Model 14-3 value?

[Gunhohulk]

Does anyone have any insight to what the going rate for a 6” 14-3 is? I found one at a local shop for 650 and it’s in pretty good condition with what looks to be original pc magnas on it. I’m just not so familiar with thes as much as some other models.

Thanks in advance.


*update on post 18 for anyone interested*

 

[UncleEd]

$650 for a Model 14 in decent shape
with original Magnas is quite reasonable.

The prices for older Smith revolvers has shot up
considerably in the last six months. I
wouldn't be surprised if that gun commands
more than the price you stated and will
continue to do so.

Even before the current panic buying, that
price would still be OK.

 

[stansdds]

For $650, I'd want there to be no rust, but finish wear on the edges and back strap would be expected as would a turn line around the cylinder. I would want it to be mechanically sound and no serious defects. If it is mechanically sound, just showing normal wear, the $650 these days is a good price.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Thanks for the responses. However, you told me what I was hoping to NOT hear! I’ve bought too many Smith’s in the last six months and I’m hoping I can resist this one.

But it seems like you have to strike while the iron is hot out here in CA cause all the bs laws make the older guns so much harder to find.

This one felt tight, only had minimal wear at the muzzle, and was in great shape otherwise. Barely a turn line in it.

 

[Narragansett]

Too many Smith’s. Somebody get this boy a drink and sit him dow and explain there is no such thing

 

[krsmith58]

Too many Smith’s. Somebody get this boy a drink and sit him dow and explain there is no such thing

Xs 2 ten characters

 

[Sevens]

Model 14’s occupy a neat and interesting space in the market because they made -TONS- of them. These are extremely good revolvers in every way, they were very popular and S&W had high demand for them.

Decades later the net result of that is that they remain an excellent buy because “collector value” isn’t totally crazy on them because they made so many. You end up with more bang for the buck because you get one of S&W’s finest products... and it doesn’t carry a tremendous collectible value due to extremely high production.

In a normal market (8 months ago in free America), that price was decent. In the pandemic market AND IN CALIFORNIA, I think you are nuts for wasting time asking, and I would worry that it’s already gone.

 

[Gunhohulk]

It’s on consignment at a local shop and when I was asking about it they checked the tag and said they’ve had it since February. I was kinda surprised by that.

As far ast too many Smith’s being not a thing I couldn’t agree more! My bank account doesn’t seem to have the same perspective though. So I’m gonna need that drink one way or another.

 

[lrrifleman]

Gunhohulk, if the owner is willing, especially since it's been on consignment for almost seven months, is see if you can put a deposit on it and pay it off over 3-4 months! You can never have too many K38s!

 

[Narragansett]

Gunhohulk, if the owner is willing, especially since it's been on consignment for almost seven months, is see if you can put a deposit on it and pay it off over 3-4 months! You can never have too many K38s!

.

I only have one( 1950).It is funny though, the 38 spl is not my favorite cartridge, but I have 7, and only 2 of my favorite the 45 acp

 

[lrrifleman]

Narragansett, more correctly, I have a 4 screw Model 14 (a -1?) and a 14-3. The 4 screw has the service trigger and hammer which I prefer for when I shoot PPC.

 

[Pine_Worker]

Buy it, buy it, buy it!!!

 

[JP@AK]

it’s in pretty good condition with what looks to be original pc magnas on it.

The Model 14-3 K-38 Masterpiece did not ship with PC Magna stocks. Those were used with fixed sight K frame revolvers with the sole exception of the 2" Model 15.

So, there are two possibilities here: either those are not the original stocks or you are mistaken about them being of the PC variety. See if the seller will let you pull the stocks and check for a serial number on the inside of the right hand panel.

 

[bigmoose]

Along the lines of what JP@AK is saying, if the revolver is sporting PC Magnas at $650 I would pass. But to each his own. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Gunhohulk]

More good info with the stocks guys. There were definitely of magnas on. I’m pretty familiar with that variation since I’ve bought a 13-3, 65-1, 58, and 520 amongst others recently and really like that style of stocks for some reason.

I haven’t ruled it out yet but that’s good advice on checking the serial number. Should a 14-3 should still have grips serialized on one panel still or are they right at the time frame they stopped doing that?

If the thing survives the shelf for another week or two I might just have to go in there and save it.

 

[D Brown]

To the O.P. If you don't currently have a Model 14, you should seriously consider trying to make some kind of a deal for the one you've located. It was suggested by lrrifleman that you see if you could place a deposit on it and then pay it off over a few months. That was an excellent suggestion if funds to cover the entire purchase aren't immediately available.

There has also been mention that this is one of the premier models produced by Smith & Wesson, and I wholeheartedly agree with that.

You'll regret it if you let this one slip away, even more so due to your location and the difficulty obtaining one through the online auction sites.

I picked up this Model 14-4 at a local gunshow a little over a year ago. The only thing odd about it was the stocks on it at time of purchase were obviously not original as they were N Frame Targets. I remedied that with the K Frame Targets you see in the following photos.

 

[JP@AK]

Should a 14-3 should still have grips serialized on one panel still or are they right at the time frame they stopped doing that?

Yes, they should still be serialized. In my safe are quite a few -3 KT guns (four 14s, a couple 19s, a 15, an 18, etc.). All have serialized stocks. The practice of using robotics started sometime in the -4 period IIRC.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Well you guys just might be the worst! I take back all of the good things I said about you. After all the bullying and pressure from the thread I broke down and went and bought it today...

Did a quick lookup of the serial number that started with 3k***** and it looks like it left the factory in ‘72. I didn’t bother checking the stocks it’s wearing to see if they were serialized to the gun cause I figured I’d save the mystery for when I get it out of gun jail(have I mentioned how much CA can be a pain in the rear?)

I’ll make a new thread in a couple weeks once I have the chance to check it out fully and put some picks up of it and maybe some of the rest of my fledgling collection so everyone can take a peek.

 

[UncleEd]

Gunhohulk,

Sorry you're not much of hulk
and really just a S&W weakling.

 

[Green Frog]

Well you guys just might be the worst! I take back all of the good things I said about you. After all the bullying and pressure from the thread I broke down and went and bought it today...

Did a quick lookup of the serial number that started with 3k***** and it looks like it left the factory in ‘72. I didn’t bother checking the stocks it’s wearing to see if they were serialized to the gun cause I figured I’d save the mystery for when I get it out of gun jail(have I mentioned how much CA can be a pain in the rear?)

I’ll make a new thread in a couple weeks once I have the chance to check it out fully and put some picks up of it and maybe some of the rest of my fledgling collection so everyone can take a peek.

Our work here is done for now... we’ll start in on you again when you actually have the gun.

I have a revolver that started life as a 14-3 with standard trigger and hammer. It came to me with some blue wear on the cylinder and barrel, but it was going to become a faux 16-3 (as a few were made up that way at the factory) so the barrel and cylinder were being changed anyway. It also was lacking the original grips (came with ugly rubber boots rather than square magnas) so I got it for something in the mid 3 hundreds. Add the better features on yours and three plus years of rapid gun price inflation and your price is looking better and better.

Congratulations again.
Froggie