I think just about anybody with even a passing knowledge of Smith & Wessons is familar with the K Masterpiece revolvers. K-22s, K-32s and K-38s dominated the Bullseye ranges for many years and are still highly desirable revolvers.
I always wanted one of each. I have managed to acquire a 1956 K-38. A bit finish challanged, but still a good shooter.
I also have a Model 17-5. One of my favorite shooters.
Unfortunately the K-32 eluded me. They're few and far between and darned expensive when they are found. Way outside of my meager budget.

Back in the late 80s and early 90s S&W started to produce these guns with full lug barrels. I happen to like the full lug guns. The look and the feel just work for me. They're great shooters too.

My first was a Model 17-6 that I picked up about ten years ago. I actually bought this one by accident. I saw it on one of the auction sites right after it was posted. Now I didn't need it and frankly didn't need to be spending the money at the time. But I liked the way it looked and it appealed to me. So just on a whim, I put in the minimum bid fully expecting to get beaten out of it.
Seven days later the auction ended and I was the only bidder. Oops!
But the first time I took it to the range, I knew I had a keeper.

Next came the Model 16-4. From the time it was first introduced I had an interest in the .32 Magnum and thought it might be worthwhile to fool around with. It was just that I wasn't interested enough to go out and buy one right away. I had other priorities at the time. Next thing I knew, they were gone.
I guess it was about 4 or 5 years ago that I came across a NIB 6" Model 16-4. I had to give the then outrageous price of $600 for it, but I didn't want one to slip away from me again. Turned out to be good move. Just look at what they're selling for now.
These days I mostly shoot .32 Longs through it.

Just a couple of weeks ago I was able to add the final member to the trio. I found and bought a Model 14-5. Probably gave too much for it, but what the heck. These things just don't come up for sale very often. Scratch another item off my want list.
I've only had it out to the range once, but I got a feeling that me and this gun are going to have a long and happy relationship.

The Modern Masterpieces

Top: Model 17-6 .22 LR (1990)
Center: Model 16-4 .32 H&R Magnum (1989)
Bottom: Model 14-5 .38 Special (1993)

Yeah, I know the picture isn't very good. I had to run outside to snap it between rain showers. Besides, I'm not a very good photographer anyway.

And before anybody asks, yes I do have the original Combat stocks that these guns came with. I simply prefer the Targets for shooting. I never could figure out S&W's reasoning for putting Combat stocks on a target gun anyway. Makes no sense to me.

So, anybody else got one of these? Do you love 'em as much as I do?

Very nice! Thanks for posting.

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ken
SWCA #1959

I have a 617-1 4" revolver made in '93 and it's one of my favorites. It locks up tighter than any of my other revolvers and is amazingly accurate. Nice trigger, too.

Nice group there, sir. I have a couple of old K-22's and one K-38 (looking for another as I write) and must say I have been very pleased with them over the years. I'm sure you will be as well. For some reason I just can't get any interest going with a k frame 32.
Best to you sir.

Nice looking pistols. Great more 22's to lust after.

Glad to gear your patience finally paid off. Nice trio of target guns there!

Jerry

Good story Greyfox. You know if those were all you ever had I'd be all you'd ever need.

I have a 14-3 that is single action only and a 17-4 and they are favorites.

Great colletion you have, I have two out of the three. Sure you will have fun at the range with them. I like to find a 14 like that that needs refinished, I would have it hard chromed.

I had one of those 14s with the full under lug and let a friend of mine talk me out of it. He still has it and shoots it at camp perry every year. I would like to find another as nice as that one is. Oh well,they come and they go. One that got away.

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May God Bless The USA

Good photo, I have the 16-4 and often wondered about the other two, I know what you mean about the prices going up, and yes the price for a K32 is crazy.

Great looking collection and congratulations on the nice addition. I have a K22 with 6 inch barrel and a Model 17-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel and they are tack drivers. I also have a K38 in 6 inch and a Model 14-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel and they are also great shooters. These are all great revolvers but the 22's are my favorite.

