First S&W purchase ...
- Thread starter rfd
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It always starts with just one... That is a great revolver. I predict you will enjoy it immensly. Welcome to the forum.
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rfd
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thanx randy - and jeff! good to be here at last! 
i think i got me a good one. should arrive monday. seriously considering getting it refinished. anyhoo, this was the ad write up that got me hooked ...
From a sparingly used and well maintained career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department comes this rare, attractive specimen of Smith & Wesson’s K-38 Target Masterpiece, numbered model 14, Second Engineering change. The Model 14-2, of which this is a specimen, was definitive for accuracy during its heyday in the 1960s, and one still has to get up early and spend all manner of money to beat one of these. From this one’s K750000 range serial number, it was manufactured in 1967, during Governor Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Year.
Factory specs are traditional double and single action revolver; blue steel construction; 6 inch pinned barrel with serrated matte rib and high partridge front sight; windage and elevation adjustable high stepped rear sight; 6 round cylinder for .38 Special ammunition only; Square Butt K size grip frame with 10 groove serrations fore and aft; serrated face .265 casehardened finish service trigger; serrated spur .500 Target casehardened finish hammer; period correct Sile Walnut thumb rest checkered walnut Target grips; weight empty 28.2 ounces with center of gravity on the shooter’s trigger finger.
This specimen’s surface detractions are moderate, principally etchy whitening to the side plate surface on the right side of the frame and extensive browning to the grip frame serrations both in front and in the rear. Apart from that, it has muzzle edge whitening from holster contact and edge whitening here and there; and scouring on the bottom of the trigger guard, as the photos show. Front sight is secure, but can move slightly under pressure.
We classify it as Good, perhaps Very Good, 75 percent vicinity by our estimate; photos, at any rate, ought to suffice for our distinguished shoppers to judge finish grade for themselves. It is excellent mechanically. Double action trigger pull is smooth and consistent, and the hammer travels an additional 10 degrees after the cylinder times into place on double action. On single action, the hammer travels 25 to 30 degrees after the cylinder times on all six, and the single action trigger pull is a crisp 2 15/16 pounds. Lateral play to the cylinder is negligible, less than 1 mm by our estimate with the trigger relaxed; with the trigger fully depressed, however, there is no lateral movement at all. The open cylinder has no more than 4mm of back-and-forth movement upon the yoke. Blast effect to the underside of the frame top strap is minimal, only a faint shallow groove that traverses about 2/3 of the width of the top strap. Cylinder face to forcing cone gap is a perfect .007. Bore, cylinder chambers, and mechanism are all bright, clean, and excellent.
i think i got me a good one. should arrive monday. seriously considering getting it refinished. anyhoo, this was the ad write up that got me hooked ...
From a sparingly used and well maintained career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department comes this rare, attractive specimen of Smith & Wesson’s K-38 Target Masterpiece, numbered model 14, Second Engineering change. The Model 14-2, of which this is a specimen, was definitive for accuracy during its heyday in the 1960s, and one still has to get up early and spend all manner of money to beat one of these. From this one’s K750000 range serial number, it was manufactured in 1967, during Governor Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Year.
Factory specs are traditional double and single action revolver; blue steel construction; 6 inch pinned barrel with serrated matte rib and high partridge front sight; windage and elevation adjustable high stepped rear sight; 6 round cylinder for .38 Special ammunition only; Square Butt K size grip frame with 10 groove serrations fore and aft; serrated face .265 casehardened finish service trigger; serrated spur .500 Target casehardened finish hammer; period correct Sile Walnut thumb rest checkered walnut Target grips; weight empty 28.2 ounces with center of gravity on the shooter’s trigger finger.
This specimen’s surface detractions are moderate, principally etchy whitening to the side plate surface on the right side of the frame and extensive browning to the grip frame serrations both in front and in the rear. Apart from that, it has muzzle edge whitening from holster contact and edge whitening here and there; and scouring on the bottom of the trigger guard, as the photos show. Front sight is secure, but can move slightly under pressure.
We classify it as Good, perhaps Very Good, 75 percent vicinity by our estimate; photos, at any rate, ought to suffice for our distinguished shoppers to judge finish grade for themselves. It is excellent mechanically. Double action trigger pull is smooth and consistent, and the hammer travels an additional 10 degrees after the cylinder times into place on double action. On single action, the hammer travels 25 to 30 degrees after the cylinder times on all six, and the single action trigger pull is a crisp 2 15/16 pounds. Lateral play to the cylinder is negligible, less than 1 mm by our estimate with the trigger relaxed; with the trigger fully depressed, however, there is no lateral movement at all. The open cylinder has no more than 4mm of back-and-forth movement upon the yoke. Blast effect to the underside of the frame top strap is minimal, only a faint shallow groove that traverses about 2/3 of the width of the top strap. Cylinder face to forcing cone gap is a perfect .007. Bore, cylinder chambers, and mechanism are all bright, clean, and excellent.
BoDog
Member
Used but not abused equals a great shooter. Buy Jerry K..... book and l find out the quirks of S&W lock work. You have a wonderful experience coming.
Welcome to the forum, that's a fine 14. I personally would not get that gun refinished, it has a fine pedigree, and I'd leave as is. But it's your gun and you're entitled to do as you wish.
Lenny_D
Member
Betcha can't just buy one!
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rfd
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Ok here is what not to do. Now that you have a 14 everyone is going to recommend that you get a Model 17 to go with it:
Don't listen, because if you do you will realize that these K frames are great guns and you will wonder about the N frames. Hey alot of police carried the 38/44 so why don't i get one of those:
Now your friends will say, hey you do have an N frame but you really need a magnum. Another friend will mention that he has a Model 27 why don't you take a look at it:
He will then say something like, you know I have two six inch 27s and would like to sell this one so I can buy (insert favorite SW here). You figure you will help him out and buy the 27, especially after you admire the deep blue finish and checkered top strap.
As you see it is all a slippery slope and it starts with that 17, don't do it.
Don't listen, because if you do you will realize that these K frames are great guns and you will wonder about the N frames. Hey alot of police carried the 38/44 so why don't i get one of those:
Now your friends will say, hey you do have an N frame but you really need a magnum. Another friend will mention that he has a Model 27 why don't you take a look at it:
He will then say something like, you know I have two six inch 27s and would like to sell this one so I can buy (insert favorite SW here). You figure you will help him out and buy the 27, especially after you admire the deep blue finish and checkered top strap.
As you see it is all a slippery slope and it starts with that 17, don't do it.
robctwo
Member
Nice find. I bought the 14-3 recently, then found a pre # K38 5 screw that I just "had to have". They are superb shooters.
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rfd
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finally got to pick up and shoot the 14-2 today. i had bought a 1911 30 days ago and state law prevents accepting more than one handgun within that time period. worth the wait. this gun is a shooter. super smooth and hitting "golf balls" at 15 yards. bring on "pins nite", i'm a shoe in! hah! i love it! i want MORE.
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