K-38 ???

K

klbcctally1

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I have a S&W K-38 I think. It's nickel, 5" barrel, original wooden grips, and in very good shape. Match fat trigger and hammer & adjustable sights. My grandfather was a well known gunsmith in Tallahassee, FL for many years and passed this year. He was 94. He passed it on to me and I would like to know something about it. I can tell you he worked for the Federal Corrections Inst. for 25 years here in Tallahassee and retired probably 30 years ago. He won many shooting matches with it on the prison shooting circuit from Florida and other states.

Any way, could someone tell me how to identify it? The serial number is K905.. I appreciate any help you can send. Also, whats its approximate worth? :confused:
 
K-38 ???


I have a S&W K-38 I think. It's nickel, 5" barrel, original wooden grips, and in very good shape. Match fat trigger and hammer & adjustable sights. My grandfather was a well known gunsmith in Tallahassee, FL for many years and passed this year. He was 94. He passed it on to me and I would like to know something about it. I can tell you he worked for the Federal Corrections Inst. for 25 years here in Tallahassee and retired probably 30 years ago. He won many shooting matches with it on the prison shooting circuit from Florida and other states.

Any way, could someone tell me how to identify it? The serial number is K905.. I appreciate any help you can send. Also, whats its approximate worth? :confused:
 
klbcctally1,

The only "K-38" that I've found in the books is are the Smith and Wesson Model 14 K-38 Materpiece and the S&W Model 14 Masterpiece full lug.

The base model K-38 is $150 good and the full lug is $225. This is out of Modern Gun Values, 11th edition.

The K-38 in the gun traders guide holds it at $235.

The nickel was most likely done by your grandfather, as there are no factory issued nickel plated that I can find.

Since it's your grandfathers, I would just cherish it forever. If you're looking for a score, this isn't it.

(side note: Where the hell is Tamara with her learnings? for S&W?)

Wayne
 
Being nickel and wearing a 5" barrel isn't standard, but back in the day you could special order firearms. The serial number places it as a first year K-38 or 1947. I would letter this revolver and if it turns out to be a factory nickel model with a 5" barrel then it could be worth big bucks. Whether or not it's factory original means a lot in it's pricing. I think it should still bring $300 to $400 as a refinished first year shooter.
 
K 905 dot dot would seem to come from 1950. K 905 dot dot dot would seem to come from 1960 - all according to Supica and Nahas Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. By the early 50s, (1953 the K 38, K32 and K22 were all regulated to weigh exactly the same amount by adjusting the rib on top the barrel to the proper thickness to make up for the different hole sizes in the barrel and chamber. All the K guns were designed to shoot 1.5" 5 round groups at 50 yards and most will do so with the right ammunition. There are few and probably no handguns that match the K masterpiece series for intrinsic and practical shootable accuracy. the 1950 vintage was a very good one and one of the most desirable of the NRA course target revolvers. In the 1960s, the LAPD even issued the 6" K38 to its officers who carried it around in a clamshell holster.
 
Thanks guys. That gives me something to go on. The serial number is definately k905.. (2 dots) Also, what do you mean by "letter"? Thanks again.
 
Interesting. I posted a thread on not only general but also revolver. Two other guys had something different to say.


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Join Date: 05-24-2004
Posts: 1,088 Being nickel and wearing a 5" barrel isn't standard, but back in the day you could special order firearms. The serial number places it as a first year K-38 or 1947. I would letter this revolver and if it turns out to be a factory nickel model with a 5" barrel then it could be worth big bucks. Whether or not it's factory original means a lot in it's pricing. I think it should still bring $300 to $400 as a refinished first year shooter.

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Yesterday, 11:44 PM #3
mec
Senior Member


Join Date: 12-06-2001
Posts: 670 K 905 dot dot would seem to come from 1950. K 905 dot dot dot would seem to come from 1960 - all according to Supica and Nahas Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. By the early 50s, (1953 the K 38, K32 and K22 were all regulated to weigh exactly the same amount by adjusting the rib on top the barrel to the proper thickness to make up for the different hole sizes in the barrel and chamber. All the K guns were designed to shoot 1.5" 5 round groups at 50 yards and most will do so with the right ammunition. There are few and probably no handguns that match the K masterpiece series for intrinsic and practical shootable accuracy. the 1950 vintage was a very good one and one of the most desirable of the NRA course target revolvers. In the 1960s, the LAPD even issued the 6" K38 to its officers who carried it around in a clamshell holster.
According to these guys the value would be better. As for trying to "score", I've been down that road before when I was 18. I'm 35 now and will never do that again. I sold a vintage Winchester slide action 32-20 to get date money. Little did I know the value especially to my grandfather. Thanks for the warning though.
 
This info is from Supica's Catalog of Smith & Wesson, the accepted Bible of S&W collectors.

A K38 Target Masterpiece, AKA pre-Model 14 is a .38spl, square butt, K frame. It has a 6 inch barrel with a narrow rib. Partridge front sight, adjustable rear. Blue finish. Values: NIB $475 Exc $300 VG $250 Good $180

A K38 Combat Masterpiece AKA pre-Model 15 is a 38spl, square butt, K frame. It has a 4 inch barrel with a rib and ramp sight base. Baughman Ramp front sight, adjustable rear. Blue or nickel finish. Target Trigger, Target Hammer, or not. Values:NIB $375 Exc $300 VG $250 Good $175

The Illinois State Police purchased 5 inch Masterpieces in 1957, so S&W was making them, as well as nickeling guns. Your father may have special ordered this revolver, as S&W was doing that as well. I would suggest a letter from Roy Jinks, the S&W Historian to authenticate your interesting revolver. This is imperative, as your S&W is unusual, and needs "lettering" to validate it's finish and barrel length. Roy can do this, and more. The cost is $30 and it may add considerably to the revolver's value. The 5 inch barrel is a favorite, hard to find item among collectors and the K38 is a favorite gun. You are talking about a winning combination, if the gun can be authenticated. I'm talking potentially double or greater the values I've posted, if you find the right buyer.

I would also suggest posting in only one, the most applicable forum. Maybe the mods will combine your threads for you.

Try a thread at The S&W Forum.
 
I agree with 1950 as the year of manufacture. As a post-war K-38 Target Masterpiece, depending on condition, your gun is worth around $550 in like-new condition.

However, the 6" barrel and a blue finish was standard on this gun, thus a 5" Nickle gun is unusual and generally indicates post-factory work. It would be worth it to have S&W's historian Roy Jinks provide you a letter on this gun's history. If it turns out to be a special order factory gun, it's worth could increase significantly for an S&W collector.

Even if it turns out to have been refinished and the barrel shortened by a non-factory gunsmith, if the quality of work is first rate, someone might like to add this to a collection.
 
Measure from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle, not from where the barrel meets the frame. I susepct your gun's barrel is 6" not 5.

A very few nickel Target Masterpieces (Model 14 after 1957) were made on special order over the years. It is more likely that yours, having been owned by a gunsmith, is refinished.

These are neat guns and yours is extra special having been your Grandad's pistol.
 
get a factory letter from S & W to see how it left the factory. then you can decide on what value to place on it
 
All excellent comments and ideas. I sincerely appreciate the input. P.S. Well I'll be darned. Person of Interest; you were right. Where's my hat for the day... It's a 6" alright. Oh well, it's still a great gun to me. I'll post a pick sometime for all to see. Thanks again all.
 
It would be help full to describe ALL markings on the firearm. First, swing out the cyl and look at the frame under the crane. There should be a mod # there. Also look for stampings there/under the grips. There are specific ones that can indicate a refinish, etc.
 
First, swing out the cyl and look at the frame under the crane. There should be a mod # there.
Click to expand...

Not on a Smith of that vintage. They didn't have model numbers.

I agree with everyone who is suggesting a factory letter to determine if it was shipped as a nickelled gun. The prices on postwar Pre-'57 guns are getting sucked up in the wake turbulence of the prewar guns, and that letter could be worth its weight in Scandium a few years down the road.
 
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