S&W .38 Special CTG

[Wolfar]

My Mom who is 80 decided she did not need this gun anymore. Rather than letting my non gun owning siblings get it I had her send it to me.

S&W .38 Special CTG 6" barrel.

I have two questions.

How old? Serial #16Kxxxx

Is it OK to shoot +P ammo in it?

Thank you!

 

[Mike McLellan]

Are you sure about that serial number? That looks like a K-38 Masterpiece (5 screw), but the serial number is puzzling to me. Plus -Ps are okay.

 

[Wolfar]

Are you sure about that serial number? That looks like a K-38 Masterpiece (5 screw), but the serial number is puzzling to me. Plus -Ps are okay.

looking right at the butt of the gun.....

16K4xxx

the xxx is just so I don't post down the whole serial number.

 

[murphydog]

The gun is a K-38 Masterpiece from between 1947 and 1957; the upper sideplate screw visible in the right side photo was deleted after 1957. The SN you quoted is from the late 1970s. Is the 16 in front of the K stamped on the bottom of the grip frame in the same font and spaced like the rest of the stamping? A photo here would help.

 

[Wolfar]

The gun is a K-38 Masterpiece from between 1947 and 1957; the upper sideplate screw visible in the right side photo was deleted after 1957. The SN you quoted is from the late 1970s. Is the 16 in front of the K stamped on the bottom of the grip frame in the same font and spaced like the rest of the stamping? A photo here would help.

Yes and I found some more clues.

Mom left the original warranty card in it that says effective December 1976.

The numbers are just like I am typing them 16K4xxx
This number is found on the bottom of the butt and the inside of the frame after breaking the cylinder open.

Found the model number after pulling cylinder out and knowing where to look.

Model # is 14-3

So +P is OK?

 

[Mike McLellan]

Plus Ps are fine. Are we on Candid Camera? I swear I saw an upper side-plate screw on that gun. Maybe I'm just going a little crazy. Now, I have to say that everything matches. Your model 14-3 is from the seventies, and a fine shooter. I think I'll go lay down.

 

[Wolfar]

Plus Ps are fine. Are we on Candid Camera? I swear I saw an upper side-plate screw on that gun. Maybe I'm just going a little crazy. Now, I have to say that everything matches. Your model 14-3 is from the seventies, and a fine shooter. I think I'll go lay down.

I had the WRONG picture up at first! Sorry now that is the right one.

 

[murphydog]

Holding out on us, are you?

This one is a late '70s model 14-3. Enjoy and tell us about the other K-38 sometime...

 

[Wolfar]

Does anyone know where I can get a high riding belt holster for this 6 inch barreled gun?

 

[C Islander]

By the way, CTG stands for cartridge.

 

[JP@AK]

Boy! I thought I was going nuts, until I got to post #7. After seeing Murphydog's first post, I looked and looked with a magnifying glass and I could not, for the life of me, see any upper sideplate screw! I guess I got here too late to see the original photo. Man! I thought either I'd lost it or Alan had!
And we all know THAT couldn't be the case!
The picture I was looking at sure looked like a three screw gun that the serial number said was a Model 14-3. I didn't know why anyone was trying to date it to the 1950s.
I'm sure glad we got this cleared up!
Now I can pour myself some Scotch and relax.
Jack

 

[Wolfar]

I got this picture off the web. I saw it for sale and thought it looked just like the one my Mom was sending to me. Sorry!