K-38 or K-38 Master piece

[95Road King]

What's the differance between a S&W K-38 and a S&WK-38 MASTERPIECE??? :?  :?

[IntrepidWizard]

I think the Masterpiece was the for runner of the M-19 Combat Masterpiece.

[Graybeard]

Actually I think you have the designations mixed up.

The Model 14 is called the K38 and Masterpiece. The Model 15 is the Combat Masterpiece but is not designated as K38. That I believe is the difference you're seeking. The Model 14 was offered in both 6" and 8-3/8" versions. I've owned several of both. Have a 6" for sale in Classifieds now. The Model 15 was offered with 2" and 4" barrels. Otherwise they were pretty much identical guns. I.E., K-frame blue guns with target sights.

[95Road King]

In the Blue Book of gun value's, there listed as being differant. There is a differance in value!!! :?  :?

[Graybeard]

Are you talking about differences other than what I mentioned? Don't understand what you're trying to say. Some folks call all K-frame .38 Special guns K38 but technically I don't think that is correct.

Gun Trader's guide and most sources I've seen call the Model 14 the Masterpeice or K38 Masterpiece and the Model 15 the Combat Masterpiece also with the K38 attached at times. Both are correctly called K38s I believe but one a Masterpiece and one a Combat Masterpiece. Then you also have the SS guns that came along later with other model designations but basically same except being SS rather than blued. The best way to differentiate S&W revolvers after model numbers were assigned is to go by the model number not the name. The names are some times confused in various sources.

The box for my Model 14 6" I have for sale on Classifieds says K38 Masterpiece. This is just as I've laid out above.

[95Road King]

I'm not sure about any of this either?? I went to trade my K-38 in yesterday at my local gun store. I am very good friend's with the owner.
 AS he looked in gun value book that's when he asked if this was a MASTERPIECE. I said is there a price difference. He said yes.??
  All I know is mine is marked Mod. 14-2. If I can make to the store today
 I WILL persue this further!!!LOL   Mabey we'll all learn something??
     I don't want to get to hung up on this as I still have my 686 I'm setting up for deer.(Bow hunting with a handgun)LOL
    I'm still thinking about that SRH .44 Mag he has. I wish some one would buy it then I would forget about it. It's a good buy and I know it.
     Now if that was a S&W 629, I'd own it!!
    Thank's Greybeard. :grin:  :grin:

[Graybeard]

Your 14-2 is a K38 Masterpiece same as mine is. Mine is a 14-3

[IntrepidWizard]

Bill you made go and get it down from the closet,I got it in 58 K 260xxx S&W 357 in it's Tommy Threeperson holster made by Meyers in El Paso,still in good shape with Baughman grips.

[95Road King]

Greybeard:
     Went to gun store today and looked at "BLUE BOOK' value's. They also had a S&W only book. Copied 2 page's from it and will try to post them.
    Here's a little info on them. There was a target model K-38.
    There was a K-38 masterpiece 6" FULL lug bbl. with combat style MORADO grip's???
    There was a SINGLE action K-38, FULL bbl. under lug. Pulling the trigger rotated the cyl. but hammer would NOT raise.
    Back to original ?. Your right GREYBEARD!! We have K-38 masterpiece.
    Hope I can post those 2 S&W page's. Interesting!!
    Also, here's S&W ph. no.  800-331-0852 :?  :grin:

[Graybeard]

I owned one of the M14 single action guns. As far as I know the fellow I shot with back then who bought it still has it. I might be wrong but as best as I can recall pulling the trigger did not rotate cylinder. It functioned exactly like any other single action gun. You have to cock hammer manual and drop it by pulling trigger. Cylinder rotates only when hammer is cocked. But that was maybe 25 or more years ago when I sold that gun.

Any full underlug barrels would have been very recent manufacture. I've really not kept up with S&W guns in a good while and since the agreement have pretty much ignored them all together. But I'm thinking they might have a different model designation than Model 14. To be honest I really don't recall seeing this one but do seem to recall a .32 with full lug so a .38 with full lug is likely I guess.

For awhile S&W turned out a new model each week it seemed like in a quest to shore up sagging sales.

I once tried to stay up on the S&W guns but have not in a great long time now.

[unspellable]

Both the S&W K38 and Colt Officer's match single actions will rotate the cylinder when the trigger is pulled without cocking the hammer.  This generally true of any single action built on a double action frame since the hand rides on the trigger while in a single action such as a Blackhawk or a Colt SAA the hand rides on the hammer allowing fanning which won't work on the K38 or Officer's match.

