819000.

I think it is safe to assume that the pins began being polished flat at around the same time.

 

[hkcavalier]

The position of the cocked hammer is identical to my '53 K-38, though it takes a careful eye as the '53 has a target hammer and sits farther back when cocked.

I had a 14-3 SAO and it had that solid faced hammer like shown in post #2. I don't think any special cutting or machining was done to the hammer on my new gun, a previous owner simply removed the sear. I will check out the trigger at another time --- this gun has the tightest side plate of any S&W I own or have ever owned. I really doesn't want to be taken apart.