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Old February 6, 2010, 05:37 PM   #2551
FlyFish
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DavidLaney -

Your Model 14 dates from 1966, and was known as the K-38 Target Masterpiece prior to the model numbering system that S&W started in 1957. It's the premier .38 Special target revolver and one of those guns that just about every S&W aficionado either has or wants. I have two of them, and they're the first revolvers that my wife and I take out of the safe when we're headed to the range. The "CTG" on the barrel is simply an abbreviation for "cartridge," as in ".38 Special Cartridge."

The 4" barrel is interesting. The vast majority of M14s came with 6" barrels, with some 8-3/8" made toward the end of the production run (M14s were discontinued in 1999). There was a very limited run of 4" barrels made in 1965, with the reported SN range of K623337 to K624496. It's possible that the SN range isn't quite correct, because the book does use the word "reported," and yours could be one of those (possible, but I think unlikely). It's also possible that your gun was a special order, or was fitted later with the 4" barrel, or had the original 6" barrel cut. If the latter, the engraving on the barrel should clearly appear uncentered (i.e. would be too close to the muzzle). The shape of the front sight (Patridge vs. ramped) would also be good to know. If you could post a picture that would be great.

Regardless, you've got a really nice revolver there - with the 4" barrel it's actually a bit more like a Model 15, which was essentially the same gun fitted with a 4" barrel and ramped instead of target (Patridge) sight configuration. It was called the K-38 Combat Masterpiece.
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Old February 6, 2010, 06:09 PM   #2552
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FlyFish,

Thanks for the reply and thanks a ton for the info. One of the things about the revolver is that dad got it brand new back in 1960. Here's the pics of the revolver, the engraving on the barrel is pretty well centered.

Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; November 30, 2013 at 11:47 AM.
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Old February 6, 2010, 07:11 PM   #2553
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David - That SN is too high for your Dad to have acquired the gun in 1960 - the production that year ended with K429894. Based on the photo, I agree that the position of the caliber marking on the right side of the barrel eliminates the possibility that the barrel was shortened. Also, the front sight is the ramped sight, as was used on the Model 15 (and lots of other models). So, that leaves us with all the other possibilities, plus an additional one that I should have mentioned before - the gun could be a Model 15 that was mis-marked, which has been known to happen.

I'd recommend calling S&W to see what they might be able to tell you about it, and (based on that) maybe even springing for the $50 factory letter that should nail it down for you.
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Old February 6, 2010, 07:22 PM   #2554
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Fly,

Thanks for all the info you been shelling out to me here about this, cause frankly I'm nowhere near a gun expert. About calling S&W and springing the $50 for the factory letter, I kinda planed on doing that anyway, but I figured mise well find as many things about this series of revolver before I shell that $50 out for the letter. Once again thanks a ton for all the info you've put out.
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Old February 7, 2010, 12:01 PM   #2555
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I'm another clueless-about-guns guy, sent here by Google, whose father left him a Smith and Wesson. This is a .357 Magnum. I find no model number; the number on the bottom of the grip is S 100XXX.

This might be fairly old. Would this still be usable or have any value (physically it seems to be in good shape)?

Thanks for any info anyone can give me.
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Old February 7, 2010, 03:43 PM   #2556
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S100xxx puts it at 1953-54
I believe you have a pre model 27.
I believe it would still be usable, but you may want a competent gunsmith to confirm this.
As for value, in pretty good condition anywhere from $375-500.


flyfish and layton, please correct me if I have made any mistakes.

Danny
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Old February 7, 2010, 03:51 PM   #2557
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vikz
serial #cfm00xx ,model 60.

Appears between Aug and Dec 2002 Model 60-17
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Old February 7, 2010, 05:23 PM   #2558
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Quote:
S100xxx puts it at 1953-54
I believe you have a pre model 27.
I believe it would still be usable, but you may want a competent gunsmith to confirm this.
As for value, in pretty good condition anywhere from $375-500.
The only thing I would add is the value. Currently, an early 5 screw 357 (pre 27) can range from ~$500 in well used condition to well north of $1k in minty condition.

Jim
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Old February 7, 2010, 08:05 PM   #2559
stevblev
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hi we just found one of my great grandpa's smith and wesson 38 specials
6 shot double action fixed sight
serial number is 482xxx
how old is it?

Last edited by stevblev; February 7, 2010 at 08:13 PM.
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Old February 7, 2010, 08:18 PM   #2560
salerosa
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Quote:
S100xxx puts it at 1953-54
I believe you have a pre model 27.
I believe it would still be usable, but you may want a competent gunsmith to confirm this.
As for value, in pretty good condition anywhere from $375-500.
The only thing I would add is the value. Currently, an early 5 screw 357 (pre 27) can range from ~$500 in well used condition to well north of $1k in minty condition.
Thanks much for this info.
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Old February 7, 2010, 11:10 PM   #2561
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my grandpa gave me his 38 s&w special ctg serial number 86 k2307 also MOD.15-4 C10 94042 The gun is nickel plated (i think) it is in a leather holster stamped 1934 with S&w logo the serial number is on the butt and when you swing the cylinder out 8 6 K2307. i was just wondering how old it was i would never sell it.
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Old February 8, 2010, 07:40 AM   #2562
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joshuadan: Your 15-4 dates from 1980. As you noted, 86K2307 is the serial number - the C10 and 94042, which I assume are stamped in the frame cutout when you swing the cylinder out, are known as "assembly numbers" that are used during manufacture and have no particular significance. The .38 S&W Special CTG marking on the barrel is the caliber - .38 Smith and Wesson Special, more commonly known as just .38 Special. "CTG" is the abbreviation for "cartridge."
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Old February 8, 2010, 01:48 PM   #2563
laytonj1
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Quote:
hi we just found one of my great grandpa's smith and wesson 38 specials
6 shot double action fixed sight
serial number is 482xxx
how old is it?
1920's

Jim
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Old February 8, 2010, 05:20 PM   #2564
ScottRiqui
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Grip interchangeability?