To muddy the water further, the S&W Model 14 and Model 15 are often confused themselves as to what they are.  S&W was a bit free about which parts they put on the revolver.  I have one that is quite confused about whether it's a Model 14 or Model 15.

One difference in the true Model 14 is that the barrel top rib width is set so as to make the revolver weigh the same as the 32 or 22 version.add to the confusion.

[95Road King]

NUMBERED MODEL REVOLVERS

heavy barrel with square butt, blue finish, service walnut grips, K frame, 6-shot, serrated ramp front sight wtsquare notch rear sight, counterbored and fluted cylinder, .312" smooth combat trigger, .265" service hammer, original "D" serial' prefix. Popular F.B.I. issue sidearm in 1974 and 1986-87. Successor to Model 10-6 in .357. Retail $394. 1974-DATE
Note: Not to be confused with the M-13 Aircrewman, listed in previous section.
Nm Exc VG Good Fair Poor 350 260 220 185 150 100 Variations:
. Premium for nickel or for N.Y.S.P. marked gun (1200 made).
. Model PC-13 .357: Cal-.357 Magnum, production of 400 units from the Performance Center for Lew Horton. "A very serious carry revolver." Four Magna ports on a 3" barrel, fixed sight rear sight w tramp front sight, Secret Service boot grips on a Kframe, 6-shot, bobbed hammer, double action only, matte blue finish with beveled cylinder latch, trigger, and charge holes. Shrouded extractor rod, trigger has overtravel stop. 1995.
Changes:
13-1 1974 Introduced this year for N. Y.S.P.
13-2 1977 Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder
13-3 1982 Eliminate cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel
13-4 1988 New yoke retention system/radius stud package 1994 Synthetic grips; change extractor
Prodnct Codes:
1003043" HB B RB 84-96 31 oz. 1003064" HB B SB 84-96 34 oz. 1003083" HB NRB 84-86 1003104" HBNSB 84-86

MODEL 14: THE K-38 TARGET MASTERPIECE (Postwar):
Cal-.38 Special, target model, 6-shot, 6" or 8-3/8" pinned and ribbed barrel, blue finish (nickel rare), adjustable rear sight, K Target frame, double action, 5-screw frame, 1/8" Patridge front sight, checkered walnut grips, with .500" serrated trigger,


 
Model 14

.500" target hammer, serrated backstrap and forestrap. Matched in weight with K-22 Masterpiece and K-32 Masterpiece and offered as a matching companion gun. 1947-1982
Nm Exc VG Good Fair Poor 385 285 225 185 150 85
Variations:
. 20% premium for.5-screw model Changes:
1947 Begin production @ serial K-1661
1949 mfd. heavy barrel to match K-17 and K-32 in weight
Delete sideplate screw
Continued as Model 14
Stamping of model number
Right hand to left hand thread extractor rod Introduce 8-3/8'.0 barrel
Cylinder stop changed, delete triggerguard screw
Production of 184 with a 4" barrel, serial number range of K623343-K624495
Relocation of rear sight leaf screw Begin "D" serial prefix
Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder

14 14-1 14-2

1?55 1957 1957 1959 1959 1961

1965

14-3 14-4

1967 1968 1977

MODEL 14: THE K-38 MASTERPIECE SINGLE ACTION:
Cal-.38 Special, as above with single action only. Internal deletion of parts allow single action only ,p~I!!l?cg,the trigger only rotates the cylinder, but does not lift the hammer.
1961-1982
NIB Exc VG Good Fair Poor 425 325 250 185 135 85

MODEL 14: THE K-38 HEAVY BARREL FULL LUG: Cal-.38 Special, 6" full lug barrel, K Target frame, 6-shot, square butt, .500" target hammer, wood combat grips, blue finish, ribbed barrel, adjustable rear sight, .312" smooth combat target trigger, pinned Patridge front sight on ramp base. Serrated backstrap and forestrap. Retail $465. 199 I-DATE
Nm Exc VG Good Fair Poor 375 275 210 175 135 85
Variations:
. Specia11995: Production of 4" barrel for Perry & Assoc. for pistol teams. Accurized from the Performance Center. Limited production.
. "Last Stand": See Twelve Revolvers under "Commemoratives and Specials."
Changes:
14-5 1991 Full lug barrel initial run of 2,000 @ introduction
1992 Became std. production
14-6 1994 Synthetic grips, drill and tap, change extractor, change rear sight
Product Code:
1003386" B FL SB AS 91-96 47 oz.

