Hi Folks,
I was at a gun show yesterday, and a dealer had a single action only, S&W revolver for sale. I failed to get the model number, or year, or price, but it was defintely S.S., and it was not modified in any way. The fellow did say they were rare and a very limited production. Going back today, with interest in purchase. Anyone know anything about this gun?

Most likely a Model 14,which is 38 special.

... but it was defintely S.S. ...

Stainless Steel?


Smith & Wesson would provide the Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece in single action only. I'm not familiar with which years the option was available.

Welcome to the Forum! Glad you joined. Perhaps a knowledgeable member will be along shortly to share information about the Model 14.

Thanks for the help. I was unaware of any revolvers in single action only. Oh, my error - S.S. should have been SA.

I know that some S&Ws from the last 50-60 years were marketed as SA only revolvers, but isn't that just a matter of removing the DA sear and spring from the front of the hammer? Can't any DA gun be rendered "SA only" by that simple step?

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David Wilson

That was was I was thinking, just remove the D.A. sear- you have a single action revolver. I would guess and say that that if this is verified by documents that it would mean something to a collector. Me, I would just put a sear and sear spring back in and make it "work right". ha ha

John

The only way to know if this is as-issued would be a factory letter. The only (hand-ejector) I am aware of S&W ever issued was the K-38 Masterpiece, although there probably were a few K-32s and K-22s issued this way, and for the same reason, which was for competitive target shooters. The S.A. K-38 hardly qualifies as "Rare", but aren't seen every day. Many were probably converted to SA/DA after the original owner sold the gun.

A factory S.A. K-38 would have a hammer that did not have the slot for the sear machined into it, and you can easily tell if this gun is one simply by cocking the hammer and looking at the front of the hammer for the sear slot. Single action hammers were also available as spare parts at least into the vacuum packed card packaging, so this isn't foolproof, but at least you will know if it is a S.A. hammer!

DCWilson is absolutely correct, all that is needed to convert a regular SA/DA S&W revolver is to remove the sear and spring from the hammer. Likewise, all that is needed to convert a SA gun to SA/DA is to replace the sear and spring or the hammer as necessary.

If he wants a premium for the guns "Rarity", walk away.

Good point, David. I am going back to the show today to look at the gun more closely. Maybe that is what the factory does. I don't remember any sort of cartridge ejection, similar to a single action.

Thanks for the info folks. I will look at the hammer.