What are the odds that a pre-Model 10 with a serial number in the 472,000 range would have the same (or very similar) grips as one from the 623,000 range?

When my father gave me my grandfather's pistol, it had some artifical stag-horn grips on it. They weren't very comfortable, so I replaced them with some Uncle Mike's rubber wrap-around grips (I kept the fake stag-horn ones, though).

eBay has some original wooden grips (the ones in the 623,000 range), and I'm curious if they're close enough to what would have come on mine to make it worth bidding on them.

Thanks,
Scott
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Old February 8, 2010, 09:51 PM   #2565
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Quote:
What are the odds that a pre-Model 10 with a serial number in the 472,000 range would have the same (or very similar) grips as one from the 623,000 range?
Tough question. The problem is that SCSW just lists a wide range for dates and SNs on those old .38 M&Ps: SN 241704 in 1915, and SN 700000 in 1942. If we do a little interpolating, making the assumption that production was spread evenly over those years (which is admittedly a SWAG), then your gun was made around 1928, and a gun in the 623,000 range would have been made around 1937.

S&W used the same grips on the early K-frame hand ejectors from 1920 to 1929, then changed to a different design from 1929 to 1941, so the problem is that, using the assumptions above, your gun is right on the cusp of the change in 1929, which was to go from a grip that had no medallion (i.e., just smooth walnut at the top) to one that had flush-mounted silver medallions. I would say it's a toss-up which of those options your gun originally came with. Either way, you would want the older-style round top grips, not the magna style (and maybe that's close enough?).
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Old February 8, 2010, 10:52 PM   #2566
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Thanks so much. I'm not obsessed with getting the "correct" grips for the pistol, but I'd like to find some that are at least "appropriate" to its vintage.

I think I'm going to pay the S&W historian to find out more about the pistol (and get the pretty certificate). I'll post the manufacture date here so at least we'll have one more data point within the 1915-1942 range.

On an unrelated note, why don't I have a "quote" button?
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Old February 9, 2010, 08:06 AM   #2567
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Quote:
On an unrelated note, why don't I have a "quote" button?
You need to copy the part of the text you want to quote, then paste it into your reply, then highlight it and hit the "quote" icon just to the right of the little mountain icon over on the right side of the row of formatting options.

When you get the manufacture date for your revolver, pretty much anyone here with a copy of SCSW can tell you what the original grips would have been, and you can go from there. Be sure to check over at the S&W Forum, where I'll bet someone will have exactly what you need (price might be another matter).
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Old February 10, 2010, 11:41 AM   #2568
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29-2

My friend has a 29-2 sn-N360XX, blued and 8 3/8 barrel. Could you please tell me the year and about how much one would be worth in close to great condition. Gun only no box or anything. He is going to sell it for $350 but seems too cheap to me. Thanks for any help in helping him.
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Old February 10, 2010, 11:50 AM   #2569
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Quote:
My friend has a 29-2 sn-N360XX, blued and 8 3/8 barrel. Could you please tell me the year and about how much one would be worth in close to great condition. Gun only no box or anything. He is going to sell it for $350 but seems too cheap to me. Thanks for any help in helping him.
I dont have my book to tell me the year, but a dash 2 would be early in the line.

$350 would be way low, unless he sells it to me
Look at Gunbroker.net for similar guns and you will find the prices end up starting in the mid to high $500s and go up from there.
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Old February 10, 2010, 12:22 PM   #2570
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Old February 10, 2010, 01:59 PM   #2571
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Quote:
Look at Gunbroker.net for similar guns and you will find the prices end up starting in the mid to high $500s and go up from there.
+1, M29-2s with the 8-3/8" barrel are uncommon, and if it's an N frame, "uncommon" = $700+.

There's a very similar gun on GB that will probably sell this afternoon, so you might want to see where it ends up.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=156542992
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Old February 10, 2010, 02:55 PM   #2572
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thank you guys for helping out. You are quick and very informative. Thanks.
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Old February 10, 2010, 07:08 PM   #2573
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Smith sisters....

Good evening!

Is there any date of manufacture information on my new "Smith sisters"?
Model 67-1 Serial Number AWA75XX

Model 15-3 Serial Number 3K25XX
I got a bad case of 38s last week!
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Old February 10, 2010, 09:34 PM   #2574
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Model 67-1 Serial Number AWA75XX = 1987.

Model 15-3 Serial Number 3K25XX = 1971.

Jim
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Old February 10, 2010, 09:35 PM   #2575
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Thanks so much Jim!!
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