Informal Pictorial Essay - K-38 Masterpiece (and Model 14) variations

[SmithNut]

Model 14-6 - Round Butt versions

The two guns here are later Model 14-6 guns, featuring the later style cylinder release (thumbpiece), wide forged hammers and round butt gripframes. The gun in the foreground, s/n prefix CBN also has a forged smooth combat trigger, while the other gun, s/n prefix CCP has a MIM smooth combat trigger. As well, the later gun (CCP) also has a white dot front sight and square white outline rear sight. Both of these guns are wearing Nil RB to SB conversion grips.

 

[SmithNut]

Model 14-7 - Last of the non-lock models

The Model 14-7 engineering change moved the firing pin from the hammer to the frame. This has the intregral frame lug/cylinder stop. The hammer and trigger are MIM and the gripframe is RB. The serial prefix is CDB making this an early 1999 gun. The Model 14-7 was not made in large quantities. This gun is also wearing Nil RB to SB grips.

 

[SmithNut]

Model 14-6 - Roper Supply revolvers

Last, but not least, this special group of four inch full underlugged guns were made for and distributed by Roper Supply of Picayune, Mississippi.

Over a period of ~5-6 years a very small number of these revolvers were produced by the S&W Performance Center for Roper Supply. Initially these were made as awards for the National Police Shooting Championships held in Jackson, Mississippi. The first 6 were made and awarded to the winning Police team in 1996, another 6 were awarded in 1997. Over the next 3-4 years, the balance of the production was shipped to Roper, in small batches. The total production is estimated between 100-125 guns.

I found out about these just after the last batch of guns were shipped to Roper in 2000 and was able to get my dealer to order a few. Suffice to say these are very special and scarce versions.

They feature high profile sights, of course the four inch barrel and a special target crown on the barrel muzzle. Hammers and triggers are forged, as all PC guns are.

Note the last picture below, one of the revolvers in my collection is marked as a Model 14-6 (as all the others), however it's really a Model 14-5 frame (note the older style rear sight, and the frame is not drilled and tapped like the others). All these are wearing Spegel grips.....

That's all I got, let's see yours....

 

[kennyb]

very,very nice indeed...i only have one model 14-3 and i love it! your history presentation was very interesting..thanks for going to all the work putting this together!

 

[GyMac]

Beautiful collection. Other than the Dayton guns, did K-38's ever come with PC magnas?

 

[Troystat]

Hey Smithnut thanks for posting all of the great photos. I love the Rosewood diamond target grips on one of them.

Thanks

Troy

 

[Jimmymac46]

Very nice assembly and I appreciate you going thru the effort to display them for us.

I have two, a 95% circa 1952 I acquired a few months back, and a 98+% circa 1949 that I have had for 10 years or more. My 1949 (according to the 3rd edition) has the heavy non-tapered barrel. I assume from that, it was in that year they changed to the heavy barrel. Mine is serial #810xx. Thanks again for explaining the differences in each model.

 

[SPDGG]

Thank you very much for taking the time to post all these photos and related information.

 

[Trooper224]

Thanks for the excellent pictoral essay.

Here's my 14-4 I acquired from a local gunshow a couple of weeks ago.

 

[niklas]

Super nice post sir!! Love it! Here's mine M14-2 from 1966, factory single action.

 

[bgrafsr]

Excellent pictorial and essay. You have an outstanding collection of K-38's.

 

[GF]

Smithnut your essay is the kind of info I remember from when I first joined this forum. This level of S&W education has been missing, I thank you for bringing it back.


GF

 

[Iggy]

A great presentation. Thank you for taking the time to create and post it.

We need more of this kind of thing.

 

[Art Doc]

Super collection. I only have one K38 Masterpiece, a 14-3 from around 1969 that I bagged on GunBroker about 4 years ago at the starting price of $100.

 

[bamabiker]

Excellent thread. Thank you very much.

 

[SmithNut]

Thanks all, appreciate the comments....
I really enjoyed putting this together, the K-38 Masterpiece family has been sitting idle for some time and needed to get some sunlight...

Beautiful collection. Other than the Dayton guns, did K-38's ever come with PC magnas?

GyMac, the only K-38 Masterpiece variation that I've confirmed as shipped with PC Magnas is the Dayton gun, as you note. It's certainly possible that somewhere, showhow PC Magnas made it on a regular production gun, but it would have been one of those examples where they were out of standard Magnas and grabbed what was available, IMO......
The only other possibility would be one of the special order 4 inch guns made (other than the Dayton run) that could have been shipped with the PC/Modified Magnas......

 

[Joe Kent]

SmithNut, as always, a truly spectacular presentation. Thank you for sharing with the Forum. All My best, Joe.

 

[Frank237]

Thank You for an entertaining as well as educational post on the K-38.

FN in MT

 

[Deluxe64]

This is the stuff that noobs like me need. Thanks for your efforts!

Bob

 

[Pilgrim]

Beautiful write up as usual. Thanks

I think we ought to have a special section in the forum where all these 'informal pictorial essays' of Mr SmithNut should be stored so all can see and learn.

These are too good to let disappear to the bottom of this section never to be seen again.