Help to ID a 5 Screw .38 Special

[DrJeds44]

Need some help identifying a revolver that was recently given to me. First off no its not for sale. Came from a very good friend who is on the short side of life. I will try to post some photos but my skills are lacking in that department. If you want to message me directly I can send them to you via email. But here we go with what I know. The barrel is bulged so I may be looking for a replacement if any of you know a source.

-Smith And Wesson
-.38 Special(marked on the barrel as follows 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG.) The & is the old style that was used.
-5 screw pattern revolver
-6 inch barrel
-Adjustable sights with a partridge front
-No model number inside the frame
-Serial number is on the bottom of the Grip and the underside of the barrel
-Very upswept hammer, maybe "the speed hammer"

[DrJeds44]

Serial number K 75879

[DrJeds44]

-Barrel SMITH & WESSON on the side with the old style &
-4 Line address

[DrJeds44]

-Barrel is pinned, cylinder is not recessed.
I think that is it. Someone tell me what I have and if there are any barrels out there.
Thanks for those that reply.

[Blue]

I have one very very similar to that but it’s a 6 digit serial number with no letter prefix. It was my wife’s great grandfathers that he was issued in the navy during world war 1. Her grandfather cut the barrel, reshaped the back strap, and carried it on his subs during world war 2. I also have a replacement barrel for this gun with matching serial number from Smith and Wesson that her grandfather must have some how fanangled.

[2761377]

that's a K-38 Masterpiece.

the 4 line address indicates manufacture 1948 or later; the serial number, which starts with K, would date it to the nearest year.

[2761377]

i see the s/n now

1949 according to SCSW

[DrJeds44]

i see the s/n now

1949 according to SCSW

Thank you for the assistance.

[Wyatt Burp]

[kendog4570]

...That hammer spur is a dead giveaway that it was made between 1948-1953 or close to this. ....

Also the skinny rib.

[highpower]

Congratulations on your K38 Masterpiece. they are wonderful revolvers and with 148 grain target wadcutter ammo they are incredibly accurate.

Originally there were three revolvers made in the Masterpiece series; K38, K32 and the K22. The K38 and K22's are fairly easy to find, but the K32 is a rare bird that doesn't turn up very often and are expensive when you do locate one for sale. I have been looking for forty years for a reasonably affordable K32 Masterpiece, but now that the early ones regularly sell for 4K or more, I fear that I am out of the market for one.

They were made for a particular type of match were you used a .22 rimfire, a minor caliber centerfire (.32S&W) and a major caliber centerfire (.38S&W Special). As such, the K22 had a pared down barrel profile compared to the centerfire revolvers to keep the balance the same.

I have heard that early on they were hand fitted and the actions on my 1948 K22 (left) and 1950 K38 (right) certainly feel like it, but then again I think that back then most of their guns got a bit of hand fitting.


I have a bad habit of buying pretty much any four or five screw S&W I run across if it is reasonably priced and have a couple of 1948 vintage K22's and, along with the pictured K38, I also have a '54 vintage K38 combat Masterpiece.

[Wyatt Burp]

Congratulations on your K38 Masterpiece. they are wonderful revolvers and with 148 grain target wadcutter ammo they are incredibly accurate.

Originally there were three revolvers made in the Masterpiece series; K38, K32 and the K22. The K38 and K22's are fairly easy to find, but the K32 is a rare bird that doesn't turn up very often and are expensive when you do locate one for sale. I have been looking for forty years for a reasonably affordable K32 Masterpiece, but now that the early ones regularly sell for 4K or more, I fear that I am out of the market for one.

They were made for a particular type of match were you used a .22 rimfire, a minor caliber centerfire (.32S&W) and a major caliber centerfire (.38S&W Special). As such, the K22 had a pared down barrel profile compared to the centerfire revolvers to keep the balance the same.

I have heard that early on they were hand fitted and the actions on my 1948 K22 (left) and 1950 K38 (right) certainly feel like it, but then again I think that back then most of their guns got a bit of hand fitting.


I have a bad habit of buying pretty much any four or five screw S&W I run across if it is reasonably priced and have a couple of 1948 vintage K22's and, along with the pictured K38, I also have a '54 vintage K38 combat Masterpiece.

In 1988 my wife and I went to Livingston, Montana and while there I visited gunwriter Mike Venturino who I had mutual friends with. He showed me his Triplelock Target Model and also his K32, both of which I recognized from his articles. The 6” M&P .38 I’m trying to buy now has the hammer spur like yours and the OP’s. It”s actually the 1st time I handled one with that hammer. It”s $499 plus CA extortion fees. Nice Diamond magnas, too but have to check for refinishing again, but that ain”t a deal breaker. Those two you have really compliment each other. My late 70s Model 18 .22 is the most accurate gun I’ve ever owned. a gun shop in Jackson has a shooter grade version of your K38 and it’s $999 on consignment.

[kendog4570]

Congratulations on your K38 Masterpiece. they are wonderful revolvers and with 148 grain target wadcutter ammo they are incredibly accurate.

Originally there were three revolvers made in the Masterpiece series; K38, K32 and the K22. The K38 and K22's are fairly easy to find, but the K32 is a rare bird that doesn't turn up very often and are expensive when you do locate one for sale. I have been looking for forty years for a reasonably affordable K32 Masterpiece, but now that the early ones regularly sell for 4K or more, I fear that I am out of the market for one.

They were made for a particular type of match were you used a .22 rimfire, a minor caliber centerfire (.32S&W) and a major caliber centerfire (.38S&W Special). As such, the K22 had a pared down barrel profile compared to the centerfire revolvers to keep the balance the same.

I have heard that early on they were hand fitted and the actions on my 1948 K22 (left) and 1950 K38 (right) certainly feel like it, but then again I think that back then most of their guns got a bit of hand fitting.


I have a bad habit of buying pretty much any four or five screw S&W I run across if it is reasonably priced and have a couple of 1948 vintage K22's and, along with the pictured K38, I also have a '54 vintage K38 combat Masterpiece.

Nice guns. Wish they still made them like that...

[kendog4570]

Mike V is one of the few gun writers that, when he talks, you listen.

[hambam105]

Those are some fantastic looking Smith & Wesson Revolvers.

But are you sure I can't interest you in a good Tarus? Lifetime guarantee...