Ultimate .38 Spl To Own (If You Could Only Have One)

[Riomouse911]

S&W Model 67.

I can’t ask for anything more from a dedicated .38.




Stay safe.

 

[cfullgraf]

4” barrel then a Model 15.

6” barrel then a Model 14.

 

[ontarget]

Model 10 or a variant of it. 4 inch bbl.
What's not to love?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I reckon I could make due with this one.

 

[Paul7]

This early 1950s Colt OMM. The seller from New England said he bought it from the grandson of Al Gunther, who was a shop foreman at Colt and instrumental in the development of the Python. The SN isn't recorded at Colt, which gives credence to the story as higher-ups and VPs would sometimes take them "off the line". What I do know for sure is it has an incredible action and is very accurate.

 

[UncleEd]

I have run the gamut through all kinds of 38s, but have thinned the herd down to a five inch 38/44 nickel Outdoorsman.
From powder-puffs to screamers and dadgum good looking too.

That's called cheating on the quiz.
Go sit in the corner, young man,
and put on the pointy hat. Shame!

 

[ThomasT]

A century-old Smith & Wesson Model of 1905 Hand-Ejector (4th change) with a 5" or 6" barrel would be fine for me, thank you.

I have a 3 screw model 10 with 6" barrel that has that "Old Timey" look to it. We call it Grampa because it looks like an early style gun. Hitting a gallon bucket at 50 yards off hand is a piece of cake. It would do much better from a rest. And with the tapered barrel it makes for a light weight easy to carry gun.

 

[amd6547]

I’ve often said that if the only handgun I owned was my Pre-Model 10, I’d still feel well equipped.
It was probably made the year of my birth, just about the time they started stamping Model 10 on them.

 

[rabid wombat]

I guess I will be spanked if I say a S&W 52

Pretty much any S&W 38…I will be happy….

 

[Buckeye63]

My 642

 

[Old Dog]

While I love my Diamondback (4" barrel) -- I'll have to take some pics --, it'd probably have to be one of my 15s (4" of course)...

 

[Chevelle SS]

Only 1? 5" S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty for me.

 

[ACES&8S]

smooth & easy rattler

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Smith & Wesson Model 67 with 4" barrel and Pachmayr Compact grips, the smaller size.

Speedloader pouch loaded with Safariland Comp IIs and FBI loads. A nice thumb break holster as well.

 

[Barry the Bear]

only one .38? a Colt Cobra the old light ones. 6 shots fixed sights, not much else in my book needed.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

My 642

View attachment 1017691

On an off note, how do those grips work ?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

A century-old Smith & Wesson Model of 1905 Hand-Ejector (4th change) with a 5" or 6" barrel would be fine for me, thank you.

I have found that I am a bit more accurate with the longer barrel and I prefer the look of these pistols over some of the later .38spc revolvers that suffer (to my eye) from TMS (TooMuchSteel).

Here is a pic of two that I acquired a couple of years ago ... after I stripped them to apply some TLC.

Alas, I never thought to take another pic after they were repaired and fully clothed.

Interesting front sight on the one at the top. They usually had a half-moon front sight like the one at the bottom.

Be careful with those, the one at the top has the type of hammer block mounted in the side plate that failed in 1944 leading to the current hammer block design. The one at the bottom has the even older style of hammer block mounted in the side plate.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Sorry, no way I could select just one 38 Special revolver.

The one that goes to the range most often is this Model 14-3 that shipped in 1974. Not a blemish on it, I picked it up a few years ago for the unbelievable price of $500. I really like the 6" barrel for plinking at soup cans at the 25 yard berm.






A close second is probably this K-38 Combat Masterpiece that shipped in 1953. Precursor to the Model 15.






Then there's always this Model 10-5 that shipped around 1964. Best deal I ever got on a S&W, $125 out the door. Of course that was probably about 20 years ago. I would really like to find a Model 10 with a 6" barrel one of these days.






It's impossible to have too many K frame 38s. Did somebody say K-38? The one at the top of this photo shipped in 1950. The 38 Military and Police Target Model below it shipped around 1917. Notice the teeny screw for adjusting the rear sight. The K-38 did away with that with the micrometer click rear sight. Much simpler to adjust, you don't need a teeny screw driver.

 

[Tallball]

If I could only have one 38, but could have other calibers, I would keep my LCR. Under normal circumstances I carry it a lot, and I have 357's that can do all of the other jobs.

If my only HD firearm were a 38, I would go for a 4" Model 10 or variant thereof.

If I only had one handgun, it had to be a 38, and I had to do both CC and HD with it, I would go for my 2" Model 10. It's surprisingly accurate for a snub. I suppose I could dress around it.

If a 38 was my only firearm, and I had to feed myself by hunting, it would be my 8.75" Model 14.

Different answers for different interpretations.

A picture or it didn't happen:

Smith And Wesson Model 14

• Tallball
• Dec 22, 2017

 

[SteadyD]

Smith and Wesson Model 242

 

[Poper]

Model 15, 4”.

Got me one of those. Can't argue with that choice.
I do like the Colt Cobra, too.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Smith and Wesson Model 242

What in the blazes is a Mdl 242 ?

 

[ThomasT]

Here is a quick pic of all the dedicated 38 Specials I own. They are supplemented by 8-9 357s. Just don't ask me to pick just one. Model 10 6" barrel. Model 15 that has been my house gun for 25+ years. A 442 no lock and model 36-6 with 3" barrel. S&W only made 615 of those. And its one of the best trail and woods guns I have ever owned. I had a 637 but gave it to my son for his walking the dog gun.

 

[cfullgraf]

What in the blazes is a Mdl 242 ?

An L frame snub nose Air Weight.
https://www.chuckhawks.com/s-w_M242.htm

 

[horsemen61]

a combat masterpiece is all i need.

murf

^^ this