NUMBERED MODEL REVOLVERS

113


 
Model IS

MODEL 15: THE K-38 COMBAT MASTERPIECE: Cal-.38 Special, adjustable rear sights, 6-shot, K Target frame, originally made with a 4" barrel then 2", 6", or 8-3/8", (5" rare) pinned and narrow ribbed barrel, blue or nickel finish, .375" or .500" target hammer, 1/8" Baughman Quick Draw on plain ramp base front sight, 5-screw frame, square butt with walnut grips, .312" smooth combat trigger on 2" and 4", .265" serrated service trigger on 6" and 83/8", .400" target trigger on 4" barrel. Serrated backstrap and forestrap. Original "K" serial prefix. 1949-DATE
NIB Exc VG Good Fair Poor
375 275 200 165 135 85 Variations:
. U.S.A.F. Issue: In 1966, approx. 2000 Model15s with 4" barrel were shipped to Warner Robbins A.F.B. w/"U.S.A.F." on left of frame, other markings unknown. Model 15-2. Worth 4X standard model in higher condition grades, double in lower grades.
. 19894" heavy barrel: With red ramp, mfd. for D.C. police. .
Changes: 1955 1957

15 J 15-1 15-2
15-3 15-4
15-5

L957 L959 1961 1964 1967 1977 1982

Delete upper sideplate screw
K-38 Combat Masterpiece continued as Model 15
Stamping of model number
Right hand to left hand thread extractor rod Delete triggerguard screw, change cylinder stop Introduce 2" heavy barrel
Relocation of rear sight leaf screw
Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder Pin~ed barrel eliminated Various internal change&
Introduction of 6" and 8-3/8" barrel
New yoke retention system/radius stud package Discontinue 8-3/8" and 2" barrel
Discontinue 6" barrel, blue finish only Synthetic grips, drill and tap, change rear sight, change extractor

198(j 15-61988 1988 1992 15-71994

Product Codes:
1004022" B SB 84-87 30 oz. 1004044" B SB 84-86 32 oz. 100405 4" B SB TT TH 84-86 100407 2" N SB 84-86 1004094" N SB 84-87
100411 6" B SB 86-92 35 oz. 100413 8-3/8" B SB 86-87 39 oz. 1004194" B SB CT TH 87-96
MODEIJ 16: The K-32 MASTERPIECE (Postwar) (C&R): Cal-.32 S&W Long, K Target frame, this postwar model now
incorporates a new hammer block and a barrel rib, adjustable rear sight, 6-shot w/fluted cylinder, 6" pinned barrel with rib, checkered walnut grips, blue finish, 4" barrel rare, being designated as the .32 Combat Masterpiece, square butt, 5-screw frame, non-shrouded extractor rod, 1/8" or 1'/10" plain Patridge front sight, matched in weight with the K-22 and K-38 Masterpiece, serrated backstrap and forestrap. "K" serial prefix. Scarce gun with sIn's hard to track. See listings under K-32 in previous section. Also, some Model 16-2s known in sIn range K827718-827829 and some 16-3s known in sIn range 3K29411- 30791. 3630 mfd. 1947-1974
Previously produced as K-32 Masterpiece NIB Exc VG Good Fair Poor
1250 1000 700 450 300 250 Changes:
1949 Mfd. heavy barrel to Match K-17 and K-38 in weight -
1955 Delete sideplate screw
16 1957 Stamping of model number
16-1 1959 Right hand to left hand thread extractor rod
16-2 1961 Delete triggerguard screw, change cylinder stop 16-3 1967 Relocation of rear sight leaf screw
MODEIJ 16: THE K-32 REINTRODUCTION - FULl.. ~
Cal-.32 H&R MAG, 4", 6", or 8-3/8" full lug barrel, 6-shot, blue finish, target hammer, target trigger, Goncalo Alves combat wood combat grips, adjustable rear sight, K Target frame, ribbed barrel, Patridge front sight, 4" w/.375" semi-target hammer and .312" smooth combat trigger, 6" and 8-3/8" with .500" target hammer and .400" serrated target trigger, serrated backstrap and. forestrap. Three-letter serial prefix. 1989-1992
NIB Exc VG Good Fair Poor 425 300 250 175 135 85
Changes:
16-4 1989 Intro full lug barrel
1992 Discontinue 4" and 8-3/8" barrel Product Codes:
1005584" B CS SB ST CT FL -- 42 oz. 1005606'! B CS SB TH TT FL 47 oz. 1005628-3/8" B CS SB TH TT FL 54 oz.

YO 90-92 90
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