Bronco45, It is funny you say that. One of my friends also has a roper but he also had purchased just the barrel for another, I guess there were a few barrels that were floating around and not put on guns. He put it on a model 15. Neither of us ever imagined I would get my hands on one, so he ended up selling me that gun a few months back. So now I have a real Roper and a fifteen with the correct barrel. I guess I have answered my own question, I am not shooting this one, Ill shoot the 15.
MODEL 14-6 FOUR INCH ROPER GUN FOUND IT!
- Thread starter ALVMASON
- Start date
Walter Rego
Member
I have a Model 17-6 4 inch / full lug models and have always wanted one of the Model 14-6 4 inch / full lug models to go with it. They are very scarce and command premium prices when they do show up. The guns that SmithNut shows are just gorgeous and I'll bet shoot like a house a'fire. I know I'd shoot one if I had it.
bronco45
Member
ALVMASON: What a delicious dilemma. I thought I would get a 586 barrel or a 14 full lug bbl and cut it down from 6 inches to 4 and recess crown it. Install and set cylinder gap and then put a Patridge front on it. I'm assuming I would have to change the rear leaf because of the height difference. Will start project soon. In my sunset years I find I shoot a great deal of 38 Spl. I love the cartridge. I gave up PPC shooting around 1980 never knew they built such a nice 38 for PPC shooters.
Engine49guy
Member
Just a heads up as pretty sure the L frame barrel wont thread into a K frame without machine work,
Also while I totally get the whole 4" Model 14 addiction having a 4" 14-2 and 14-3 .... isnt the Model 586 a stronger design thats pretty close in look and feel but at a fraction of the cost or is there a rule that doesnt allow .357's loaded with .38 special bullets to be used in competition shooting ?
Green Frog
Member
Rest assured, many of us have dressed ours up properly.......
Thanks, SmithNut. Now I can go into full lust mode!
Froggie
revho
Member
Another reason why I love this forum. Learn something new almost every time you log in. I also was expecting to see some nice grips but was pleasantly surprised to see another gun to put on my mental list to look for....
Dave T
Member
Since someone mentioned the option of shooting a 586, there's a about as rare a version of the 586-4 chambered for the 38 Special. These were over runs from a special order for the Brazilian National Police. There were 6", 4" and 2.5" versions and less that 200 of each barrel length went out to distributors back in the 1990s. I have both a 6" and a 4":
However I much prefer the 4" for shooting:
I treat mine as modern day 38/44s and shoot my 38/44 hand loads in them exclusively. Not to say they wouldn't handle the 148g wadcutters or 158g Ball of the PPC game just fine.
Dave
However I much prefer the 4" for shooting:
I treat mine as modern day 38/44s and shoot my 38/44 hand loads in them exclusively. Not to say they wouldn't handle the 148g wadcutters or 158g Ball of the PPC game just fine.
Dave
I've shot my Roper 4 inch 14-6 twice. Last time was a few years ago. Very nice shooter as you might imagine.
I only shot jacketed ammunition in it as I was warned that the barrel leads up fast and accuracy is then degraded.
IIRC it made a sub 2 inch ragged hole in a 3 inch Shoot-N-Cee target at 15 yards using WWB 38's.
The trigger is unlike any of my other S&W revolvers. VERY smooth but slightly heavy in DA. IIRC it has a PC "duty action" on it. SA was light short and crisp. Superb revolver. Regards 18DAI
I only shot jacketed ammunition in it as I was warned that the barrel leads up fast and accuracy is then degraded.
IIRC it made a sub 2 inch ragged hole in a 3 inch Shoot-N-Cee target at 15 yards using WWB 38's.
The trigger is unlike any of my other S&W revolvers. VERY smooth but slightly heavy in DA. IIRC it has a PC "duty action" on it. SA was light short and crisp. Superb revolver. Regards 18DAI
YeshuaIsa53
Member
At the risk of sounding stupid, which I'm too old to much care any longer when it comes to learning something that really interests me, what makes you certain one or more round butt 14-6 4" full lugs exist?
While I'm at it, all these fine guns should not be called Ropers just because of the last run of them. Although they may possibly have been sent to Roper, they were not for sale to the general public until the last run of 25 or am I wrong?
According to Jim Rae, there were no round butts. What were the serial number ranges of those that went to LAPD, and those that went to the winners of the next year's match? How many were sent each time they were sent? When were they sent. I ask because owning one could be owning a presented pistol as opposed to owning a purchased pistol.
A picture wearing rubber extended grips can play tricks on the eyes.
While I'm at it, all these fine guns should not be called Ropers just because of the last run of them. Although they may possibly have been sent to Roper, they were not for sale to the general public until the last run of 25 or am I wrong?
According to Jim Rae, there were no round butts. What were the serial number ranges of those that went to LAPD, and those that went to the winners of the next year's match? How many were sent each time they were sent? When were they sent. I ask because owning one could be owning a presented pistol as opposed to owning a purchased pistol.
A picture wearing rubber extended grips can play tricks on the eyes.
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You can use a .357 loaded with .38 Specials if one wants to do so. A lot of competitors won't though, because they feel that the slight bullet jump for a .38 Spl. in a .357 Mag chamber is not conducive to accuracy.
BUD JR,
I don't want to speak for SmithNut but if you look at the flyer he posted, it sure appears that the model is a RB. I don't know if he has other information other than that or not. Just curious, do you know Jim Rae or are you inferring your information based on the letter?
I don't want to speak for SmithNut but if you look at the flyer he posted, it sure appears that the model is a RB. I don't know if he has other information other than that or not. Just curious, do you know Jim Rae or are you inferring your information based on the letter?
YeshuaIsa53
Member
I based my statement on the letter. I think looking for a gun based on a pic with rubber grips extending below the end of the butt has no validity when the master gunsmith and all documentation state they were square butts. Mind you, I can see a definitive treasure chest full of gold if one were to find one.
I am still MORE curious as to the prefixes and or serial numbers if there were just six units per year made and shipped, what they ended up actually being used for, etcetera. I just don't think a RB exists from the factory judging from that letter. If I knew the man and he were alive and well, guess I'd be on the phone with him presently if all was well with him.....which I hope is.
I am still MORE curious as to the prefixes and or serial numbers if there were just six units per year made and shipped, what they ended up actually being used for, etcetera. I just don't think a RB exists from the factory judging from that letter. If I knew the man and he were alive and well, guess I'd be on the phone with him presently if all was well with him.....which I hope is.
YeshuaIsa53
Member
By the way, Alvmason: think that was a needle in a haystack you came across and found it from a mighty kind sort of a person.
Bud Jr.,
Without a doubt! The man I traded with knew what he had and knew how rare it was but he also knew that I had been searching and that I could truly appreciate what it was. As a matter a fact, he worked for Smith and received the gun from Jim Rae. He is a true gentleman and I cant express how impressed i was after meeting with him. Really an interesting, and generous person, and that goes for his wife as well.
Without a doubt! The man I traded with knew what he had and knew how rare it was but he also knew that I had been searching and that I could truly appreciate what it was. As a matter a fact, he worked for Smith and received the gun from Jim Rae. He is a true gentleman and I cant express how impressed i was after meeting with him. Really an interesting, and generous person, and that goes for his wife as well.
You found a super desirable gun. Thats the Holy Grail of 4" model 14's. Nice catch and that's great that someone let it go to be appreciated by someone else. Larry
I think it would be neat if you could get him to type up the story on how he got the gun since it has a connection with the developer. Any documentation on the gun would be a plus. I would also get a factory letter as well
