.38SuperMan
Member
Since I was a young kid going to gun stores with my dad I always thought the M14 was one of the best looking revolvers in the Smith lineup. The M14 is up there with the 18, 24, 29 and 27 as being the finest examples of fine craftsmanship and design. I’ve always wanted a 14 or K38 but the the prices on nice examples were just more than I wanted to pay and good examples are hard to find around my area.
Well Thursday I strolled over to one of the local shops just to shoot the bull, sat down with my buddies and looked across the room and in the showcase was a 6” revolver that looked interesting. Yes it was very nice M14-3 and looking at the price I was shocked. It wasn’t exactly a giveaway price but it was about a 1/3 less than ones I’ve seen in lesser condition.
My first impression was some of the finish was gone but it locked up tight, no end shake, timing is on the money, barrel / rifling looked new and the action is like glass. Ok I asked if the price was the best he could do and the owner said he’d knock another $50 off. Besides that I had a Smith 15-22 25 round magazine in my hand to buy and he threw that in too and a box of frangible ammo??? That I’m going to pull the bullets on and reload the brass.
To finish the story, I bought it, took it home and cleaned it up. I think it had been sitting out in the open for a long time because it was filthy. I don’t think it had ever had a a real cleaning. There’s was oil and carbon caked on it so heavy I thought some of the finish was gone. The hammer and trigger were so dirty I couldn’t see the case coloring. The serrations on the top of the barrel were full of dirt so I took an hour and started cleaning. It was amazing how it looks now. It’s not new and there a few marks and a little wear but it’s a very nice revolver. So Friday I took it to the range and shot about 125 rounds and I’m really happy. I now need to pop the side off and do the insides. I can only imagine what that looks like.
Ok enough of the background, I’ve searched but can’t find what engineering changes were made over the years. What were the differences between the the No dash, -1, -2, -3, -4. The one I picked up is a 1968 production -3. SN K8307xx.
The grips are going when I find something I like and the photo was before the cleanup.
Well Thursday I strolled over to one of the local shops just to shoot the bull, sat down with my buddies and looked across the room and in the showcase was a 6” revolver that looked interesting. Yes it was very nice M14-3 and looking at the price I was shocked. It wasn’t exactly a giveaway price but it was about a 1/3 less than ones I’ve seen in lesser condition.
My first impression was some of the finish was gone but it locked up tight, no end shake, timing is on the money, barrel / rifling looked new and the action is like glass. Ok I asked if the price was the best he could do and the owner said he’d knock another $50 off. Besides that I had a Smith 15-22 25 round magazine in my hand to buy and he threw that in too and a box of frangible ammo??? That I’m going to pull the bullets on and reload the brass.
To finish the story, I bought it, took it home and cleaned it up. I think it had been sitting out in the open for a long time because it was filthy. I don’t think it had ever had a a real cleaning. There’s was oil and carbon caked on it so heavy I thought some of the finish was gone. The hammer and trigger were so dirty I couldn’t see the case coloring. The serrations on the top of the barrel were full of dirt so I took an hour and started cleaning. It was amazing how it looks now. It’s not new and there a few marks and a little wear but it’s a very nice revolver. So Friday I took it to the range and shot about 125 rounds and I’m really happy. I now need to pop the side off and do the insides. I can only imagine what that looks like.
Ok enough of the background, I’ve searched but can’t find what engineering changes were made over the years. What were the differences between the the No dash, -1, -2, -3, -4. The one I picked up is a 1968 production -3. SN K8307xx.
The grips are going when I find something I like and the photo was before the cleanup.
Attachments
Last edited:
