K-38 Target Masterpiece

[BullRunBear]

I am psyched!! I just scored a S&W K-38 Target Masterpiece this morning at our local gun club swap meet. It's from 1954 (thanks to Shade00 for the DOB info) and in excellent condition. The bore is immaculate, it locks up tight, and the finish is about 98% complete, just some minor holster wear around the muzzle. It's the 6" barrel, no underlug, adjustable rear and partridge front sights, and has the square butt. The balance is wonderful. The double action trigger pull is very smooth while the single action trigger feels like the set triggers on my muzzleloaders. I can't wait to get to the range to try it out. Hopefully in the next day or two.

I've wanted a target grade centerfire revolver for a while. I have an early .22 K-17 with the 8 3/8" barrel and target sights which got me going with K frames and careful target shooting. The K-38 feels just as good and I plan to put a LOT of 38 special wadcutters down range in the near future. I'm not the best handgun shot around (vast understatement!) and I'm hoping these K frames will indicate improving target skills. Besides, they just feel great in my hand.

Jeff

PS: I know S&W never used the term 'Target Masterpiece' but it is the common phrasing most people recognize.

 

[CSA 357]

You Will Love It:d

 

[Ron James]

I have a Model 14, The balance, accuracy is something that has to experienced to really be appreciated. All the cylinders shoot to the point of aim and the gun fells like an extension om my hand. Enjoy, and the next time you hear the stupid comment, " why are you shooting a revolver instead of a new super plastic wonder gun?" just smile and walk away. You can't explain it to an infidel.

 

[SaxonPig]

Nice gun.

BTW- It's Patridge, not partridge. Patridge is the name of the man credited with designing the type of sight you describe while a partridge is a bird often found in pear trees.

 

[bluetopper]

Model 14's/K-38's............... just about the most pleasurable shooting experience a person can have with a handgun.

 

[Catherine]

I don't own one but it is a VERY nice S&W gun.

Catherine

 

[BullRunBear]

SaxonPig wrote:
"BTW- It's Patridge, not partridge. Patridge is the name of the man credited with designing the type of sight you describe while a partridge is a bird often found in pear trees."

Thanks for the clarification. I was an editor in a previous life and prefer to use the right words. Seriously, a character in a story I'm writing is an enthusiastic target shooter and the patridge front sight would probably be mentioned. This saves me some embarassment. (I can't blame it all on typos.)

Jeff

 

[krs]

Congratulations!

It's got to be my all-time favorite handgun, and I stubbornly ( ) kept using mine for the centerfire portion of bullseye matches despite numerous advisors telling me that putting the K-38 aside and using my .45 for both CF and service pistol parts of matches was much more efficient. Hah! I outshot myself with the revolver over a 1911 over and over again.

A beautiful classic pistol, symbolic of another, perhaps better, time.

 

[45Badger]

BTW- It's Patridge, not partridge. Patridge is the name of the man credited with designing the type of sight you describe while a partridge is a bird often found in pear trees.

Easily confused by those of us who speak the Kings English (typically found in Maine, New Hampshire, and pahts of nowthen Vehmont). We would say that lovely bird is a pahtridge

 

[BullRunBear]

45Badger,

I appreciate the good excuse. Now I can blame the confusion on my Rhode Island childhood instead of ignorance.

Jeff

 

[Sunray]

"...I'm not the best handgun shot around..." Maybeso, but you have the standard target revolver for eons. Think 148 grain WC's with 2.5 to 2.8 grains of Bullseye. That'd be the standard target load used for eons. You will have to work up the load though
"...those of us who speak the Kings English..." Ahem! It's been the Queen's English since 1952. Not that ye of my Southern cousins speak or spell Her Majesty's English correctly in the first place. Friggin' foreigners. snicker.
And it is a patridge sight. SaxonPig, you want to hold him or hit him. snicker.

 

[SaxonPig]

OK, now that we're finished with the Patridge business, we need some photos of K38s.

This is a 14-3 from around 1969 with some holster wear that I got off GunBroker a couple years ago for a $100 bid.

 

[dwf6666]

I don't think you will find a better target revolver than the K38. They seem to all be real tack drivers. I usually shoot DEWC in mine with a light load of Bullseye. Here's a couple pics of one of mine.

 

[rainbowbob]

I'm pretty sure I know what I'm getting myself for Xmas!

Where is the best place to find one?

 

[bluetopper]

Of course no longer in production...........the best place to find one is either gunbroker or auctionarms.
That's where I found my two 14-3's.
I planned on buying just one, but the other was too good of a deal to pass up.

 

[AH-1]

first time out with my 14-4.I had to make a cuople of adjustments on the rear sight.
my cast 148 wc's
3.0 grs titegroup

just gotta love these 14's

 

[SwampWolf]

I don't think you will find a better target revolver than the K38.

Maybe not better but the Colt Officers Match/Specials were superb .38 target revolvers, every bit the equal of the fine Smith K-38s. I truly lament the dearth of quality target revolvers in the market place.