Identifying an old (early 60s) S&W revolver.

[CZ-100]

I need so help identifying an old (early 60s) S&W revolver. My FIL sister has died recently, everything was left to him, so he in is up in TN going thru her house. Her husband was a US Marshall and had quite a collection of guns, both rifles and pistols. He found one that was in the closet way in the back in a box. It is a S&W revolver, in very good condition but he can not find a model number on it, only the S/N and that it is a .38.

Any idea where the model could be found or any other way to find out what it was? I do not have a pic of it now.

 

[Shear_stress]

It's a little tough without pictures, but this should narrow it down:

Serial number?
Barrel length (as measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle)?
Fixed or adjustable sights?
Number of chambers?
Barrel markings?
Barrel shape: tapered? ribbed? bull?
Does it have a sideplate screw high on the right side of the frame, near where the rear sight is?
Is there a screw on the front of the trigger guard?
Is the ejector rod shrouded or exposed?

Also, is the barrel marked ".38 S&W" or "38 S&W Special"?

If the gun was made circa 1957 or later, it should be model marked. To find the model number, open the cylinder and look on the area of the frame that is concealed by the yoke when the cylinder is closed.

 

[CZ-100]

Shear_Stress thanks

It's a little tough without pictures, but this should narrow it down:

Serial number? K142968
Barrel length (as measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle)? 4in
Fixed or adjustable sights? fixed, orange on front site
Number of chambers? 6
Barrel markings? Right side "38 S.C&W. special CTG." below cylinder made in USA marcas registradas S&W Springfield MA Left side of barrel "Smith & Wesson"
Does it have a sideplate screw high on the right side of the frame, near where the rear sight is? yes
Is there a screw on the front of the trigger guard? Yes
Is the ejector rod shrouded or exposed? exposed

Also, is the barrel marked ".38 S&W" or "38 S&W Special"? See above Barrell Marking question

He told me that he user this pistol before he was a US Marshall

 

[Shear_stress]

The above probably places the gun as a post-1948, pre-1955 Military & Police (aka "pre-Model 10" in some circles). The only thing odd to me is the orange on the front sight. Do you mean orange paint or an orange plastic insert? Also, was the barrel tapered or ribbed, etc.?

 

[XavierBreath]

A 1952 Smith & Wesson Combat Masterpiece is what I would have thought, but you say fixed rear sights. K prefix revolvers are generally those with adjustable sights.

At any rate, K142968 would be a 1952 revolver.

 

[Shear_stress]

XavierBreath is correct. The M&P probably would've had a "C" prefix serial number. He's also correct that a Combat Masterpiece would have adjustable sights.

 

[CZ-100]

Sorry... My FIL is 75 so it is kinda hard to get the correct info from him.

He says the front site that is orange looks to be painted, and the rear site has a screw on the right side of it , which probably means it is adjustable.

So it sounds like it is a run of the mil gun...? nothing special that he should be aware of?

 

[Jim Watson]

I wouldn't call it "run of the mill"; and a lot of people think a Smith & Wesson without MIM mung metal parts and a lock is fairly special.

Doesn't make it rare and valuable, though; they turned them out by the thousands until cops got hung up on automatics. A five screw would be worth a tidy sum, though.

 

[CZ-100]

Thanks guys

 

[XavierBreath]

Then it is a 1952 Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece, the predecessor to the S&W Model 15. These are five screw revolvers. They are collectible and getting scarce. Supica's Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson lists them at $375 in excellent condition. If he still has the box and tools, add an extra $100.

The features that make up a Combat Masterpiece include:
Four inch ribbed barrel
Micrometer adjustable rear sight
Baughman Quick Draw front sight
Serrated front and back strap
Short fast action
Anti-backlash trigger

They are exceptional revolvers, crafted at a time when hand fitting was the norm. I own one (in the center of the pic below) and it's my best shooting revolver.


Model 15-3
K-38 Combat Masterpiece
Model 15-9

 

[Jim Watson]

Lord, that bottom thing is ugly. Back when S&W Target models had round barrels, their adjustable rear sight was very low and did not call for a skyscraper front. And S&W never did color case harden frames like Colt, so why do they feel the urge now?

 

[XavierBreath]

Come on Jim.......It was a cheap .38 special Performance Center gun! $599 from CDNN. Shoots like a dream! It was the last new gun I bought.......No lock either.

If you take a look at the front sight compared to the bore axis in relationship to the others, you will see the relative height is the same. Honestly, it bothered me too until I shot it. After that I wanted a Call bead on every partridge sight I have.

 

[rcmodel]

The rear sight is exactly the same as any other modern S&W rear sight except perhaps for the width of the notch.

The front sight is tall because the gun has a round barrel, without a rib or ramp.



rcmodel

 

[HammerBite]

I used to love those tall sights when my buddies and I were out plinking in the Utah desert. After a bit of practice you can get pretty good at estimating how much extra front sight to stick up when the range gets beyond about 50 yards.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about some famous pistolero who had gold lines inlaid on the rear face of the front sight for just that purpose.

 

[Iggy]

That would probably be Elmer Keith.

 

[Jim Watson]

I understand the sight geometry and have seen similar on old guns with aftermarket adjustable sights. Pre WW II Smith adjustable sights were very low and did not call for very tall fronts.

Glad it shoots for you, XB, but I still think it is ugly and blotchy.

 

[CZ-100]

Looks as thought I will be adding this to my collection, Dad called back and said it is mine if I want it, do I want it, never turn down a gun...

It will be a couple of months till I get it, probably Christmas..