Just bought a new old stock 6" in the box with papers & tools from a collector. I want to shoot it. Thoughts ? They are supposed to be S&W's top of the line target pistol. To compete with the Python.
Should I keep un-fired or enjoy ?

I LOVE the 14...if I had one in the wrapper I suppose it would be a tough call to shoot it or not. The thing is..unless you shoot it,you will never realize just how SUPERB a firearm it is! My suggestion would be to buy another to shoot and keep the unfired as a collector. If you can't swing a second one..then by all means..shoot the one you have.You certainly won't "ruin" it by shooting, and personally..one with a few hundred rounds fired is even sweeter feeling.
They truly are one of the best balanced handguns ever made,bar none. I've sold all my Pythons..my 14s aren't going anywhere! Photos are always nice..

The answer is blowing in the wind.....
It is an old dilemma.
Someone thinks that a gun is a piece of steel, made to shoot; no more.
Others, like me, are fascinated by the ability of old gunmakers : it would be a shame to damage a Masterpiece.

My personal choice? To keep it in the safe, and to purchase a shooter K14. I don't know in USA, but here in Italy it is very easy to find one at a good price (the equivalent of 600 bucks, but waiting the right deal, 400 $ are possible)

i.e., just now, before to bargain for it:

Alessandria | Rivoltelle | Armiusate.it | Smith & Wesson K14 "Masterpiece" Single Action .38 Special | 9x29mmR, Armi Usate, Armi Nuove, vendita, acquisto

Of course it is an only an example , just to discuss about the question

In the old days the 27 was the top of the S&W line.

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No life story has happy end.

I love the N Frames. I have a 4 and 6 inch Model 28. I shoot targets and they shoot great ! However the K frame with wad cutters would be lighter and I want to see if they are as advertised. Anyway, I’ve never owned one so I wanted to try. My groups are great with my Model 28’s and 686. I’ll shoot it and report back. I’ll also post photos when I figure out how. 😁

I suppose it depends on what you paid for. If you paid a significant premium because it was "new in the box" then you'd be sacrificing that premium when you start shooting it. If you paid going rate for a nice Model 14 then you have nothing to lose. In that case, shoot it.

I have some nice guns, well cared for some look new or close to it. My problem is I don’t own any gun I don’t shoot. It’s not a bad problem but some people would not want to shoot some of the guns I own and even comment I’m doing the gun a disservice by shooting it. I say the folks at S&W were mechanical artist and made every gun to be shot. I say I would shoot it. With the questions you asked maybe you shouldn’t. If you feel strongly enough about not shooting it , don’t and buy a shooter as others have recommended.

I too bought a model 14 no dash in pristine condition with only the old original box though. I think it had been shot a time or 2 in its 58 year old life. I simply could not resist and shot a few cylinders worth of rounds through it. So excellent! so precise! so accurate!! I was thrilled and it was worth it. I have since bought 3 more 14's (various dashes) to shoot and my mid 70's version with TT,TH,TG is the one I take to the range most. The one with 8 3/8 inch barrel is second on list as to taking to the range. I figure after cleaning and only shot sparingly nobody can really tell much of a difference (still looks like new). It's your call whether to shoot yours or not. 148 grain wadcutters are fun to shoot and easy on the gun!

My 1951 K38. Shoots good too.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

For a range gun, a Model 14 is hard to beat! There are some reasonably examples out there. As with everything else, prices are going up. Bought my -3 in August of 2014. It was $410, shipped & insured. No box or extras. Boy, does it shoot well. With 148gr. wad-cutters, it is kind of like a .22.

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You should shoot it. What's the point of having nice stuff if you don't use it. All of my guns get range time. Collector grade or not.

I totally agree ! I take great care of my guns and plan to enjoy this one. I’m 68, retired, and shoot several times a week. This thing may double in value if I live to be 100, but in case I don’t, I’ll shoot and take care of it and if it’s worth $300 less than I paid for it, then I got a deal !!! 😁

I have two now (see my thread for the sad story of one of them) but they are hands down my favorite revolvers to shoot. I had to get a second one so my better half would let me shoot mine again. We love our 14's.

