Model 14-3

[davenelson]

I am new to revolvers and on the recommendation of my Bullseye/Precision Pistol friends I have bought a Model 14-3. Reading around the forum I believe it was manufactured in 1977. It appears to have been carried in a holster, a lot, but fired very rarely. I broke it down today to give it a clean and found a number of stamps on it.

Is there anything else I could learn about it by the serial number or other markings?

Serial Number: 10K2236
Model: MOD 14-3
Number on Plate, Side of Butt, Yoke: 81328
Stamps on side of butt
- F inside of a circle
- C inside of a triangle
- A11
- 98 (maybe 08)
- D4
Stamp on Yoke: A11

 

[series guy]

The 10K number on the butt is the official serial number. All others are fitters and assembler numbers used in the factory.

 

[JP@AK]

10K2236 is indeed from 1977. The 14-3 was made from 1967 to 1977. As series guy stated, all the other numbers and letters are irrelevant.

You got good advice from your friends. The K-38 Masterpiece is one of the very best target revolvers made during that period. The 14-3 is a slightly better unit than the 14-2 because the engineering change was to move the rear sight attachment screw away from the barrel/cylinder gap. This avoids any possibility of getting gas cutting in the top strap at the weak point of the screw hole. Not a huge deal, but definitely an improvement.

I own more than a dozen K-38 Masterpiece revolvers, four of which are -3 (2 SAO). Those get shot more often than any of the others, although I do love to shoot my 5 screw units - mostly for nostalgia reasons.

 

[Green Frog]

I used a Model 14-3 as the donor for my Model 16-3 Homage. It was good and solid but the action is as stiff as any Masterpiece (or even K frame) I’ve ever encountered. Don’t throw brickbats at me for committing a sacrilege by changing it into a 32 S&W Long because the seller said it had blue wear on the cylinder and barrel, which I was going to replace, and besides, S&W did the same thing in those days. If they came up short on Mod 16s they’d take a 14-3 off the shelf, change the barrel and cylinder, and overstamp the 4 with a 6!

 

[pharmer]

Your guns to do what you want. I took off the magna (same 1 K23XX as the butt) stocks and replaced with ones that fit my hand better. Joe

 

[bananaman]

Congrats on your new to you 14-3. They are nice target revolvers. Mine is 10K3134, which is close to yours. was very happy with my online purchase in every way. Was $410, 11 years ago shipped. Bob

 

[davenelson]

Congrats on your new to you 14-3. They are nice target revolvers. Mine is 10K3134, which is close to yours. was very happy with my online purchase in every way. Was $410, 11 years ago shipped. Bob

I paid $545 for in June 2025. Very happy with the purchase.

 

[Engine49guy]

Im betting the gas ring will be on the yoke of your revolver.
Its usually found on the cylinder until around the 1975-1977 time frame.

 

[davenelson]

Im betting the gas ring will be on the yoke of your revolver.
Its usually found on the cylinder until around the 1975-1977 time frame.

I believe your right. Is this it in the picture?




And here it is assembled

 

[Engine49guy]

Yes although its alot easier to see on the cylinder, when removed it looks like a raised ring or lip.
In your guns case it will be totally flat there.

 

[heeter3]

davenelson the 14 is a fantastic shooter your friends are spot on and if you haven't shot it yet you will find out.If you have shot it you already know.Enjoy your 14.

 

[davenelson]

I have shot it, the day I bought it I took it home, cleaned it (didn't really need it), and went to the range and put 50 rounds through it. It is a great shooter, it is so different from my other pistols, it is going to take a lot of dry-firing and practice to get used too it.

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

I used a Model 14-3 as the donor for my Model 16-3 Homage. It was good and solid but the action is as stiff as any Masterpiece (or even K frame) I’ve ever encountered. Don’t throw brickbats at me for committing a sacrilege by changing it into a 32 S&W Long because the seller said it had blue wear on the cylinder and barrel, which I was going to replace, and besides, S&W did the same thing in those days. If they came up short on Mod 16s they’d take a 14-3 off the shelf, change the barrel and cylinder, and overstamp the 4 with a 6!

I bought my 14-3 about 20 years ago, paid EUR 200.
My first revolver in the early 1990s was a model 17. I stupidly traded it in for another gun.
A few years ago I found a 17-5, I think I paid EUR 300 for it.
Last summer I found a 16-2 and bought it for EUR 150.

Now I have the whole Target Masterpiece family and lot of Lapua ammo for everyone

 

[Green Frog]

EU 150 for a Model 16-2? Be still my heart! Here in the US, that revolver alone would probably bring about three times or more than you paid for all three of your Masterpiece family. From your sign in, it appears your part of NATO’s frontier is well prepared.
Best regards from Virginia,
Green Frog

 

[S&WshooterFIN]

EU 150 for a Model 16-2? Be still my heart! Here in the US, that revolver alone would probably bring about three times or more than you paid for all three of your Masterpiece family. From your sign in, it appears your part of NATO’s frontier is well prepared.
Best regards from Virginia,
Green Frog

Someone on this forum told me about the rarity of the model 16 earlier. I assumed it was a common model because there are a lot of them in Finland and they are cheap here.
I happened to get a batch of .32 S&W Long LAPUA WC cartridges for a good price and I didn't have a gun for them, so I bought a model 16.
I was more actively looking for something with a J-frame, but that came up cheap.
J-frame .32 S&W Long revolvers are rare and more expensive in Finland.

 

[Green Frog]

Someone on this forum told me about the rarity of the model 16 earlier. I assumed it was a common model because there are a lot of them in Finland and they are cheap here.
I happened to get a batch of .32 S&W Long LAPUA WC cartridges for a good price and I didn't have a gun for them, so I bought a model 16.
I was more actively looking for something with a J-frame, but that came up cheap.
J-frame .32 S&W Long revolvers are rare and more expensive in Finland.

Wow! I wish we could arrange some sort of exchange program!! It would be economical to trade two Model 30 or 31 revolvers from the US for each Model 16, and everybody would be happy! I wish I had an International FFL.