Like New Model 14-3

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Sometimes you find a nice gun that you have absolutely no need for, but it calls out to you. I keep swearing not to buy anymore K frames. I really don't need any more, unless there is something unusual or interesting about them.

Last week I was in a local shop and I spotted a very nice Model 14-3. Now I'm not one of those guys who claims a gun is unfired. This one had some powder residue on the frame around the firing pin hole. But it is as close to New In The Box as I have ever come across. Just the tiniest hint of a turn line, that's all. Chambers and bore are spotless. Not a scratch on the grips. It looks like it had six rounds fired through it, and it has been sitting in somebody's sock drawer for 40 years. SN is 5K235XX and The Book says 1973.

I have a couple of older K-38s, but I don't have a Model 14. So I started thinking what the heck. The gun was on consignment and the asking price was $599. I asked if the seller would take $500. The shop made the call and left a message. I bought some ammo and went home. I figured if the guy wanted to meet me halfway at $550 that would be fine. Later in the day the shop called and told me the seller had accepted my offer of $500. I said great, I would be in the following week to pick it up.

It gets better. When I showed up, the owner of the shop looked the gun over and said I had made a great purchase. I already knew that. He said if he had been aware of it he would probably have bought it himself. That's when I found out the gun came with the original box. I'm not one of those guys who thinks boxes are collectable, or should add to the price of the gun, but I do love the old blue boxes with the reenforced corners because that's the way Smiths came when I started buying them.

No, it was just the box, there were no papers or tools. Let's not get too greedy.


Then I had a little fun with my camera. I took out my Model 17-3, which I bought brand spanky new in 1975, and took a photo of them together.

OK, quick, which one is the 38 and which one is the 22? Can you tell? Ya gotta answer quick.

I have not shot the Model 14 yet, I intend to shoot it just a little bit, then do my best to keep it as pretty as the first owner did. My Model 17-3 is not quite so pretty, it has been shot a fair amount since I bought it back in 1975.

The problem is now, I am going to have to be on the lookout for a Model 16 to complete the set.

 

[Huskerguy]

Very nice set. Don't stop now, the fever won't subside.

 

[Tom K]

....

Then I had a little fun with my camera. I took out my Model 17-3, which I bought brand spanky new in 1975, and took a photo of them together.

OK, quick, which one is the 38 and which one is the 22? Can you tell? Ya gotta answer quick.

I can tell which is which right away, no problem. Probably most folks familiar with Smith & Wessons can. There are at least three "tells" but you gotta know what to look for. Two are relatively obvious, one is kind of subtle and I don't know if I could tell one from the other without them being side by side.

The problem is now, I am going to have to be on the lookout for a Model 16 to complete the set.

Good luck on that! Then you can post a picture of all three and see who can tell the 14 from the 16.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Nice pair of 6" K frame dash threes. I'd settle for the two unless I had two grand to put into a 16.

 

[JP@AK]

The easiest "tell" to spot is the crosspin that retains the floating firing pin on the rimfire. That is a dead giveaway.

I hope you find your Model 16 and don't have to mortgage your house to buy it!

Nice K target guns. Enjoy!

 

[Whiteman]

Great buy!! I love the boxes and look mostly for Smiths with correct boxes. That one is a real beauty!

 

[JP@AK]

I know you are anxious to spend money, so I'll suggest a course of action to round out your collection of dash 3 K target revolvers:
In addition to a Model 16-3, you need to add:
1. A Model 18-3
2. A Model 15-3

AND (drum roll) a Model 14-3 factory Single Action Only. Here are some photos of one of mine. This one is ANIB:

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

Well, to me the most obvious tell is the rivet in the hammer of the 38. It is what holds the firing pin in place. The 22 has a flat faced hammer. To tell you the truth, I did not notice that the front sight of the 38 was about 1/16" taller until I looked at the photos.

 

[Tom K]

Howdy Again

Well, to me the most obvious tell is the rivet in the hammer of the 38. It is what holds the firing pin in place. The 22 has a flat faced hammer. To tell you the truth, I did not notice that the front sight of the 38 was about 1/16" taller until I looked at the photos.

I noticed the height difference in the front sight, but that doesn't indicate to me which is which - it's just a difference. The tells to me are:

Rivet in the centerfire hammer for the hammer-mounted firing pin, and retaining pin in the frame for the rimfire frame-mounted firing pin.

The rimfire cylinder is recessed for the case heads, and the .38 is not. So there is a larger gap between the rear of the cylinder and the frame on the centerfire gun.

The subtle one is the smaller rib on top of the rimfire barrel, done to more closely match the weights of the guns. Since the .22 has a smaller bore it has a lighter rib - the .38 with its larger bore has a heavier rib. But it's hard to tell from the side and lighting can make a substantial difference in appearance, potentially making it difficult to tell which is which. This might also be the only way to tell a .38 from a .32, but the difference would be even more slight.

 

[JP@AK]

The 22 has a flat faced hammer.

Yes, but you cheated. You had the hammer lowered in your picture so no one could see the shape of the hammer face.

But you could not hide the crosspin that retains the floating firing pin!!! Also the cylinder gap on the K-38 was visible. I looked at the rib, but could not see the difference in your pictures, although I knew it had to be there.

 

[corgiS&W]

There also appears to be i pin in the front sight of the .22, No?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

There also appears to be i pin in the front sight of the .22, No?

Nope, there is one pin holding the front sight to the rib on both guns.

Just for fun, here are a few more comparison photos.

Cylinders

Muzzles

Front sights

Ribs

I have read in The Book where the weights of the Models 15, 16, and 17 were matched so the guns would feel the same to the shooter. Clearly, some of the features shown bear that out. But interestingly enough, when I weighed them, the Model 17 weighs 2 pounds 13 ounces and the Model 14 weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces. Perhaps when they are loaded they will weigh the same.

 

[JP@AK]

I have read in The Book where the weights of the Models 15, 16, and 17 were matched so the guns would feel the same to the shooter.

I'm sure you meant, Models 14, 16 and 17.

Perhaps when they are loaded they will weigh the same.

Yes. Loaded weights were matched.

 

[bananaman]

Nice find! I bought my 14-3 in August. It is a beauty. No box or extras. It is accurate, and a pleasure to shoot! Bob