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$600-750 depending on your local market and what all it comes with. That’s what I’m seeing lately, anyway. GOOD condition is going to be closer to the $750 range, naturally. Either the 64 or 67 would be my choice, very closely followed by a 10, 14, or 15. I just prefer the ease of maintenance on stainless guns. 
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Originally Posted By AZYoungGun: $600-750 depending on your local market and what all it comes with. That’s what I’m seeing lately, anyway. GOOD condition is going to be closer to the $750 range, naturally. Either the 64 or 67 would be my choice, very closely followed by a 10, 14, or 15. I just prefer the ease of maintenance on stainless guns. Where are you finding them for sale? |
I'm addicted to 4" .38 Special's, specifically Model 10's and Model 15's. I have a Model 64, but the stainless examples just don't do much for me. If I had to pick, I'd definitely go with a pencil barrel Model 10-5 or 10-7. Every one I own and have owned have been very accurate and shot to the sights.   Here's a 10-8 that I swapped out the heavy barrel for a light one, then rust blued-  Watch GunBroker closely, some really sell worth the money! |
"People tend to have a proclivity towards an object rather than their own skill."
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Originally Posted By JWagnr: I’ve shot A LOT of .38s in .357 revolvers, probably 100-to-1. Ran a brass cleaning brush through the cylinder after a range session and good to go. Originally Posted By JWagnr: Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: It took a LOT of .38s before .357s started getting hard to load and extract in a GP100; at the time I was shooting around 2-250 rounds of .38 a week. I purposefully didn't clean the cylinder between sessions just because I wanted to see how long it would take to become a problem. As long as you periodically clean your guns as you should it'll never be an issue; if on the other hand you are like one of my uncle's, well it might become a problem.  This is exactly why I didn't post why I wanted a dedicated 38 Special over another 357 Magnum that can shoot 38 Special. No matter what your reasoning is, other people in this hobby want to tell you why you're wrong. I’ve shot A LOT of .38s in .357 revolvers, probably 100-to-1. Ran a brass cleaning brush through the cylinder after a range session and good to go. I've been known to put a brass brush in a cordless drill if the cylinder bores were especially nasty. |
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If range work you describe includes from the holster training fun then definitely go for a 4”. Adjustible sight guns: models 15 blue or 67 stainless Fixed sight guns: models 10 blue or 64 stainless There are 4” guns marked model 14 but it’s an oddity or a rebarrel. I got tired of my model 64 Heavy barrel. It’s heavier than I like but most people prefer them to the taper barrels. Mine is going down the road soon. I’d have been much happier with the light barrels. It does put 158 LRN in nice knot though. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: If range work you describe includes from the holster training fun then definitely go for a 4”. Adjustible sight guns: models 15 blue or 67 stainless Fixed sight guns: models 10 blue or 64 stainless There are 4” guns marked model 14 but it’s an oddity or a rebarrel. I got tired of my model 64 Heavy barrel. It’s heavier than I like but most people prefer them to the taper barrels. Mine is going down the road soon. I’d have been much happier with the light barrels. It does put 158 LRN in nice knot though. What do you want for your 64 heavy barrel? |
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Originally Posted By Joe_Pennsy: No. A 15 K-38 Combat Masterpiece was just a 4" (and 2") version of a 14 K-38 Target Masterpiece (with a different front sight) and the 67 was just the stainless version of the 15. Originally Posted By Joe_Pennsy: Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Is there a difference in a Model 14 and a Model 67? Not talking finish or metal, the design or internals/barrel. No. A 15 K-38 Combat Masterpiece was just a 4" (and 2") version of a 14 K-38 Target Masterpiece (with a different front sight) and the 67 was just the stainless version of the 15. Except the Dayton Special pistols, 4” very heavy barrel Model 14s, made for an LE distributor in the late 1960s, 1970s. There’s almost always an exception when it comes to S&W revolvers. |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: What do you want for your 64 heavy barrel? Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: If range work you describe includes from the holster training fun then definitely go for a 4”. Adjustible sight guns: models 15 blue or 67 stainless Fixed sight guns: models 10 blue or 64 stainless There are 4” guns marked model 14 but it’s an oddity or a rebarrel. I got tired of my model 64 Heavy barrel. It’s heavier than I like but most people prefer them to the taper barrels. Mine is going down the road soon. I’d have been much happier with the light barrels. It does put 158 LRN in nice knot though. What do you want for your 64 heavy barrel? I’ll PM ya to comply with rules. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By JWagnr: Except the Dayton Special pistols, 4” very heavy barrel Model 14s, made for an LE distributor in the late 1960s, 1970s. There’s almost always an exception when it comes to S&W revolvers. Originally Posted By JWagnr: Originally Posted By Joe_Pennsy: Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Is there a difference in a Model 14 and a Model 67? Not talking finish or metal, the design or internals/barrel. No. A 15 K-38 Combat Masterpiece was just a 4" (and 2") version of a 14 K-38 Target Masterpiece (with a different front sight) and the 67 was just the stainless version of the 15. Except the Dayton Special pistols, 4” very heavy barrel Model 14s, made for an LE distributor in the late 1960s, 1970s. There’s almost always an exception when it comes to S&W revolvers. Exactly! That’s why I said there were some 14’s with a 4” barrel. Some PDs ordered them as 14s with 4” barrels. Iirc I read that LAPD was one. Or maybe they got 19s in .38 special instead of .357 magnum. Same as a regular 19 with short cut chambers as the department required .38 ammo and only issued ammo was to be used on duty. I am no expert, just a guy that reads too much. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: I need a 38 Special revolver and I don't know what the best one would be to grab. Will never be carried and only be used as an accurate range gun. Need to be a 6 shot and cannot be a 357 Magnum either. A four or six in K38 or M14/15. Good K38's can be bought for $750-900. Check out the Smith-Wessonforum.com |
Dave Funk
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition. Past President of the Iowa Chapter-SCI.
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition. Past President of the Iowa Chapter-SCI.
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Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: Exactly! That’s why I said there were some 14’s with a 4” barrel. Some PDs ordered them as 14s with 4” barrels. Iirc I read that LAPD was one. Or maybe they got 19s in .38 special instead of .357 magnum. Same as a regular 19 with short cut chambers as the department required .38 ammo and only issued ammo was to be used on duty. I am no expert, just a guy that reads too much. LAPD authorized personally owned stainless Model 68s with a 6” barrel. They looked a lot like the .357 Model 66, but in .38 Spl. IIRC, the Model 68 had a shorter cylinder, not just chamber, than the Model 66. The Calif. Hwy. Patrol ordered Model 68s and issued a .38 Spl +P+ load. When they sold the pistols, they stamped over the ‘CHP’ marking to ‘OHB’. Like you, I read too much and could be one of Rush’s KOOKs (Keeper Of Odd Knowledge). I did see a Model 68 at a gun show once. Priced too high for my budget. |
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A S&W K-38 or early Model 14 would be my choice. Some prefer the 4" barrel of the Model 15. If you want to be a little "extra" you could search for a pre-WWII M&P Target .38. They're a bit harder to quickly adjust, but the craftsmanship is exceptional. Another "extra" option is to search for a bull barrel target gun. These were somewhat popular in the 60s and 70s as gunsmith mods, often using a Model 10 frame with a new barrel and sight rib along the top. You do have to be careful as some have seen a lot of rounds, but IME it's really hard to shoot one out vs. the big bore N frame bowling pin guns. I have a prewar Colt OMT in .22. It's a fine gun, and I wouldn't turn down a nice .38 in the same configuration, but it's heavier than the S&W, the trigger is not a clean, and if anything goes out of time, the number of 'smiths left who can help is very, very small. In 30 years there might not be any left, sadly. It is not very user serviceable and no amount of YT vids will help much. Fixing a S&W is a science and fixing an older Colt double action is an art. The newer Colts are not the same and the younger guys getting good at tuning the new Pythons and Anacondas probably won't be of much help. Here's some target .38 picture porn: '53 K-38  '48 K-38  '11 M&P Target 
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I like adjustable sights on my revolvers because I dick around with lots of different loads. My '51 vintage Combat Masterpiece is great .38spcl range gun. Attached File |
Eitek1: ANTIFA just destroys, hurts, silences and harms. The people they hate are better than they will ever be.
