Is the M 14 a sleeper or a forgotten masterpiece?

[JoeS]

14s are great revolvers. I've got three of them, would be happy to buy more.
In some ways I like the last of them with the full lugged barrels. Come to think of it, if i count those two I have five.
What could be more pleasant than a day at the range with a bunch of wadcutters and a 14? Course you might as well throw in a 17 and a few .22s as well.

 

[faraim]

They are terrible revolvers! If you have one then send it to me so you will not be embarrassed at the range with such an accurate, old fashioned revolver. Seriously, one of the dumbest things I ever did was sell my old pre-14. I can't think of may things as enjoyable as an afternoon spent 'wadcutting' with a K38.

 

[model70hunter]

My advice is that no one should buy any model 14's...ever again! Especially the six inchers. OK...I've wanted one for a while. Now this thread will pump up interest and I'll be buying high, again.

I totally agree with viceunit.

 

[Half Scale]

I bought this one about 2 years ago and it quickly became one of my favorites. As someone else pointed out....one ragged hole....if i do my part!!

 

[ladder13]

Picked up this 14-2 about 2 years ago, $249 out the door. Touch of muzzle wear, otherwise immaculate.

 

[boykinlp]

I bought this one about 2 years ago and it quickly became one of my favorites. As someone else pointed out....one ragged hole....if i do my part!!

Love the grips.

 

[WVfishguy]

It's not forgotten, neither is the 4" version of it the M15.

Model 15s have a tapered barrel, Model 14s are straight bull barrels. I don't own a Model 14, 'cause the only ones I've seen are 6" and the wife does not like 6" any more.
This is our Model 15-2:

I was under the impression that all M14s were 6" or longer, but I saw 4" M14s on this forum. They look like a Model 10 with adjustable sights.
My favorite 38 Special is this Model 67 no dash.

The stags add a retro look. I'll bet a nickled M14 would be sharp with stags!

 

[fyimo]

My first Model 14 was a 5 screw pre model with 6 inch barrel in 97% condition for $500 with diamond target grips and my second a 14-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel for $500 and yes they are a sleeper and under appreciated revolver except by their owners.

 

[bmcgilvray]

The "plastique-fantastique" crowd simply doesn't know what they are missing out on by not owning and shooting a Model 14. Pinpoint accuracy is not important to them though so it doesn't matter.

I bought this 8 3/8-inch Model 14 new and have now owned it for 30 years.

It must be said that the Colt Officer's Model is worthy competition for the great Model 14 K-38.

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

Here is a 14-3 I recently picked up. A complete package unfired from the factory. Best lock up of any of my Smiths and spot on for targets.
Nice balance and fit in my hand and a great looking revolver. Everyone should own one. And look at that huge logo

Great looking 14-3!! I just picked up its older brother, a 14-2 in the same shape for $325. I am afraid the SLEEPER is about to be awakened!!!!!!!!!!! I already have a bead on two more......for some reason they are showing up all over the place around here??

 

[Engine49guy]

Picked up this 14-2 about 2 years ago, $249 out the door. Touch of muzzle wear, otherwise immaculate.

The grips alone are worth half that.
You stole that gun...

I have been looking for a Model 14 for a year to go with my Model 17's,

Only found about 4 and they were either too expensive or too beat.

Seeing these awesome examples encourages me to keep looking.

 

[Dave T]

If I could find a 4" or 5" one I'd buy it so I don't think I've forgotten them, just kind of picky about the one I want. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

 

[A10]

Anyone embarrassed about their K38 please feel free to send them to me. One of the finest revolvers ever produced, and, fortunately for those of us on the hunt, terribly underrated. I think it is due to the caliber. Let's face it, a hit with a .38 beats the crap out of a miss with a .44.

 

[Buckle]

Reading this thread really makes me feel good. Last Saturday I shot my new 14-2 that I had picked up from my FFL the day before. I bought it on this forum for $450 shipped. Slight muzzle wear with original diamond magnas in excellent shape. It sure is a sweet shooter and looks great next to the 17-2 that I picked up off this forum last year. Someone on this forum has said that his favorite gun is the one he just bought. I think this 14 will continue to be a favorite.

 

[SmithNut]

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to be kicking myself in a few years for not having snapped up a handful of 'em."

Yep, need to pick up a couple more, just because.

You need to take action now so you aren't in this predicament down the road. The M14 is truly the finest 38 special K frame (aside from the M10/M&P and others....)

I'm glad I started early, these are the most under-rated and ignored variant in the K family. Too many folks overlook them in their search for 357 Magnum guns, for some reason they feel they are inferior in performance, but I can tell you that for whatever performance deficit they have as compared to the 357 magnum, they more than make up with accuracy, pleasure to shoot and just plain beauty - the M14 is truly the K38 Masterpiece that the factory set out to produce.

Besides, with careful selection of the mighty Plus P ammunition choices out there, you can bridge the gap in performance.... just ask around here....

Wish I could find some more good examples around here, but the word - unfortunately - has got out about how cool these guns are.

Enjoy.

 

[Iggy]

Smithnut.

Wish I could find some more good examples around here, but the word - unfortunately - has got out about how cool these guns are.

Yure plumb breakin' my heart!!!

What a beautiful set of guns!!!

 

[woad_yurt]

Shooting my 14s is my favorite kind of shooting. In all three barrel lengths, those Model 14s are just sooo sweet. Below is my oddball, a 1962, non-Dayton, non-KCPD 4 incher. It is, bar none, the nicest shooting 4" K-frame I've ever tried. When I have some extra cash, I'll get it lettered.

Excuse the pictures; I've been lazy.

 

[TheKySharpshooter]

SmithNut, are any of the guns in the 2nd pic also in the 1st, or is every one of them individual guns?

 

[Lew Archer]

In the Los Angeles Times' coverage of the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, there was one large photograph of an officer aiming his 6 inch Model 14 from behind the cover of an car.

Anyway, while the Model 14 with 6 inch barrel is often thought of as a target gun, it was, for a time, the issue weapon to LAPD officers. There are fewer and fewer of them in police holsters, but they are still out there, at least until that generation of coppers have retired. To this day, the Model 14 remains an "approved" LAPD weapon for officers qualified on revolvers.

Not a bad recommendation!

 

[SmithNut]

SmithNut, are any of the guns in the 2nd pic also in the 1st, or is every one of them individual guns?

The two pictures were taken years apart, four of the six inch full underlug guns in the second pic are also in the first pic. For accuracy as well, the two top guns in the big pic are Heritage McGivern commemoratives, so therefore while they are K38's, they are actually marked as M15's.

To add to the montage, here's a later pic of the four inch M14's in the collection, most of which are also in the second pic above (two additional Dayton guns are present here)

More work to do......