Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry
S&W K-38 Masterpiece
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6092
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Finally, a decent day for shooting, so we headed to the range to run some newly acquired guns though their paces and some old friends, too. Rather than throw a lot of guns at you in a single post, thought I'd do them one at a time to keep things more manageable.
I'll start with a true masterpiece, the S&W K-38 Masterpiece. Shortly after WW II, Smith decided to produce a series of purely target revolvers with the goal of dominating the target revolver market. In this, they succeeded. Legend has it that they were so proud of these guns, they gave them the name of Masterpiece. In the beginning, these were all 6" barrel guns with adjustable sights and blade front sights. The series included three chamberings, the K-38 (38 Special), the K-32 (32 S&W) and the K-22 (22 LR). The K-32s were never popular and were only produced in small numbers. The K-38 and the K-22 were hugely popular, though. In fact, the LEO community so loved these revolvers, they clamored for combat versions with shorter barrels and ramp front sights. Smith responded with the Combat Masterpiece series.
And here's our newly acquired K-38 Masterpiece.
My research shows that this gun shipped in January of 1957, so it was probably made in '56 or so. 1957 is an important year in S&W history. That was the year Smith gave and marked all their revolvers with model numbers instead of names. Thus, the K-38 Masterpiece became the Model 14, the K-32 Masterpiece became the Model 16 and the K-22 became the Model 17.
Our K-38 is in excellent condition, showing only a little carry wear and virtually no shooting wear. As was the norm in vintage S&W days, you could order your K-38 with a wider target hammer, target grips and a wider target trigger. Ours has the target hammer and grips, but the standard width trigger, and, speaking of triggers, this one has that beautiful vintage S&W trigger. After all, this is a target gun. Shoots like one, too.
Did't have access to our usual 25 yard range, today, so we made do shooting at 18 yards. No problem, here's one of my best groups with the K-38. Tells me all I need to know about the gun's accuracy. 3 first shots touching, upper left, then some sight tweaking and two dead center in the bull. Oh, yeah, pure target gun.
And now it's one of the masterpieces of our collection.
I'll start with a true masterpiece, the S&W K-38 Masterpiece. Shortly after WW II, Smith decided to produce a series of purely target revolvers with the goal of dominating the target revolver market. In this, they succeeded. Legend has it that they were so proud of these guns, they gave them the name of Masterpiece. In the beginning, these were all 6" barrel guns with adjustable sights and blade front sights. The series included three chamberings, the K-38 (38 Special), the K-32 (32 S&W) and the K-22 (22 LR). The K-32s were never popular and were only produced in small numbers. The K-38 and the K-22 were hugely popular, though. In fact, the LEO community so loved these revolvers, they clamored for combat versions with shorter barrels and ramp front sights. Smith responded with the Combat Masterpiece series.
And here's our newly acquired K-38 Masterpiece.
My research shows that this gun shipped in January of 1957, so it was probably made in '56 or so. 1957 is an important year in S&W history. That was the year Smith gave and marked all their revolvers with model numbers instead of names. Thus, the K-38 Masterpiece became the Model 14, the K-32 Masterpiece became the Model 16 and the K-22 became the Model 17.
Our K-38 is in excellent condition, showing only a little carry wear and virtually no shooting wear. As was the norm in vintage S&W days, you could order your K-38 with a wider target hammer, target grips and a wider target trigger. Ours has the target hammer and grips, but the standard width trigger, and, speaking of triggers, this one has that beautiful vintage S&W trigger. After all, this is a target gun. Shoots like one, too.
Did't have access to our usual 25 yard range, today, so we made do shooting at 18 yards. No problem, here's one of my best groups with the K-38. Tells me all I need to know about the gun's accuracy. 3 first shots touching, upper left, then some sight tweaking and two dead center in the bull. Oh, yeah, pure target gun.
And now it's one of the masterpieces of our collection.
5 x
- CT_Shooter
- Administrator emeritus
- Posts: 5156
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:42 am
- Location: Connecticut
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
NCG, you are a walking firearms encyclopedia with a shooting skill like very few others. Thanks for another great report. We are so fortunate that you choose to share so much with us and so often. Thanks. That's a beautiful revolver. Congratulations
1 x
H006M Big Boy Brass .357 - H001 Classic .22LR - Uberti / Taylors & Co. SmokeWagon .357 5.5" - Uberti / Taylors & Co. RanchHand .22LR 5.5"
- RetiredSeabee
- Administrator
- Posts: 2285
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:04 pm
- Location: Harrisburg, North Carolina
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Sweeeeet!
