I thought I had a model 14 with target hammer, trigger and stocks. It has a 4 stamped on the crane frame. I thought maybe a weak 1 was there, but it isn't. Serial number on the grip frame is K3119xx. I can't find the box right now, but I think I have it. Any thoughts on birth year?
Thought I had a model 14 but ....
- Thread starter 500hunter
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What's the barrel length. I know the experts are going to need that.
Serial numbers in the K311000 range were shipping in early 1958. Model numbers didn't show up until later that year. The earliest model-marked Model 14 that I know of is K314496. That one was a special order, and it shipped on July 28, 1958. The next lowest number on a K-38 Masterpiece marked as a Model 14 that I'm aware of is K339292. That one shipped on November 17, 1958. On the other hand, K321291 is a K-38 Masterpiece that does not have a model number.
Your revolver is either a K-38 Masterpiece (6" barrel) or a .38 Combat Masterpiece (4" barrel). In either case it doesn't have a model number and the likely ship year is either 1958 or later. the K-38 Masterpiece and the .38 Combat Masterpiece were serialized in the same K prefix sequence, along with all the other K target units.
OP
6 " with what I believe are rosewood grips that are not numbered to the gun.
K 38 Masterpiece, it would have either a gold box or a blue box, without a model number.
The transition to blue boxes occurred around the time the 5th screw went away. And by 1957-'58, most of the Masterpiece models were probably being shipped in blue boxes. The K-32s were the exception to that rule. K-32s were slow movers and are known to have shipped in gold boxes until at least the early 60s. S&W eventually threw away a fair quantity of gold K-32 boxes at some point in time because they didn't make enough K-32s to fill them. Several of those in as new condition ended up selling on ebay 20 or so years ago.
