Are all of these SAO and if not, signs that it left the factory this way

If you are asking if all Model 14-1s were made as SAO, the answer is no. Without some form of legitimate provenance, as far as I know, there is no way to know how it left the factory.

I have a 14-1, and when I purchased it, it was a double action revolver, just as I supposed it would be. I lettered it and found that it was ordered and shipped as a SAO variation. At some point, the SA hammer was replaced with a DA hammer. But without that letter, I would never have known the difference.

Early on, S&W sold SA hammer/trigger sets in a blister pack that anyone could purchase and swap out the DA parts. Again, without that provenance (proof), I know of no way to tell whether a Model 14 left the factory in SA or DA configuration.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Much fewer 14’s were SA than DA. If you have the box, it should be marked accordingly. If you want to spend $100 for a letter just to find out what you have is factory or not... go ahead. There were SA kits packaged by S&W that could be purchased and installed by a gunsmith or educated owner.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

The SAO option began during the -1 period and ended in 1978 (despite what the Standard Catalog says).

The earliest SAO shipment that I'm aware of was on June 28, 1961, with two units in the shipment.

It is my impression that more 14-3s were produced in SAO than 14-1 and 14-2. I'm not sure if there is any way easily to verify that.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

While there is no way to prove it left the factory as a SAO (Short of a Factory letter or original box with proof on the end label) there are some ways to tell it isn't a factory SAO.

People would drift the sear pin and remove the sear. Leaving behind a pin hole and slot where the sear rests. A Factory SAO trigger will have been made without the slot. Having a proper SAO trigger doesn't mean anything as they sold the parts in a blister pack.

For whatever reason 14-1 seemed to have more than the standard average of factory SAO.

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Dave

I have a factory SAO 14-2 (by letter) and no one seems to give it a second look once they hear it's SAO.

They need to shoot it to appreciate it.

Problem with someone that doesn't like SAO may be the hammer isn't back already. My hammer goes back automatically in one motion, while getting back on target, for the next round coming. Find the spot and it's ready to fire.

With SAO, don't you miss that smooth S&W double action