Grayfox, your story parallels mine. My first S&W Model 17 was a -6 with a heavy underlug. Since then I've acquired older M17 and M14s with the standard barrel, and wanted a similar K32 or M16. But yeah, the price....

Then back in February I found a 6" M16-4 at a gun show (complete with box and papers), and gave $600 for it, same as you. I didn't realize there was a heavy-barrel M14 made, so in May I bought a 6" Model 586 in .357 with the full length underlug. So I now have a gathering similar to yours in .22, .32 and .38/.357. I also dislike the "combat" grips and have replaced mine with Sile checkered wood grips, that I really like the feel of.

To top it off, I also bought a Model 29 Classic Magnum in .44 mag with the full length underlug. Now I find myself wondering if S&W ever made a Model 57 in that style....

I'll play Devil's Advocate here for a minute.

You put together a very nice set of handguns that will feel pretty much the same and shoot much the same with the same handling qualities, sights and triggers. And they are beautiful to behold!

But (look closely now, the horns are starting to creep up outta my hair) a lot of us really don't like those full length underlug barrels, especially on such light-recoiling revolvers. The weight aids some shooters, giving them more steady holding, while the same weight strains some other shooters during long strings of fire. And if you shoot the old-fashioned, one handed style, the weight may REALLY bother you!

That M-16-4 was a great snag, but that full lug Model 14-5 is an outstanding score! I have never seen one for sale in person.

The best thing about the S&W revolvers discussed here is that YOU can have them YOUR way, sorta like Burger King Whoppers, only they won't clog your arteries with cholesterol!

You did real good! You have gotten what you want. You are way ahead of me, who has the K-22 Model 17 and K-38 Model 14, having shot the very dickens out of them for many years, but still longing and pining for a K-32, M-16, M-16-1, M-16-2 or M-16-3.

Go forth, punch repeated wholes in a triad of sizes, feel the power of the control of it all!

...and then report how you did!

I have one of my fathers S&W 14-5. I have yet to see on on the internet. Does anyone have anyinformation on a 14-5 with an 8 3/4" barrel, nickel with woden conture grips? Is it rare? It has never been fired. I estimate value (not that I would sell it) at $850?

Attached Images

S&W model 14-5.jpg (34.8 KB, 122 views)

While I would have to agree with Buff on the under lug on light caliber revolvers, you have in fact obtained a very nice collection of highly accurate, high quality, pre-lock revolvers. As noted in the large number of threads about the K-22, it might currently be the most popular revolver in the extensive Smith line-up. I too am fortunate enough to own three....a first model vintage 1938 K-22, a post war vintage 1951 K-22, and my primary shooter, a 1973 K-22, purchased new at the time. While I have no 32's, several year back I found a mint K-38, vintage 1948. All will be keepers as undoubtedly yours will be, as indicated by your efforts. Congrats and good luck with them. Shoot them often.

Grayfox, I have the same set of revolvers you have, with one exception. Mine are full lug 4" in a M17, M16-4, and a M14. K-Frame perfection!! Bob!!

Bumping this thread with pics and a question: how many of the 14-5's with full underlug did S&W make? The SCSW states an initial run of 2,000, with regular production starting a year later for ~4 years.

I found mine a couple years ago at a local shop in San Carlos -- it's a pleasure to shoot, although I prefer non-underlug barrels, generally, for long afternoons of shooting. Great bench gun though - and I especially appreciate the lines on this one (as compared to the 586).

Anybody ever lettered one of these?


--Neill

I have an older K-38 that I really enjoy shooting, but since I always shoot DA and usually two-handed, I suspect that the full-lug barrel might work even better for me. Not that I would get rid of my K-38, but I would really like to get a full-lug version.
Chris

Congratulations on completing that great looking trio. I have a K22 and K38 both in 6 inch and they are two of my favorite S&W revolvers.

that's a great set

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