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Originally Posted By patw: Last year I purchased this at my local ffl and couldn't leave it for the price, sub $300. It started life out as a dao but I bought a hammer/parts from Numrich and it is a very nice shooter. They can still be had for a great price. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/79429/Ruger_police_service_six_jpg-3768254.JPG [Topic drift] I have bought a few revolvers that had been converted to DAO for less than the usual going rate. (S&W 581 for just over $200, for example). So what is the reason for people modifying to DAO? You can get the same DA trigger pull whether it has the single action notch or not. And if a person doesn’t want to shoot SA… just don’t. |
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Originally Posted By GarrettJ: [Topic drift] I have bought a few revolvers that had been converted to DAO for less than the usual going rate. (S&W 581 for just over $200, for example). So what is the reason for people modifying to DAO? You can get the same DA trigger pull whether it has the single action notch or not. And if a person doesn’t want to shoot SA… just don’t. Management didn't want cops running around with cocked revolvers out of real or imagined fear of accidental discharges. |
incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial
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6.5" 38/44 HD or Outdoorsman(or model 20 or 23) is hands down my favorite 38spl to shoot. I am not a huge N frame guy(prefer K/L )but my 1930s Outdoorsman always the one that I always take when shooting. at some point in its life it was reamed out to take 357mag, which I have never shot. M14 or 15 would be my 2nd choice. I have lots of them, in all flavors....I really like the 2" M15 S&W makes the 20 again but its now 357 magnum |
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This. Colt Officers Special. The trigger is stupidly good. The SA breaks if you THINK about pulling the trigger. Attached File |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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Originally Posted By Currahee: I don't have any revolvers. (Except a .22 High Standard that is my rat shot gun) I would like a 3" heavy barrel M10. IIRC that's what Jim Cirrilo carried. I think it's a very clean and beautiful gun. I had a 3"m10 built by Karl Sokol off a surplus frame from jg sales. The barrel was some random one that doesnt really match perfect but I like it as its in between a tapered barrel and heavy. Tritium front sight and a parkerized finish with ahrends grips. Attached File |
Do Good
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Be Dangerous
Live Free
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Originally Posted By 03RN: I had a 3"m10 built by Karl Sokol off a surplus frame from jg sales. The barrel was some random one that doesnt really match perfect but I like it as its in between a tapered barrel and heavy. Tritium front sight and a parkerized finish with ahrends grips. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/433221/1000000390_jpg-3770392.JPG |
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case of the Greeks and Romans and must be that of every free state. -T Jefferson
https://everycitizenasoldier.blogspot.com/
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Head out and find a vintage Colt Python chambered in 38 special only(rare).Highly sought after and a bit pricey.. Attached File |
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For range fun, plinking, creating a challenge: S&W steel J frame 5 shot Model 36 Chief Special snub. Mine was made in the '60s. It is a rewarding challenge to learn to shoot them well given the size, grip shape and short sight radius. Fun to practice using speed loaders with it. I load hard cast wadcutters. Accurate and low cost. |
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be different https://www.taylorsfirearms.com/c-mason-navy-4-75-38sp-rc1-550729.html  |
Call the tune and let's dance; but beware that the devil is the piper and the tab for that soiree will be hell to pay.
Training&Trigger Time are more important than chasing a hardware Holy Grail
Training&Trigger Time are more important than chasing a hardware Holy Grail
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Smith & Wesson's K-Frame .38 Special Masterpieces by Luis Valdes - TTAG Can't go wrong with a Model 14 or Model 15.     
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