So i was given my grandfather's old pistol and i dont know anything about it and my search of the internet also came up with little to no results.

The serial number is K550509 but there is another set of numbers when the cylinder is swung out 98079 these numbers are all in a row and orderly but below them is a large " X " and to the right of the "X" is a small "8" and below that is a small "7"
( i will be posting photos of all this , hopefully i can figure out how)
The barrel length is 6 ", there are no patent dates stamped on the top of the barrel , on the right side of the frame is the trade mark stamped into the frame, the rear sight is adjustable.
Aside from the serial number being printed on the bottom of the grip frame it also appears when the cylinder is swung out and it is above the other numbers i mentioned earlier. And again there are some random numbers printed above and below the serial number. A small "2" appears above the serial number and then below the serial is " 10D" and below that is "142"

If there is any more info needed for the identification of this pistol please let me know. Also before anyone says there is rust on this pistol i assure you there is none, its just a lot of dirt and dust from the desert out in the west.

Welcome to the Forum.

K550509 is the serial number. The S/N dates your gun to 1963.
14-2 is the model number.
Model 14 is the model number. The "-2" means the second change of the model 14. They use dash numbers to indicate a noteworthy change in design.

The other numbers (98079 on the yoke, etc.) were assembly numbers at the factory to keep all of the pieces of the gun together during assembly. Those numbers don't mean anything once the gun leaves the factory.

You have a Model 14-2 (K-38 Masterpiece) from circa 1964 . . . a very fine target grade revolver.

Russ

Just look up Smith&Wesson Model K14 and you will find loads of information.

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Dick

K38 Masterpiece a target shooting staple from the early 60's
Your grandfather had great taste in firearms. Shoot it often and think of him... Wallace

thanks everyone for the info

One more question. I heard that i can not fire regular .38 special ammo through this pistol. Is that an accurate statement?

The K-38 Masterpiece thrives on both target (148 gr wadcutter) and standard (158 gr semi-wadcutter) .38 Special ammo . . . and is capable of handling .38 Special +P ammo.

Don't know the source of what you were told but I don't believe it is accurate.

Russ

Thank you so much, everyone here has been especially helpful. im excited to take this bad boy out now.
And i read online that it wouldnt fire regular .38 special ammo it needed .38 special ctg, which they didnt make anymore and maybe you could find at a gun show.

It won't chamber cartridges designated ".38 Smith and Wesson" or ".38 S&W". That might be what you heard.

Beautiful revolver. Top of the line K38 Masterpiece. The "10D." is actually "MOD." The "M" is faintly stamped.

.38 Special CTG is not some sort of exotic or obsolete ammunition, CTG is the abbreviation for Cartridge.

I may be of Grandpa's generation or at least Dad's, calling a nice K38 from my college years an "old pistol" just sounds strange.

Clean it up. All that sand and grit will do it no good.

Go buy a TON of .38 Special Wadcutter (target ammo), some semi-wadcutter ammo loaded either to standard or +P pressure (which is not all that much pressure, having been wimped out; see Saxon Pig's regular responses to the questions about 38 +P), get some targets (paper plates are always a decent field expedient), load it, shoot the snot out of it, and GRIN.

I have a K38, and it is my favorite revolver to shoot just for fun. It even makes me look as though I can shoot worth a hoot.

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NHI, 10-8.

Great revolver. If it says 38 special on the box you can shoot it.

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No life story has happy end.

Thank you all so much for your feed back. I cant wait to take this out. Hopefully i can find ammo someplace at a reasonable price and not some gouger prices.

Looks like a real nice one. Your Grandad had exquisite taste.

Granddads gun! My grandfathers gun has gone to my son and will go to my grandson next, it is priceless and so is yours.

I have to agree with that statement! The Model 14 is my favorite centerfire pistol. Very mild recoil and extremely accurate. A real joy to shoot.

You'll enjoy it. PM out.

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NHI, 10-8.

This may sounds like a stupid question but is it ok so shoot the winchester 130 .38 special that walmart sells? Im just wanting to fire a few rounds and this is what I can find thats readily available

Yup that stuff is fine. Any commercial 38spl will work in that firearm.

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Jim

CTG is the abbreviation for Cartridge
I keep learning little tidbits on here...now I know what the ctg stands for on my 15-3
unfortunately all my grandfathers guns were gone by the time my father got to their home after he passed and we didn't get any...you have a true family heirloom...enjoy

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carpe diem
one day at a time

Back in the days not so long ago when competitive bullseye shooting was very popular, the .38 Masterpiece (later the Model 14) with a 6" barrel length ruled the roost in the "Centerfire" stage. That's the purpose for which it was intended, but it had a certain level of popularity for law enforcement use also. Essentially the same revolver, but supplied with a 4" barrel length, was called the.38 Special "Combat Masterpiece" (later becoming the Model 15), and became very popular among law enforcement personnel, and was the official service revolver of the U. S. Air Force. throughout the Vietnam War and well into the 1980s.

Sure thing !! Ill even pay the shipping and ffl fees for you. And actually there is not rust on this piece. Ill repost pictures of it all cleaned up soon. It is FLAWLESS !!