I didn't have one. I don't know why. They are common. This one came into my LGS today. He still had it back in his work area. It was a wreck. So filthy it turned our hands black every time we touched it. I've been on the lookout for one for several years now; but, they are always priced at six bills and up from there. . .not going to pay that for a super common gun. So it was "rescue" day for $400. I thought the gun had some hope after inspecting it. Some idiot had carved on the target grips. So, I had to replace them. . .that's what the "box 'o grips" is for. The whole project took me close to 4 hours. The only thing I couldn't restore was the front sight. The same idiot cut a chunk out of it. It shipped circa 1977. It has a good turn line, but this was a rescue, not an investment. All the oil and dirt and grease did a lot to save the finish. Wrapped it up with Flitz and Ren Wax, of course. It might make 90%, but maybe not quite. When I consider what $400 will buy you with new guns today, it was actually quite a deal (not counting the 4 hours of cleanup). QUESTION: What is that little metal part behind the trigger? It doesn't seem to do anything.

Attached Images

	IMG_0378.jpg (112.7 KB, 276 views)
	IMG_0379.jpg (108.6 KB, 238 views)

__________________
Dr. B

Very well done

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

Fantastic looking 14. Hard to imagine that it was at one time a neglected rescue candidate the way it looks today. Nice work!

That little doohicky behind the trigger is the trigger stop. It doesn't do much and many owners used to take it out at first opportunity on the fear that it might actually stop the trigger before it goes bang.

Yep, adjustable trigger stop. S&W put them in adjustable sight guns. In about 1982 or so, S&W notified law enforcement agencies to remove them as they "may" come out of adjustment enough to block the trigger's movement enough to stop the gun from firing. Probably a good idea for any S&W that has one that may be used for serious duty.

The N frames used to have a fitted, solid pin inside the rebound slide and spring to do the same thing and while it wasn't really needed much either, it had the advantage of not being able to move out of position or adjustment.

Beautiful! I actually like the trigger stop on the several revolvers I have that are so equipped. It seems to provide a bit more precision by limiting any overtravel. My 14-3 is kinda boring to shoot, in an accurate sort of way

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

So are you going to put the Red Ramp insert back into the front site from where it looks like it fell out of?

Model 14s were equipped with a patridge target sight, not a red ramp.
Hard to tell how that one got carved up.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll just paint it.

__________________
Dr. B

Great job. Mark another one saved.

__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065

Looks like its got a model 10 hammer in it, too. Masterpiece hammer is a bit wider. Looks like its got a target trigger, so it may have originally had a target hammer. Either way, the model 10 hammer will work just fine, but it just ain't original. Great job on the reclamation. Nice save.

__________________
Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

Would like to see a closeup of that front sight.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

You are right. I've got an original trigger and hammer on a target masterpiece parts gun. I've just got to make the swap. I've already replaced the main spring (somebody filed the old one down) and a few screws. I've just got to refresh myself on pulling the innards out of one of these. . .easy but haven't done it in several years. I had to take it out to the backyard and shoot it first. Perfect shooter. Right on target. At 30 feet all shots in one nice group shooting offhand. The front sight is original. Somebody just cut a square out of the backside of it. Who knows why. Same front sight as the one on all my other target models.

__________________
Dr. B

You're lucky to still be able to shoot in your backyard. I grew up doing that, but if I did it where I live now, the cops would come.

__________________
Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

Looks like you got a fantastic return for your "Sweat Equity"!
Jim

You all are very observant. Now my 14-4 has been fully restored with the original hammer and trigger and mainspring and magna grips. I did want to shoot it first before completing the restoration. At this point my $400 gun will pass for around 95% (or getting very close to it). My parts gun is looking like something from another planet. I keep it fully functional even though it's just a parts M14. It even has a 4 inch replacement barrel. So, here it is ready to go. . .not the parts gun. . .the M14-4. The 38 Special is pretty tame for backyard shooting; but, it is the biggest thing I will shoot in the yard. Only shot it a dozen times with standard velocity semi-wadcutters. If I can dig up a minty cylinder for this thing, it will really be high end. I am a gunsmith; so, all this restoring stuff is pretty easy. The only thing is when you're disassembling two guns at once, you have to keep all the parts straight.

Attached Images

IMG_0380.jpg (113.7 KB, 43 views)

__________________
Dr. B

Nice rehab Doc. My book says that model came with that adjustable
travel stop. Were it mine I would think about removing that butchered
front blade and slipping in a McGivern gold bead blade. Just a thought.
Opinions vary.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Dang! Lookin good. Careful now. If you do any more to it, you'll make it into a safe queen. Great job.

__________________
Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

Hard to tell for sure from the picture, but it looks more like someone cut a diagonal piece out of the original partridge ( perpendicular square rear rather than ramp) front sight. Likely for ease of holster draws. Sad! A rather easy "fix" might be to file a dovetail into the existing sight and use an epoxy mix that Brownell's sells. It comes in various colors. Great job, btw