S and w k38?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
Pre-war you had the Military & Police Target Model. Usually seen in 6" with some in 4" as well.
Post war came the K38 Masterpiece (the word "target" is not an official part of the name but is often used). This would be in 6" and is a deluxe target grade revolver. The Combat Masterpiece is essentially the same gun with a 4" (or 2") barrel and a ramp front sight where the 6" came with the Patridge (not partridge, a man named Patridge designed it) type front blade.
In 1957 this gun was designated the Model 14. The various engineering changes followed. True S&W lovers gave up after the 14-4 when the pinned barrel was deleted. The twin in 22 long Rifle is the K22 Masterpiece or Model 17. The 22 version of the Combat Masterpiece is the Model 18.
Usually the 17 came with standard trigger and hammer with Magna stocks but target options have always been available and are often seen.
The K38 or M14 is a classic target revolver and nobody is ever disappointed with one.
I bagged this 14-3 on Gunbroker a few years ago for $100. One of my better purchases.
Post war came the K38 Masterpiece (the word "target" is not an official part of the name but is often used). This would be in 6" and is a deluxe target grade revolver. The Combat Masterpiece is essentially the same gun with a 4" (or 2") barrel and a ramp front sight where the 6" came with the Patridge (not partridge, a man named Patridge designed it) type front blade.
In 1957 this gun was designated the Model 14. The various engineering changes followed. True S&W lovers gave up after the 14-4 when the pinned barrel was deleted. The twin in 22 long Rifle is the K22 Masterpiece or Model 17. The 22 version of the Combat Masterpiece is the Model 18.
Usually the 17 came with standard trigger and hammer with Magna stocks but target options have always been available and are often seen.
The K38 or M14 is a classic target revolver and nobody is ever disappointed with one.
I bagged this 14-3 on Gunbroker a few years ago for $100. One of my better purchases.
98 220 swift
New member
There was also a single action only version of the 14-3. I have one it is the most accurate handgun I have shot.
carguychris
New member
One thing to emphasize is that, technically speaking, the formal difference between a (Target) Masterpiece and a Combat Masterpiece is the front sight and NOT the barrel length. The majority of Masterpieces came with 6" or 8-3/8" barrels, and the majority of Combat Masterpieces came with 2" or 4" barrels, but rare exceptions exist with both models. In addition, there was an uncommon 4" heavy non-tapered barrel available on the Combat Masterpiece. (The standard 4" tube superficially resembles a heavy barrel, but it actually has a short tapered section at the frame interface.) You can expect to pay accordingly if the seller has one of the unusual versions and knows what he/she has.SaxonPig said:
Speaking of barrels, the (Target) Masterpiece barrel profile went through several variations early in the production run. Notably, S&W introduced heavy barrels in the mid 1950s so that the K-22, K-32, and K-38 all weighed the same amount when loaded; previously, the same barrel profile had been used, rendering the K-32 and K-38 lighter than the K-22 due to the correspondingly larger holes in the barrel and cylinder.
The heavy-barrel K-38 model was initially sold under the somewhat awkward moniker of K-38 Heavy Masterpiece, but S&W made the heavy barrel standard around 1960 and dropped the "Heavy" name. As a consequence of these variations together with the deletion of the top sideplate screw (5-screw) and the trigger guard screw (4-screw), the 1940s and 1950s models are sought after by collectors trying to assemble a complete set, which tends to drive the prices up. However, after the introduction of the M14-3 in the early 1960s, the gun stayed basically the same until the 1980s, so the later models tend to sell for less.
FWIW (and IIRC), if you pull the trigger of one of these guns in double-action mode, the cylinder advances but the hammer does not lift.98 220 swift said:
Maybe. In theory the 38 special cylinder is slightly more accurate than forcing a 38 Special wadcutter to make the jump across a 357 chamber. The sights on a target model offer a better picture than the holster friendly front sight on a 4" 19. The target models offer wider triggers and hammers, bigger grips and overtravel stops that are all nice to have.
All that said, you can get pretty darn good accuracy out of a 19 and you'd need to be a dedicated target shooter with good ammo to notice any difference.
My model 19 has a wide trigger and hammer, also I have had an excellent gunsmith do a trigger job on it and the trigger is great. I have had this model 19 since the early 70's when I bought it brand new, it was my first pistol purchase. Perhaps I would be just as far off to keep shooting it and not looking for a K38 ?
carguychris
New member
You're right, I knew that, and I should have been more clear. I was referring to the M14-3 and M14-4. These typically have the lowest values because they're the most abundant.carguychris said:
All of that stuff, including the Patridge sight, could be had on a Model 19.natman said:
Driftwood Johnson
New member
Howdy
In this photo, the gun at the bottom is a Military and Police Target model from the 1930s. The gun at the top is a K-38 from the late 1940s. Both are five screw guns. Notice the K-38 has the same style Micrometer click rear sight as any modern S&W target revolver. The older gun has the old style target rear sight, which had a tiny screw on each side. You loosened the screw on one side, then used the other screw to push the sight over to where you wanted it, then snugged up the other screw to keep it in place. With the modern sight, you simply crank the sight back and forth with one screw. The M&P Target lacks any sort of rib on the tapered barrel, the K-38 has a narrow barrel rib. The K-38 has a transitional hammer sometimes called the 'speed hammer'. The M&P has a typical long throw hammer.
Here is a Model 14-3 from the early 1970s. Three screw frame, heavy barrel with a rib, modern short throw hammer.
By the way, I too have had this Model 19-3 from the 1970s. It was the second handgun I bought. Cost $135 new in 1975. It came with these Oversized Goncalo AlvesTarget Grips. It also makes a fine 38 Special target revolver.
In this photo, the gun at the bottom is a Military and Police Target model from the 1930s. The gun at the top is a K-38 from the late 1940s. Both are five screw guns. Notice the K-38 has the same style Micrometer click rear sight as any modern S&W target revolver. The older gun has the old style target rear sight, which had a tiny screw on each side. You loosened the screw on one side, then used the other screw to push the sight over to where you wanted it, then snugged up the other screw to keep it in place. With the modern sight, you simply crank the sight back and forth with one screw. The M&P Target lacks any sort of rib on the tapered barrel, the K-38 has a narrow barrel rib. The K-38 has a transitional hammer sometimes called the 'speed hammer'. The M&P has a typical long throw hammer.
Here is a Model 14-3 from the early 1970s. Three screw frame, heavy barrel with a rib, modern short throw hammer.
By the way, I too have had this Model 19-3 from the 1970s. It was the second handgun I bought. Cost $135 new in 1975. It came with these Oversized Goncalo AlvesTarget Grips. It also makes a fine 38 Special target revolver.
I own a K-38 4 screw and a 19-3 6". I've taken them to the range and I simply can't tell a difference in terms of accuracy. In all fairness I also own a pre-WWII Colt Officer Model Target (mfd. 1940) with the 6" heavy barrel and it is the equal of the K-38 and Model 19. Sorry guys. 