Let's see those K-38's

[madcratebuilder]

Found this K-38 Target Masterpiece this weekend. I have two local gun forums and I check the for sale section almost daily. Local ftf, $350. Not a perfect specimen but it does shoot well. I stopped at my local indoor range and fired fifty rounds. It's a real sweetheart, the smoothest trigger of any of my 14 Smith DA's. Much more accurate than my 4 and 6 inch M10's and M15's. I hope to get time to go shoot some more today. I want to try it with some target grips. Not to bad for a 49 years old gal.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Those adjustable-sight K-frame .38s are a steal, yours being a case in point. Love that long barrel--looks photo-shopped!

 

[MrBorland]

Great gun, and great deal, too. Congrats. To be honest, I didn't realize K-38s came with barrels longer than 6". Are they rare?

Anyway, this is my only pic of my K-38, vintage 1952. It's stock, except for the grips, which I'm not crazy about. Still, it's a shooter, like all K-38s

 

[madcratebuilder]

Original 8 3/8 barrel. I have not looked at a lot of M14's, a quick look on Gunbroker showed a few in 8 3/8. When I saw the add I figured it was gone at the asking price but emailed anyway. Guy still had it, meeting five minutes from home has great and I had to go by the indoor range!

I popped the grips and they do not have the serial number on them. I pretty sure they are correct for 1960. I well clean them up, to bad the checkering is damaged on the right side. I don't think I can recut it, nothing there to cut.

Edit: Cleaned some of the junk off the inside of the grips and they are stamped and numbered to this revolver.

MrBorland, your K38 looks very nice and shoots better

 

[amd6547]

Shot my Model 15 yesterday for the third time, and couldn't believe the accuracy I was getting. I was shooting a six inch steel plate at 25yds, and couldn't miss.
Another shooter, hearing the continuous PING's of bullet on steel, said "that gun shoots pretty good...it must be a Smith & Wesson"
I love my Model 15!

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

madcratebuilder,

I just finished writing a review on one exactly like yours here. I really love mine and it is really accurate way more than I am.

http://www.dayattherange.com/

 

[Iggy]

Pair of .38's


14-4


14-2

 

[jad0110]

Got 3 K-38s

Pictured from top to bottom...

K-38 / Model 15-2 Combat Masterpiece, 2", 1965
K-38 / Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece, 4", 1969
K-38 / Model 14-4 Target Masterpiece, 6", 1980

They are all equally accurate, which is to say good in my hands, but far short of their potential.





Some individual shots.

14-4:





15-3:





15-2:

 

[C-grunt]

Bad pics of my M15

 

[madcratebuilder]

Great site Mr.Revolverguy, i liked it.

I can drool over these K frames all day long, some very nice revolvers posted so far. I'll add a few more of my K's.

M15



M&P from around 1957


4th change target from around 1918

 

[Onmilo]

 

[bluetopper]

I love my 1911's, but there is no greater pleasure in handgunning than a long range session with a Smith K-38 and a bunch of cast lead reloads.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I like Smiths.
Got a few K Frames.

 

[KyJim]

I love SW K-frames. Here's one of mine. A pre-M&P Target Model circa 1928:

 

[Dave B]

M2, what is the background in your pic? I'm looking for some camo to laminate my work bench cabinets.

 

[M2 Carbine]

A ex paratrooper friend that made parachutes got in the business of making swat gear and other equipment. Some years ago he gave me a big Singer sewing machine and some of the material he used. That camo is some of the material he used. It's very thin Nylon. I don't know where he ordered his materials.

 

[kle]

I've only got three: a 14-6, a 15-7, and a 10-6.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Are those Sanderson grips in the top photo? I have a similar set I'm attempting to restore.

 

[lexjj]

In general, where do you all find those nice Smith revolvers? Have you owned them for years, or are several recent additions? I never see older Smiths in good condition in local gun stores.

 

[kle]

where do you all find those nice Smith revolvers?

My Model 10 I found at a gun show last year; it's a police department or security guard trade-in, looks like it spent a lot of time in a holster or in a kitchen drawer. I traded for the Model 15 locally several months ago. It also has a bit of finish wear, but otherwise it's in good shape. The Model 14, I purchased from a guy on the S&W Forum a couple months ago. I wasn't even looking for it specifically, but it's one of my grail guns and I had to jump.

Just gotta keep your eyes open, I guess.

 

[jad0110]

Originally Posted by lexjj
where do you all find those nice Smith revolvers?

From my post above, I got the 15-2 2" from a gunshop in Wilmington, the 15-3" came from a Pawn Broker at a local gunshow and the 14-4 6" came from a Pawn Shop in a neighboring town.

All 3 were acquired within the last 3 years.

IIRC, the 15-2 was $375, the 15-3 was $309 and the 14-4 was $330.

FYI, I've only purchased one S&W without handling it in person, my Model 17-0 K-22 Masterpiece from Gunbroker 3 years ago.

Just gotta keep your eyes open, I guess.

And always have a cash fund sitting around that simply has "gun" labeled on it; nothing in particular. And don't be afraid to pass on junkers or guns that aren't fairly priced. I just passed on a 2" 10-6 with loads of endshake priced at $340, because I knew I might eventually find a better one for less.

 

[madcratebuilder]

In general, where do you all find those nice Smith revolvers?

Check my local shops weekly, newspaper and nickle ads. I have two gun forums that are local and watch the for sale sections daily. You don't see them often and when you do, and the price is right, you better act, it may not be their if you wait.

 

[1KPerDay]

Forgive the ignorance, but what's the difference between the model 14 and the 15?

Also those who have T-grips on yours... can you basically only get 2 fingers on the grip? One in the upper "curve" and one below the pointed bit?

 

[kle]

Forgive the ignorance, but what's the difference between the model 14 and the 15?

A Model 14 is a target pistol (it was called the "Target Masterpiece" or simply "Masterpiece"), generally with a longer 6" (or 8-3/8") barrel and the squared Patridge front sight.

A Model 15 is more of a combat/general purpose pistol (it was called the "Combat Masterpiece"), with the short to mid-length (2" to 4") barrel and more holster-friendly black-ramp front sight.

Those are the general rules, although there have been exceptions (namely, the Model 14 sometimes came with 4" barrels and ramp front sights).

Also those who have T-grips on yours... can you basically only get 2 fingers on the grip? One in the upper "curve" and one below the pointed bit?

Yup, and then the pinky will go below the T-grip and onto the grip frame (or slightly below for me and J-frames). The T-grip basically fills in the space between the trigger guard and the grip frame, which for some people (including me) makes the gun more comfortable to use without adding the bulk of the larger target grips.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thank you. I just tried on a t-grip I got for my colt officer's target and was surprised I couldn't get 3 fingers on the grip. I wonder if I'd prefer the pachmayer's one without the finger hump.