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Post by Junior on Mar 22, 2022 21:06:05 GMT -7
About 3 months ago something caught my eye at one of the gun shops I go to. I didn't have the cash at the time, and begrudgingly left the beauty behind. Fit forward to today, and I stepped into the shot to pick up some 3.5" 12ga ammo, and as I glanced, or maybe drooled over the pistol case, my eye was drawn to the far left side. it couldn't be! by some miracle that marvelous piece of steel and wood was still in the case. I whipped out my wallet and checked how much cash I had, and gave the shop owner $200 to hold it for me. Went to the bank, and pulled out another $475 and went back and filled out the adoption papers. So what is this marvel that caught my eye you ask? A 1953 Vintage Smith&Wesson K38 Masterpiece (Pre model 14) fitted with a 6" barrel and diamond checkered Magna stocks. The old girl is in very good shape for her age, with just a slight amount of muzzle wear, and a faint ring around the cylinder. I raced home, and grabbed a box of mild 38 special ammo off the shelf and headed out to the range. Cocked the hammer back and it just went click. cocked it back again, and same thing. Popped the cylinder open to find two rounds with very very light strikes. I had noticed that the screw for the hammer spring in the grip was backed out quite a bit, so I wanted to the shed and got a screw driver and tightened it up. Sure enough that did the trick, and I was in hogleg heaven. The old pistol will outshoot my ability's no matter what way you look at it. Really looking forward to getting to know this old girl. OH YEAH. And after I got home, the shop called and said they forgot to give me the box. He had the factory box for me along with all the hardware.
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Post by missionary on Mar 23, 2022 7:50:57 GMT -7
Nice find ! Some days it does pay to be patient and wait on God's good timing. With the box some collector would pay the upper limits.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 23, 2022 7:57:11 GMT -7
Very very nice. If I send you a couple boxes of hollow base wad cutters the bullets it was intended to shoot will you send back what's left of them with the gun when your tired of it? Am I being too pushy? Seriously though you own a legend there made at a time when quality was the first order of business unlike today when corporate profit is king and quality an afterthought.
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Post by missionary on Mar 23, 2022 8:04:17 GMT -7
Good offer and advice Dan !
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Post by Junior on Mar 23, 2022 17:05:58 GMT -7
I don’t think this pistol has been shot all that much. I have a 586 no dash that I bought a couple years ago that was virtually unfired when I got it, and I’ve shot less then 500 rounds through it, and it shows quite a bit more of a ring around the cylinder then the K38 does. 586 is shown on top in this photo. I had a extra set of target grips laying around, and those fit my hand much better then the Magna style grips do, so I swapped the grips out and removed the trigger shoe. I was hoping to get out to the range and shoot it off the bench at 35 yards today, but not sure that I’ll be able to today.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 23, 2022 17:48:55 GMT -7
The drag ring is as much about timing as it is ware. If properly timed the locking latch should not pop up until the locking notch is almost in alignment. The locking latch popping up too soon is what causes the drag ring.
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Post by Junior on Mar 23, 2022 18:21:30 GMT -7
My 29-5 that I shoot the most has a significant ring all the way around it, as well as most of the bluing worn off. It was another one I picked up looking like it have barely been fired, but I’ve but a lot of rounds through that gun, I would estimate 5-6000
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Post by Junior on Mar 23, 2022 20:40:33 GMT -7
Good grief this gun will shoot. Five shots on each card at 7 yards. This gun will out shoot me any day of the week. I think it’s a keeper! On a side note, I did swap out for a set of target grips that I had laying around. They just fit my hand better.
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Post by missionary on Mar 24, 2022 3:31:37 GMT -7
Dan is right about cylinder rings. That locking lug should not touch the cylinder until it is in line with about half the ramp that leads to the notch. That is all hand fitting and takes time thus $$$ / profits.
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Post by Junior on Mar 24, 2022 12:32:12 GMT -7
Dan is right about cylinder rings. That locking lug should not touch the cylinder until it is in line with about half the ramp that leads to the notch. That is all hand fitting and takes time thus $$$ / profits. I enjoy the look of honest wear on a pistol. I know the collectors will hate me, but I have every intention of sticking this K38 in a holster and packing it around looking for small game.
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Post by missionary on Mar 24, 2022 18:30:39 GMT -7
About 10 years back I bought a new in the box 38 Special Colt Police Positive Special 4" made in the 60's from a police officer who retired. I promptly took it out that day and ran 12 rounds through it. Smiled the whole time. You are the owner That is all that matters.
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Post by Junior on Mar 24, 2022 22:40:28 GMT -7
I'm not a collector, I'm a shooter. If I didn't intend to use it, I never would have bought it
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 25, 2022 6:53:32 GMT -7
It has always puzzled me that most of the people that are vendors at gun shows dont do much shooting and seem ignorant about the mechanics of accuracy.
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Post by Junior on Mar 25, 2022 12:48:10 GMT -7
I have a good friend, I would go as far as saying he is like a brother to me who is a gun guy. Reloads, shoots a lot, does a lot of hunting, we go long range shooting together. Good guy.
But his standards of accuracy before I started hanging out with him were lacking. If a rifle would shoot 2 MOA off a rent he thought that was fantastic. First time we went shooting together I whacked a rock about the size of a basket ball with my 1911 out past 100 (I think it was 107 but it’s been awhile, I know it was a little more then 100) yards and his eyes got about as big as saucers. He’s come a long way.
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Post by missionary on Mar 25, 2022 13:42:05 GMT -7
That is great ! We need to be passing on the skills we have been taught. Smacking targets out of the ordinary with firearms does awaken others to possibilities.
