Incoming 14-2. This should be fun!

[Mbrgr1]

Threw a bid in on this one, looks like someone was taking target shooting seriously! Circa 1965



Wide trigger, wide hammer, Keep the barrel down thingy?


I'll follow up when it arrives. Any thoughts?

[YeshuaIsa53]

That should be fun.

[LPD256]

I’m betting it’s a great shooter. You’ll have fun with that one. I saw it but was looking at a couple others from the same seller.

[oysterer]

absolutely gorgeous...this contraption has to go please.

[glenwolde]

Now that's something I've never seen before...whatever that thing is...at the muzzle. It looks like it's marked "Smith and Wesson".

[Narragansett]

Originally Posted by glenwolde

Now that's something I've never seen before...whatever that thing is...at the muzzle. It looks like it's marked "Smith and Wesson".

I believe that it is a factory muzzle break

[bananaman]

Congratulations! Should be a good shooting Smith! I have a 14-3. Is the extension on the barrel removable? Bob

[Mbrgr1]

Originally Posted by bananaman

Congratulations! Should be a good shooting Smith! I have a 14-3. Is the extension on the barrel removable? Bob

It is clamped on from the pics I saw and it is marked S&W, I'll take it off to clean and check for rust but since it came on the gun, I'll probably put it back.

[swagmeister]

Nice looking old gun!! I would keep the muzzle brake on it because it is part of the history of the gun. Enjoy.

[KalamazooKid]

That's a cool one! I too am intrigued with the muzzle thingy - either on or off that should be a fantastic shooter!

[smithra_66]

I have a -1 from 1961 and it is a great shooter.

You'll be happy with it. All I shoot out of mine is hollow based wadcutters on top of 2.8 gr. of Bullseye in Special cases and it keeps up with, or out-performs my 1975 Gold Cup on the slowfire bullseye range.

[Mbrgr1]

Originally Posted by KalamazooKid

That's a cool one! I too am intrigued with the muzzle thingy - either on or off that should be a fantastic shooter!

I am told it is a S&W muzzle brake or compensator, not a thingy!

Also, it may be a "bullseye" competition setup from the 60's.


"NRA Precision Pistol, formerly known as NRA Conventional Pistol,[1] is a national bullseye shooting discipline organized in the United States by NRA. Emphasis is on accuracy and precision, and participants shoot handguns at paper targets at fixed distances and time limits."

[glenwolde]

Originally Posted by Narragansett

I believe that it is a factory muzzle break

That would seem to make sense, but I have just never seen nor heard of such a thing before. I guess I missed those somehow over the last 45 years. Cool.

[Mbrgr1]

A couple more pics.

[smithra_66]

Interesting. With wadcutter loads there's no recoil to speak of, but I'm sure the weight of that at the end of the barrel will keep it even more flat during shooting.

[Bumpus13]

Maybe it’s just me, but that thing looks like a monstrosity on the end of a beautiful revolver.

[Engine49guy]

That will be a fun gun at the range,
Used to see occasional posts about those SW clamp on muzzle break compensator things, they don't pop up very often anymore, my guess is they didn't sell well so SW didn't make alot, kinda like the model 52 frame weights and model 39 ejection port dust shields are an interesting bit of SW nostalgia.

My OCD sez being a dash 2 it needs a set of period correct diamond target stocks.
Enjoy

[bgrafsr]

I like the gun, but not the muzzle break. If it were mine, I would remove it, but keep it to go with the gun if you ever sell it. I really don't think the break is necessary, especially if shooting "target wadcutters" in the gun.

[smithra_66]

Originally Posted by Engine49guy

That will be a fun gun at the range,
Used to see occasional posts about those SW clamp on muzzle break compensator things, they don't pop up very often anymore, my guess is they didn't sell well so SW didn't make alot, kinda like the model 52 frame weights and model 39 ejection port dust shields are an interesting bit of SW nostalgia.

My OCD sez being a dash 2 it needs a set of period correct diamond target stocks.
Enjoy

Agreed on the grips. I believe all 14-2's would be diamond targets. Don't know that for sure though. 1965 definitely diamonds.

