Hi,
Ran across a model 14-1, 4 screw at a gunshop today. Priced at $450. It looked new and had the smooth target grips. I was mighty tempted but it just looked too good. I asked if it had been reblued and the guy didn’t know. What I saw was deep bluing not the subdued bluing of the older Smiths. The screw heads all seemed a bit more rounded and too shiney. The logo and address line were all strong but seemed a little on the smooth side. It did have TT and TH. The cylinders and bore looked good from what I could see in the poor light and the lockup was good. Overall it was a very nice gun but the biggest clue to me was the price, had it been original in that condition I think the price would have been $600-$800. I guess if it had been $75 or $100 less I would have snapped it up for a shooter.
Any thoughts.

This is a great forum.

Thanks
Dan

If the 14-1 was reblued by S&W, and there is nothing in your description to definitively conclude it was reblued, the grip frame may be stamped with and R-S or R-Bi, possibly along with a date stamp (month and year, for example, 9 65 would be a refinish in September 1965).

A nice 14-1, even a reblued one, at the price you stated is still a good deal as -1s are pretty scarce.

Bill

Bill,
Thanks for your reply. If it is in fact a reblue it's done very well. There's a gun show in Ft. Worth next weekend, if I don't see anything there I may go back for the 14 if it is still there (so many toys, so little money, so little time). I have a half a dozen S&W model numbers dancing in my head so if I encounter any of them in the condition I want and price range I can afford I may forgo this 14.
Again thanks for your comment particularly about the dash 1s being scarce, checked my S&W book and it looks like they were only made 1959-1961.
Dan

I bought an unfired 14-4 with 8 3/8 barrel during the frenzy for $500 so I think the price point on yours is probably right.

The finish on all of the dash 1 guns that I have seen is a very beautiful shiny blue, not the more matte blue of some of the early post war guns. I would have been very interested at $450.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thanks for your input, it is helpful. I will go back for this if nothing comes up at the gun show. I think you guys are right the price isn't bad. The prices I've seen at gun shows lately go from above reasonable to rediculos.
Thanks
Dan

A -1 would always be the bright blue you describe.
By the time of the -1's, the matte blue had been gone 5-6 years.
Buy it.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett