S&W K-38 Inbound

K

Kev

New member
From using the new gun search engine I learned about on here the other day (www.gunwatcher.com)
I did a quick "Why not" search of "K-38" and well, found this on gunbroker for $299.00 so I pounced on her.
She has lived a good, full life it seems and thats OK. My Dad has a a couple early model's back home in California & I want one to shoot.
I can't wait to get my mitts on her and put some rounds downrange.

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I'm glad to see that sub-$300 K-38's still exist, despite assertions to the contrary by some forum members. :rolleyes: Nice find!

BTW if you don't already realize this, the doohickey on the trigger is known as a trigger shoe. It's intended to make SA fire easier to control, and is a common vintage aftermarket accessory. S&W offered a wider trigger as an option, but it didn't consist of a screwed-on part.
 
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Yeah I recognized the shoe from old days gun shows as a kid.
I may remove it, but it adds a bit of nostalgia to me.

And
I haven't seen a K38 under 450 in awhile, so I didn't hesitate to "pull the trigger" on this one .
 
In the old days, the term K-38 Masterpiece was usually used for the version with a 6" barrel and target (undercut front) sights; it was sometimes called the Target Masterpiece when the Combat Masterpiece was introduced. The one here is the .38 Combat Masterpiece, with a 4" barrel and ramp front sight, designed for police issue as a holster gun. The .22 Combat Masterpiece was intended as a trainer for the Combat Masterpiece and the later .357 Combat Magnum.

The K-38 Masterpiece became the Model 14, the .38 Combat Masterpiece the Model 15, K-22 Masterpiece the Model 17, the .22 Combat Masterpiece the Model 18, and the Combat Magnum the Model 19.

By whatever name, that Combat Masterpiece is a beautiful gun, all the workmanship of the Target Masterpiece in a handier package, just as accurate and with the great lockwork of that era.

Jim
 
Nice! Congratulations! You are going to love that!

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a Combat Masterpiece - 4" - Pre 15 - mine was made in 1955 I believe - three years younger than me. It is one sweet handgun and all I can say is . . . "Where have you been all of my life?! :D

Those are nice looking grips too! We'll be anxious to hear more about it once you get it in your hands! :)
 
I already know I'm going to love her..
Grew up shooting Dads 6 inch Target model and the K22 version as well.
I'll inherit those one sad day, but this was too good to pass up!
 
Those pre-1968 target stocks will fetch $125 all by themselves any day of the week. If they came on the gun you got a great deal.

I always felt the Combat Masterpiece (and technically any K frame 38 can be called a K38 although the 6" target model does usually come to mind) was perhaps even more of a classic than the Military & Police Model.

Now you need to look for the 22 long Rifle version so you have a matching set.


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You did very well. The Combat Masterpiece is a very good revolver. Like was said above, I am glad to see one at that price. My local dealer would have had $500 on the tag, and talked down to $450 on it.

That should be a keeper. Now you need a 4 Inch 22 to go with it. Don't hold your breat looking for a 22 at that price though.

Enjoy

Bob
 
Well my Pops has a 22 & 38 K-38 Target Masterpiece back home in Calif from the late 40's..Early 50's I'd guess. With the much smaller grips and 6 inch barrels..
Those are in pristine condition, in a oiled sock..lol
He keeps all his guns in socks, so his sock drawer is basically the gun drawer..

I knew this was a great deal and had to frantically set up an account with gunbroker and claim her before she came up on another buyers radar
 
"I'm glad to see that sub-$300 K-38's still exist, despite assertions to the contrary by some forum members. Nice find!"

Yep. Just last Tuesday I bought 72 of this particular model, not a one of them more expensive than $99.95.

Friday I bought another 139, not one of them dearer than THIRTY SEVEN CENTS!!!!

Anyone who says fantastic deals are dead is liar liar pants on fire!

Obviously there are going to be people who get damned lucky and find such a gun for such a price because the seller didn't do his due dilligence. Normally, three days later he'll find out what these guns are actually selling for these days and then complain bitterly how someoen "stole" his gun from him.

But, the truth is, this find/price these days is the exception to the rule, not the rule.

Anyone who claims that such low prices ARE still the rule gets one of these :rolleyes:, as well as a muttered incantation that can't be repeated here, PLUS a standing invitation to come to Northern Virginia to take a tour of our gunshows and gunshops to see what we're really paying for those oh so cheap, oh so commonly available revolvers... :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
No, I in fact don't even have possession of her yet.
This online site had law-away (to make it even EASIER!) so I put down $86.00 and will use a little of my Dec 15th Christmas Bonus for myself for once this year and pay the balance off. :D
 
That's a nice feature.

For me a dangerous feature.


Oh, and just so you know, according to a portion of the membership here you paid about 10 times too much for that gun, and they could have gotten it for a book of wet matches, a 9mm shell casing and, if they were feeling generous, some of their dog's fur.
 
Very Very Dangerous indeed...
I also saw this weekend at my local Pawn Shop a pristine Star Firestar in 40 cal for 250.00.. He takes lay a ways also but might pass since I have a Star B...

I am still however strongly considering these LA County Sheriff dept trade in Combat Masterpieces @ $489.00 (on lay away of course)
 

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The revolver shown in post #16,,,

The revolver shown in post #16,,,
Sure looks like a stainless model 67 to me.

Or is it just my old eyes?

Aarond

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