[SS336]

I like that revolver just the way it is. There are lots of M14’s out there, but few with that muzzle break, I imagine. Genuine S&W part.
I agree with Mbrgr1, take it off clean up any issues, put it back on and shoot it as is. A beautiful piece of history.

[Green Frog]

A collector’s item must be judged in context. When this K38 was built and used, the “standard equipment” for three gun bullseye matches was a 22 LR (either semiauto or revolver), a 45 ACP (usually a tuned up 1911A1), and the other gun, “any center fire” in between. Since the scores in 22 were pretty tight among top competitors, and you couldn’t have much variation in the 45, especially in the “Hardball Match”, savvy shooters tried to gain whatever advantage they could in that third category. The 38 that inspired this thread is a beautiful example of just such a competitive gun and deserves to be preserved as such. I for one would love to own it.

Froggie

[JP@AK]

The muzzle brake was still sold as an accessory as late as 1976. Here's a picture of a page in the Bicentennial Shooter's Bible, showing the brake. No price listed.

According to the legend at the bottom of the page, it was available for the N frame Model of 1955, as well as the K-38 Masterpiece.

What I actually find odd is that there does not seem to be any reference to the muzzle brake anywhere in the SCSW, at least not in the 4th Edition. I'll have to dig out the 1st, 2d and 3d to see if it is listed in any of them.

[diecidecimi]

...about actual estimated value...

[Roofuss]

Looks like a fun shooter ! I currently have a model 14 with 6" barrel, and they are notorious for being good shooters. So good in fact, that I just nailed this one this morning on Guns Int. A 8 3/8" tube, and has 3 T's, original box and paperwork. Coming from down south, so will be a couple weeks till I get it.

[sjs]

Mine is a 14-3 and it has become my favorite to take to the range. Nothing sweeter than a 14 with target loads, some targets and some time to enjoy precision shooting. But I do think they are prettier without the brake.

[sodacan]

I saw it on gunbroker.com and thought about bidding on it, but passed. I have a muzzle brake like that one with my 1955, but I never use it. The gun is heavy enough without it. You did well on the price. Enjoy it.

[Sevens]

I think the brake is an interesting curiosity and as it is S&W marked, probably a valuable collector’s item. The look and curb appeal is a struggle.

I think my worry is that anything metal-on-metal mounted, especially mounted in place for what could be decades, probably means some finish loss at the very least and perhaps corrosion or pitting at the worst. Or maybe a VERY difficult item to actually remove.

Hopefully none of those pitfalls! But it might be a good reason to leave it on.

As for the opinions that “it’s not even necessary for target .38 loads”, well, that is debatable. I think some are of the mindset that the reasoning is to mitigate sharp recoil but that’s not the goal whatsoever. The idea is nothing more than trying to keep the muzzle from rising and trying to limit the disturbance of the sight picture.

It’s no different than the muzzle brake I use on my prairie dog rifle. It’s “just a .223” and it even has a heavy varmint bull barrel. But adding the brake allows me to keep my view in the scope EVEN as I break the shot, so I see all the action. It’s certainly not about taming the violent recoil of a 50gr load from a .223.

[Pizza Bob]

I about plotzed when I saw this thread this morning. You see, I have been watching a K-38 muzzle brake on an auction site for almost a week. When I saw this thread, all I could think of is, "Well now the cat is out of the bag" and expected more competition. There were already 29 bids on it. I bid with about six seconds to go and won it for well under my max bid.

This will pair nicely with my birth year K-38 Masterpiece - unlike the OP's mine has a TH but a standard trigger. The front sight was undercut - the original owner says by the factory - but who knows? The stocks are rosewood either Fuzzy Farrant or John Hurst with dual palm swell.



Adios,

Pizza Bob

[LPD256]

It would be interesting if a muzzle break appeared as an accessory in a lettered gun. I’m guessing someone with that in a letter would want to complete their package. I’ve seen them sold as part of a “package” by a prominent forum member that deals in fine guns. I would be tempted to sell it if it was of no importance to me. And recover some of the cost of my purchase on a shooter gun.

