Smith and Wesson Combat K Frame

[rklessdriver]

Everybody has their own idea of what a "Combat" pistol should be. At one time revolvers ruled and the K-38 Smith was THE Combat pistol to have. Even thou most people have gravitated to high capacity auto pistols, I like the simplicity revolvers offer. I feel they can still serve a vital role in the defense of our lives and property.

I bought a beat up trade in Smith Model 15-7 to keep a our house gun. After one range trip my girl freind fell in love with it... and claimed it. Since I can't let her have some beat up service pistol I set out to make it my vision of what a Combat K-38 should be.

THR's own "Revolver Armorer" Matt Almeada did the work for me. I felt very comfortable letting Matt work on my Smith as he already did a great job for me when my Colt Cobra recently neeed some action work.

I wanted a durable easy to care for finish. First I had the skint, worn and lightly pitted blued finish bead blasted off. Then he Parkerized it.

I wanted easy to load from speed loaders and easy to unload in a hurry, so he champered and polished the chambers.

Even thou I didn't ask for any action work (as the timing and lock up was tight plus the trigger was already pretty good), other than to fix the tiny amount of head shake it had. I swear he tuned the action up a little for me. Maybe it just seems better from being dissasembled and cleaned properly...

Of course, even on a combat gun, all business just can't be everywhere. So it wears a beautiful pair of Kim Ahrends "Slim Size Target" stocks in Cocobolo.

Enjoy the view.







Once again, I'd like to thank Matt Almeada at Revolver Armorer for making this weapon truly what I wanted at a VERY FAIR price.
Will

 

[Jim K]

The K-38 Masterpiece (later Model 14) was not really considered a "combat" handgun; it came with only 6" and 8 3/8" barrels.

The "combat" equivalent was the .38 Combat Masterpiece (Model 15), which came with 2, 4, 6 and 8 3/8 barrels, though most sales were of the 4". Later, the .357 Combat Magnum (Model 19) pretty well pushed the Model 15 aside.

Jim

 

[CSA 357]

Looks good! The mod 15 is a great revolver, looks like he did some nice work , enjoy it

 

[Ala Dan]

Very handsome work my friend~!

But, when I think of a "Combat Revolver", the Smith & Wesson model 19
Combat Magnum just keeps popping up in my head~!

 

[bluetopper]

Nice Combat Masterpiece. They are an absolute joy to shoot!
Hope you don't mind me adding a pic of my Model 15-4? Mine needed some work too when I got it.

 

[Ringtail]

That's a great revolver, I really like the old carbon steel S&Ws. As far as the modern trend to hi cap. autos - one old Texas Ranger sumed it up when he said "after I've killed six men in a gunfight, I usually have time to reload." I hope your girfriend enjoyes her sixgun.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Whoa, parked--weird. Somehow that touch puts a completely different spin on it--the texture of parkerizing gives me the unconscious impression that it's made out of a completely different material, and since it's pretty uncommon for revolvers, I think to myself, "Whoa! Never seen a wheel-gun made out of THAT before." Very cool.

 

[pogo2]

Fixing up old K frames

There are lots of old K frame revolvers on the used market, and most of them have years of good shooting left in them, even though they may not look the best. I always like to see one that has been restored with some new grips and a little refinishing.

Several years ago I bought a well used K frame model 66 snubby from a retired police detective who had used it for a duty gun. And he said he bought it from another detective who had also used it. I got it for $300, which seemed like a good price. I buffed off some of the scratches and put new Ahrends grips on it, and it has become a favorite that I often carry. It is still tight and an excellent shooter.

 

[Brian Williams]

Nice setup, I really like the 4" K38/M-15. I prefer a 3" K frame but that looks like it would be a great service revolver.

 

[Majic]

Everybody has their own idea of what a "Combat" pistol should be. At one time revolvers ruled and the K-38 Smith was THE Combat pistol to have.

True everyone has their own ideas, but the K38 was not THE Combat pistol to everyone. Quite a few other models could be considered for that title.

 

[C-grunt]

Beautiful revolver you got there.

 

[bflobill_69]

Looks GREAT Rekless...

Bflobill_69

 

[krs]

I LIKE!!

Beagle, parkerized S&W revolvers aren't too rare - a considerable number were made during WW2 and dubbed the "Victory Model". It was/is a K framed Model 10 or M&P, with a designating "V" letter prefix to the serial number.

There's still lots of them around although they've been climbing the collectible pricing scale in the last few years.

 

[onebigelf]

I have a S&W .38 Combat Masterpiece as well, also a 4". It's the only revolver I own and is my wife's bedside piece. Mine is mint, original except for a set of P'myers (I have the original grips, box, and cleaning rod), and was my Grandfather's service revolver when he was the chief of the Daytona Beach Shores volunteer police department. It was bought in 1951 when S&W was still hand-fitting the lockwork and has the best trigger I've ever felt on a revolver that didn't say "Colt Python" on it.

John