I have two model 14's. Unless a gun is absolutely unfired - and authenticated as such - with no turn line etc., I would fire a gun to see how well it works. Not to rain on any parades, but I've owned a couple of barely used S&W vintage revolvers that either had issues or weren't such great shooters. Sometimes there's a logical reason why some firearms are barely used.

I like to think that every gun I own is capable of providing me with utility, if needed. Unless you shoot them, you don't know. Yes, I have a few unfired guns, but they weren't expensive collector pieces, and I hope to shoot them someday.

Think of it this way: if the time comes to get rid of one of your guns, wouldn't you rather know which guns perform the best before deciding which one(s) to sell? I have a 1959 model 14 no dash that's a fine shooter, but not as accurate as my mid-1970's 14-3. In fact, I outshot it with the minty early 1980's model 13 that I bought the other day. I wouldn't know this if I hadn't shot my guns.

I have a like new S&W K38 made in 1952 and I have made the decision to shoot it. When I bought this many years ago it was only $400 and most stayed on dealers shelves for years because everyone wanted 357 Magnum revolvers.

14-3?
You're getting to me. What Model 14 did you buy?

Why the indecision, this is not a rare or hard to find gun. Unless it's truly un-fired, still wrapped in the original S&W paper, it's just a very nice condition used Model 14, and should be priced that way; and unless you abuse it, it will remain a very nice condition Model 14 and command whatever the then going price of a very nice condition used Model 14, if and when you decide to sell or trade it. Enjoy it, shoot it, and have fun at the range. Not a tough call.

Best regards,

If my K-38 was fired before I got it, I couldn't tell. It gets shot!

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Psalm 27:2

Don't shoot it. If you keep it for 30 years or more you can probably reap a $1000 profit, which will help pay your Nursing home costs. Or, if you die first, your family will probably shoot it and have the joy of shooting a brand new antique.

But don't shoot it now, and then take care of it. When it come time, you may only reap a $50 profit, and it wouldn't be worth it.

Best thing is to keep it in a hermetically sealed case and just look at it with white gloves once every few years.

@ OP,

In my opinion, you can never have enough K38s. I have 2, a late '50s vintage 4 screw and either a -3 of -4 from the early '80s. The 4 screw came with the 3Ss (service: stocks, trigger, and hammer) which I use for PPC matches. My other K38 is a 3T version that I use for bullseye matches.

All of my guns are bought to be shot ... I don't buy safe queens. Using lead wadcutter loads, you will be amazed by the accuracy and you will not shoot the gun out. The K38 was made to be shot, shoot it!

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Judge control not gun control!

I thought it was purchased so you could find out if it's as good as a Python? Only way to find out is to shoot it!

My only extant K-38 is a well loved 1948 vintage example in about 95% condition. I say extant because I bought a Model 14-3 about a year ago (via GB) for the express purpose of recreating a 16-3 using an original barrel obtained from a very kind fellow member here. The 38 Masterpiece is in no way a rare gun, so I had no problem “losing” one K-38 from the pool to gain even a faux K-32. As for the OP’s “moral dilemma” unless I were running a museum, that bad boy would be out at the range and I wouldn’t even have asked!

Froggie

I'm glad someone appreciated my sarcasm......LOL.

Ten years ago I came upon a 1952 Pre-27 that was unfired. I got it for $299, at Gander Mountain no less. I believe it was mismarked, based on the hassle they gave me when I tried to buy it. At any rate, I have shot the **** out of it, and other than rings in the other 3 cylinders it still looks like new.

When the time comes I'll give it away, so I don't care what its worth.

I have 3. One from my dad that I grew up shooting 3T, one I got a good deal on 15 years ago and an unfired 8 3/8 in original box that I debate about shooting. 2 to shoot and one to hold might be where it stays


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I shot it. Very accurate! First 2 cylinders in the 10 ring at 10 yards.
If I can load a photo I’ll post gun & target.

I am very happy that you decided to get the enjoyment of shooting her and realizing the accuracy possible with such a fine firearm. As long as you are careful and clean it between shootings nobody will ever know how much its been shot.

All those people at the range will think it's you doing that fine shooting, but we know better. The 14 did that all by itself; you were just the lucky one holding it.

Well done, but remember: the K14 is born to destroy the little Standard Pistol ten ring at 25 yards (I shoot it one handed at 25 meters, just a little more than that).