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Post by Junior on Mar 26, 2022 22:43:30 GMT -7
Grabbed the K38 tonight and a coffee can full of ammo, jumped in the old Ford and took off to find a back road and look for a rabbit or a grouse. no luck finding any game, but I did find plenty of stuff poking up out of the melting snow to shoot at.
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Post by missionary on Mar 27, 2022 3:58:19 GMT -7
Life sure does improve when the temp warms and a fine revolver is in hand.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 27, 2022 7:25:33 GMT -7
Did I ever tell you the story about shooting the deer with the 38 spl wadcutter target load ?
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Post by missionary on Mar 27, 2022 10:15:32 GMT -7
Not here that I know of. If you do I will tell about the flying grouse I popped with a Colt in 38 Special.
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Post by shootist---Gary on Mar 27, 2022 15:10:02 GMT -7
Come on you 2, the suspense is getting to me while waiting for these stories.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 27, 2022 20:48:49 GMT -7
OK mine went something like this, I had bought one of the first L frame S&W 357 mag revolvers so I was doing a lot of shooting with it mostly with 38 special wad cutter target ammo with very light loads. I was selling firewood between cutting jobs and I was headed up into the mountains in the Skelkaho area with my 1950 Chevy 1 ton to get a load and naturally the Smith was lying on the seat beside me. I rounded a corner near where I was getting my wood and there were several mule deer in the road walking toward me so I just shut down the truck and rolled down my window As the deer got to the truck the split and half went to the passenger side and half to my side. There was a steep bank uphill on my side so when they came by my window they were just a few feet away. Good or bad this was a time in my life when I took deer when needed and I needed one so decided to pop one when it was right beside me. Out came the 38 spl and pop it went and the deer crumpled from a shot to the temple. I decided to drive the truck a couple hundred yards down the road and park it there then walk back to the deer and gut it out so it would be ready to pack in the load of wood so it couldnt be seen. I left the gun in the truck and just brought a knife. When I got back to the deer it was struggling to get back on its feet but was really wobbly but was regaining its senses quickly. I made a dash for it but it was still faster than me and after a few minutes it seemed to fully regain its senses and took off with the other deer. I think the soft wadcutter at about 600 fps knocked it out momentarily but never cracked it coconut and after a few minutes it came to and easily evaded me though it was nip and tuck for a couple minutes and looked like it could go either way. It must have had one terrible headache for a while but I watched them for a bit and it seemed no worse for ware so I went and cut my load of wood. It turned out to be quite a tough load too because with the truck loaded I got stuck in a mud hole and had to unload the whole truck a two chord load then drive across the mud hole then throw the whole load across the mud hole then re load it on the truck. It was like doing the work of two loads but only getting one.
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Post by missionary on Mar 28, 2022 6:07:10 GMT -7
Imagine having to load and unload a 300+ pound carcass along with all the mud hole fun !
One morning, probably a Monday, I headed out to a favorite hilly desert area to scoot around on our Yamaha 175. Always took a 38 Colt revolver along as there were two packs of wild dogs that needed thinned down plus there were some grouse up there that were a tasty meal.
Normally the grouse would sprint between the low dried out bushes as I came riding along through the brush. Once I saw one move I would slowly ride toward it. When I could see it hunkered down in the bush out came the 4"Colt. Been loading a Lyman /Ideal 165 WC with 4 grains Unique for years as this was very accurate in or 38's. Sometimes the grouse would get nervous and run again so it was at times a cat and mouse game. Many would not let me ever get within visible distance even on foot. But some would tire out and I could slowly approach them.
But this one grouse must have watched the demise of his friends. As soon as I had the Colt in hand and was aiming it jumped straight up through the bush flapping those big broad wings. Well the Colt just naturally followed it up so as the front sight passed the neck BAMM. The distance was about 15 feet and I was very pleased but also somewhat surprised. The chunk of lead had passed through the near middle breast then out the far shoulder removing that wing. Was a happy addition to that days grouse dinner.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 28, 2022 8:25:32 GMT -7
It always seems like no one is ever around to verify when those incredible shots take place so you get a "" sure you did "" reaction when you tell someone.
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Post by shootist---Gary on Mar 28, 2022 9:06:57 GMT -7
I'll bet you slept well that night after working like that.
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Post by missionary on Mar 28, 2022 9:21:29 GMT -7
Oh to be younger again and capable of massive strenuous labor.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 28, 2022 12:20:13 GMT -7
To top it off it was a custom cut load for a lady that wanted 12" lengths for a cook stove. That was a lot of pieces. She did pay extra for it though but I didnt ask she offered. I did tell her about the mud hole event though.
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Post by missionary on Mar 28, 2022 13:36:35 GMT -7
Those wold be some short chunks. Whole lot more cutting also. Maybe we need a "getting stuck" tread ?
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Post by Junior on Mar 28, 2022 14:28:58 GMT -7
With the addition of everyone having a cell phone I could tell several getting stuck stories and have the photos to prove it.
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Post by missionary on Mar 28, 2022 16:35:35 GMT -7
Well... not everyone has a cell phone. Or does those other social get together places.
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Post by Bullshop on Mar 28, 2022 16:56:25 GMT -7
Same thing happened about three years ago when on my first trip of spring getting wood I got stuck in a wet spot. The load wasn't near as big but was an honest chord. Same procedure though with emptying the truck then driving out of the hole, then throwing the wood to the truck side of the hole then loading up again. I have no cell phone and it was a really long walk out to the first house and I never use the phone so done even know our number. I figured my best bet was to go with my experience and work my way out. The whole thing had me long overdue from a normal trip and Mama bear had some of our boys rounded up for a search when I came in at about dark. I was much younger on the first time so this last one hurt more. I think I am hearing some silly talk about not letting me go alone any more. Baaa humbug !!! I cant think of no better place to be when my time comes and would rather it happen there than in a hospital with some young foreign doctor poking at me.
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