Hey Cliff...

[max4073]

My uncle brought over my Grandpa's old service revolver for a cleaning. It's a S&W K-38 Masterpiece. He was a motorcycle cop. He added the bike bling. It runs in the family. :cool2: Can anyone (Cliff) recommend a cleaner that would bring out some serious shine on this?
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1935/1001016si5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Cliff731]

Max,

That's one beautiful Smith & Wesson!!! I noticed your Grandfather had also added a set of "T-Grips" to his K-38. Pinned barrel, looks like a "five screw" frame to me also... so it ought to have recessed cylinder chambers too.

Nickel plated finish on this one... (unless a very bright blued finish and the lighting is playing on it)... so be careful with the Hoppe's #9 and most all other bore cleaners. Don't let the residue remain on the surfaces of this fine Smith.

I'll suggest you get some of what's in the photo below to clean her up...

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/pentaxuser01/BlueMagic.jpg

It's Blue Magic and safe for a nickel finish. Ditto likewise on a blued finish... don't rub too hard. I hear Flitz works okay too.

BTW, since your Grandfather used this one for a duty revolver, I think his "bike bling" was a fitting touch.

[max4073]

Where can I get a tube of that polish?

[jkroner659]

Most likely your local gun store, I know i've seen flitz at mine and they maybe even have that stuff too, I just never looked for it. Cliff would know better than I but check a gun store or 2 or just call them ahead of time to check to save some time.

[Cliff731]

Oddly, they gave the stuff to me at my local gunstore... but they don't sell it or stock it there. Some might... most probably not. There might be some online sources... or try a jewelry store... hardware type store... even a Lowes too.

From what I understand, with a nickel finish, you want to avoid any cleaner with ammonia in it... which is why the Hoppes ill advised other than cleaning the bore.

[Cliff731]

Check your local auto parts stores... they might have this. I think some folks use this stuff to clean & polish mag wheels.

[Cliff731]

He installed a trigger shoe on his K-38 also. These are somewhat "vintage" but authentic for the period this revolver was the "standard" for a police issue sidearm. Some folks today still use the "T-grip" adapters.

TYLER T-Grip and Trigger Shoe (http://www.t-grips.com/)

Max, is this Smith & Wesson staying with you for awhile?

Jason, you really owe it to yourself to be looking for a nice "used" S&W "K" frame revolver. There's still some great bargains to be found if you search your local pawn shops and gun dealers.

[jkroner659]

I love that revolver above, it looks special:limp::D, really like the way it looks...I would be oh so tempted...

[max4073]

Max, is this Smith & Wesson staying with you for awhile?


For a day or so. Then back to the golfing gun hating uncle. I'll get it when HE croaks. Politics. He also has his S&W 9mm auto. It has my Gpa's name engraved on it. The department bought it for him when he retired. He doesn't even know how to load it. As soon as my Gpa passed away his closet was cleaned out. The uncle only brought this one over because he was tired of being harassed about cleaning it. When I got it today the cylinder hardly even spun. It had been about 7 years since it's been shown any attention.
That sucker spins now boy. :crossbones:
Thanks for your input Cliff. I knew I could count on you. :pat9xu:

[Cliff731]

I love that revolver above, it looks special:limp::D, really like the way it looks...I would be oh so tempted...

If you will accept a bit of holster wear... like not looking for one that appears to be "mint"... there's some outstanding bargains to be discovered and found in the S&W "K" frame family. The prices are still reasonable compared to Colt DA wheelguns... and these Smiths are the real sleepers when it comes time to plunk your money down. You can easily get lucky and find one with some finish wear but otherwise great condition and not pay too much over $250 - $300. Go for the 4" barrel Model 15 series... which is what the K-38 became. All are .38 Special chambered, but with some good JHP loads these are superb "backup" beside guns. Pull the trigger... they go "bang" everytime. No safety lever to fumble with... no magazine to bother with. Just have you a speedloader handy. Take her to the target range with some WWB 130 gr. FMJ and you'll be smiling all the way. Punching holes in the big black dot isn't too difficult with the nice target sights on these. They work so well that shooting one can become boring... as if that's a problem!

[Cliff731]

For a day or so. Then back to the golfing gun hating uncle. I'll get it when HE croaks. Politics. He also has his S&W 9mm auto. It has my Gpa's name engraved on it. The department bought it for him when he retired. He doesn't even know how to load it. As soon as my Gpa passed away his closet was cleaned out. The uncle only brought this one over because he was tired of being harassed about cleaning it. When I got it today the cylinder hardly even spun. It had been about 7 years since it's been shown any attention.
That sucker spins now boy. :crossbones:
Thanks for your input Cliff. I knew I could count on you. :pat9xu:

Thanks for the kind words... I'm glad I could be of some assistance!!! ;)

About your "uncle"... there's one in every family. Trust me on that one.

My nephew has a S&W Model 39 9mm semi-auto pistol... perhaps much like your Grandfather's. It too was a "police issue"... a gift from his father-in-law (now "ex" father-in-law) who was a State Trooper in an adjoining state (no names here). When I saw the pistol it looked brand new. When his FIL gave it to him, he said the only condition of the gift was that the gun never be sold... something about no papers on the gun... which I think was a reference to perhaps how his FIL obtained it. Maybe a "gift" from a department higher up??? Doesn't matter though... my nephew was proud of it. It's one of the few good things he got out of wedding the State Trooper's daughter... which is a way of saying you sometimes just don't know a woman until you get married to her!!! Okay... I'm rambling here.

I truly hope you end up with your Grandfather's S&W pistol and revolver some day... and it's really good to see that you were able to give his K-38 the attention it truly deserves!