5" model 14

[Fullmetaljacket]

Does such a thing exist as a 5" model 14 or pre-model? My 3rd edition SCSW has but a single bullet point in the description: "premium for 5" " in the description. No other mention of this barrel length, 4", 6" only. I understand the 4" is a scarce item but they do exist. What about 5"? Thanks.

 

[Truckman]

There's one in existence on our own Guns For Sale forum......Ben

 

[Bullet Bob]

Yep, it says a "factory 5" barrel". I wish it was clearer - did it originally ship with a 5" barrel, was it returned to the factory at some point to have the original barrel switched to a 5"? I don't want to bother the gentleman, as I'm not buying any more guns (not sure how many times I have to repeat this to make myself believe it).

 

[HeloMt]

Yes, there is such a Model. The Illinois State Police had this model in the 50's. Supposedly, around 400 produced for the agency and an overrun on the order of around 100 or so. Most of these were distributed by H.H. Harris, but some went to a West Coast distributor as well, of which I have one. There are some that say as many as 5000 were produced but they would be far more common if that was the case.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

I wasn't sure if it was permitted to discuss trading post items directly so I tried to ask in a generic way. But yes, that is the one that caught my eye. It does have a ramp front sight which I understand is much less common than the patridge sight. I don't know the significance of that. I already have a minty 14-2 so I don't need another. Probably. Maybe.

 

[HeloMt]

The ramp front sight is common on the 5 inch Masterpieces as they were a police ordered firearm. Patridge sights snag in the holster.

 

[minconrevo]

I've seen a 5" Mod 14 in the Missouri Highway Patrol museum. They are out there, just not a lot of 'em.

 

[HeloMt]

Actually, to split hairs the Missouri Patrol had 5 inch Combat Masterpieces with 5 inch light contour barrels. There are less of those then the 5 inch Masterpiece Illinois State Police guns, which have the heavy barrels. Both orders were 5 inch with ramp front sights but differed in barrel contour.

 

[H Richard]

Yes 5" K38, (Mine was not model marked), shipped in 7/3/57 to IL State Police. 4 Screw, great balance and I think were special processed back in the day. As you can see, they do shoot. (All double action 10 yards). The high right hole is "me", not the gun. It is now in the collection of another forum member.

 

[505Gibbs]

I believe the Woodlawn Boys had one on GB awhile back!

 

[hibbs]

I have sold grips to two separate gentlemen who have M14 5" guns, and have seen pics of both. So I know they are out there.

Richard

 

[stu1ritter]

I have a 14-2 that shipped from the factory with the 5" barrel. It was a special order for 2 of them. It is a joy to shoot. Absolutely a pry it out of my cold hands revolver.

Stu

 

[JP@AK]

I've seen a 5" Mod 14 in the Missouri Highway Patrol museum.

The Missouri SHP guns shipped in 1952 and 1953. They are not Model 14, since model numbers don't show up until 1958. The MSHP revolvers were special order Combat Masterpieces with 5" barrels and Baughman sights. 365 were delivered to the agency.

Here's one of them, fully documented.

 

[KalamazooKid]

5" model 14

I have one of the special order Illinois State Police revolvers, box and all the fixins. Going from memory, this K-38 shipped in 1957.

 

[Walter Rego]

I have shown my 5 inch Model 14-2 before but here it is again. It shipped in a batch of 24 identical revolvers to a hardware distributor in Long Beach CA on 1/13/64. The factory letter calls it a "special production barrel length order". The end label indicates that it shipped with service stocks (Magnas) but the Diamond Target Stocks were on the gun when I bought it so I can't complain.

As others have commented, it handles very differently from a standard 6" K-38 Masterpiece. In fact I think it is perfect and the fact that they weren't a regular production barrel length option is puzzling. The same for a 5" barrel on the N Frame target sighted guns like the Model 29, 57 or even the Model 25-2.