Once again you continue to build on the title Gun Whisperer.
Once again you continue to build on the title Gun Whisperer.
1 x
Load on Sunday and Shoot all Week.......okay it's a Mare's Leg I will reload on Wednesday.
-
- Cowboy
- Posts: 1653
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:25 pm
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Just have to love the K frame Smiths. The only Smiths I still have is 637-2 38 Special for concealed carry and a 586 357 Mag. My 586 is from 1989 when S&W turned out a few odd hand guns. Mine is the satin blued model. My Dad bought it new and transferred it to me in 2000 when he was losing his eye sight. This sounds strange but I have never fired a round in it since the day I got it.
0 x
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6092
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Thank you, all. Glad you enjoyed this vintage Smith. As mentioned, this is a fairly recent acquisition, but not a spur of the moment purchase. I've been looking for K-38/Model 14 for a long time. Have seen a fair number in that time, but these guns tended to get shot and used a lot. After all, they were the dominant target revolver of their day. Then I found this one. Our local shop had just taken it in on trade and were a bit puzzled as to the model since it wasn't stamped with a model number. Weren't even sure just how to price it. Then I walk in and go, "Oh, a K-38 Masterpiece!. Been looking for one of them for a long time. "
2 x
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
I believe it was not until 1958 when S & W started using model numbers so yours is no doubt pre - '58. Do you know the exact year of yours?Our local shop had just taken it in on trade and were a bit puzzled as to the model since it wasn't stamped with a model number.
0 x
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
- Posts: 12692
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Expert shooting as always. That is a beautiful revolver. Looks very comfortable to shoot.
0 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Did someone say K frame Smith. Like K-38 Masterpiece. I like those with target trigger and target hammer. Nice job NCG. I love mine as well. I wish I could find a decent priced K-22 but holy cow there gold anymore just like the K-38. Bought mine a few years back and have held onto it. It shoots very well. No doubt better in youre hands than mine.
1 x
Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6092
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
Thanks, guys.
Love that one, too, BigAl. They really don't make them like that, anymore, do they? As for the K-22s, closest we've come is our early 70s Model 17, but it's close enough. This one has the honor of shooting some of my best ever offhand groups. Love the gun so much, that we added the new Model 17 Classic as to not put too much wear and tear on the 17-3. The new gun shoots as well, but, as I said, they don't make them like this, anymore.
Mine was shipped, as mentioned, on January 1, 1957. Found a guy, online, who had the same gun that was only one last digit off from mine and that's what Smith told him when he researched it.
Love that one, too, BigAl. They really don't make them like that, anymore, do they? As for the K-22s, closest we've come is our early 70s Model 17, but it's close enough. This one has the honor of shooting some of my best ever offhand groups. Love the gun so much, that we added the new Model 17 Classic as to not put too much wear and tear on the 17-3. The new gun shoots as well, but, as I said, they don't make them like this, anymore.
Mine was shipped, as mentioned, on January 1, 1957. Found a guy, online, who had the same gun that was only one last digit off from mine and that's what Smith told him when he researched it.
1 x
Re: S&W K-38 Masterpiece
.
Different grips, your .22 looks very much like my 1947.
Different grips, your .22 looks very much like my 1947.
North Country Gal wrote:Thanks, guys.
Love that one, too, BigAl. They really don't make them like that, anymore, do they? As for the K-22s, closest we've come is our early 70s Model 17, but it's close enough. This one has the honor of shooting some of my best ever offhand groups. Love the gun so much, that we added the new Model 17 Classic as to not put too much wear and tear on the 17-3. The new gun shoots as well, but, as I said, they don't make them like this, anymore.
Mine was shipped, as mentioned, on January 1, 1957. Found a guy, online, who had the same gun that was only one last digit off from mine and that's what Smith told him when he researched it.
1 x
UPDATES: OR passes 114, "one of strictest gun control measures in U.S." https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic. ... 34#p213234