[mmande]

FYI; The muzzle brakes are made of aluminum so they add virtually no weight. The only purpose was to reduce 'muzzle jump". Weather they did or not was more marketing than proof as most shooters used very light reloads. For what ever reason the .38 caliber ones are found much more often than the .45 caliber ones so you will see the .45s selling at a higher price.
I have both but have only tried the .38 caliber one on my model 14. I could not tell any difference in muzzle rise but it sure brought a lot of comments at the range. That part was fun.
Mike

[tndrfttom]

As you might expect, the muzzle brake for the Model 25 is a scaled-up version of the one for the Model 14. Back in my Bullseye days I tried the one on my Model 25 but couldn't notice much difference in muzzle rise. Probably because I was shooting very light 185 grain cast bullet loads. Like the muzzle brakes on the S&W Model 41 they load up with residue and its tough to get them clean again.

[19leben]

You're "new" Model 14 might also be single action only.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[S&WIowegan]

I have a nickel-plated muzzle brake for Model 25 revolvers. I bought it I believe at the Kansas City symposium for a price I don't want to remember. I had to have it because I also have a nickel Model 25-2 produced in the mid-1970s. I have not mounted the brake on my revolver nor do I intend to fire the the two items.

[Mbrgr1]

Originally Posted by 19leben

You're "new" Model 14 might also be single action only.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I remember reading that somewhere, the trigger would rotate the cylinder but not cock the hammer? As I recall.



Thanks

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by Mbrgr1

I remember reading that somewhere, the trigger would rotate the cylinder but not cock the hammer?

Correct. Here is one that came from the factory that way. Shipped in the summer of 1973. All original.

[Mbrgr1]

Correct. Here is one that came from the factory that way. Shipped in the summer of 1973. All original.


Superb! I'll let you know how this one fleshes out. M

[dsf]

Originally Posted by Sevens

I think the brake is an interesting curiosity and as it is S&W marked, probably a valuable collector’s item. The look and curb appeal is a struggle.

I think my worry is that anything metal-on-metal mounted, especially mounted in place for what could be decades, probably means some finish loss at the very least and perhaps corrosion or pitting at the worst. Or maybe a VERY difficult item to actually remove.

Hopefully none of those pitfalls! But it might be a good reason to leave it on.

As for the opinions that “it’s not even necessary for target .38 loads”, well, that is debatable. I think some are of the mindset that the reasoning is to mitigate sharp recoil but that’s not the goal whatsoever. The idea is nothing more than trying to keep the muzzle from rising and trying to limit the disturbance of the sight picture.

It’s no different than the muzzle brake I use on my prairie dog rifle. It’s “just a .223” and it even has a heavy varmint bull barrel. But adding the brake allows me to keep my view in the scope EVEN as I break the shot, so I see all the action. It’s certainly not about taming the violent recoil of a 50gr load from a .223.

I have the same set up and don't use the brake due to the same concern. I'm not sure how it does happen that two metal surfaces that appear to not move at all can result in wear but I'm sure it would. I have a Model 58 that's never been fired, spent its entire life in the box (except when being fondled) and the only wear is where the muzzle rubs against the box.

A brake may be of some value if the Model 14 is using warm ammo. I have a Model 19 with a Patridge front sight and the brake fits, would probably reduce recoil. But again the wear problem exists. I guess I choose wear on my wrist over wear on the gun.

[Mbrgr1]

Originally Posted by 19leben

You're "new" Model 14 might also be single action only.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

You called it! Looks like the hammer was designed for single action.


It cleaned up well and I see no damage from the aluminum brake, I'll leave it on just for fun!



Anyway, I appreciate the heads up, I would have been complaining to the seller because of my ignorance and or theirs!


It will be interesting to see if it came that way from the factory.

[Narragansett]

Beautiful gun OP. i am not sure the compensator is worth having on a 38, but then again, I am not the manufacturer. I am not fond of attachments that have the potential to mar the finish. Just like the old Cutt's compensator they used to put on shotguns. Looked like a potato on the end of your gun. However, that being said It is a beauty, and a fine shooter I am sure.

I have a K38 in my birth year with the narrow rib. still need to try it out.

Enjoy!!!