MODEL 14-6 FOUR INCH ROPER GUN FOUND IT!

[Gryff]

It's a shame that they are so rare. They would make a fantastic gun for IDPA's SSR division.

Just a heads up as pretty sure the L frame barrel wont thread into a K frame without machine work,

Also while I totally get the whole 4" Model 14 addiction having a 4" 14-2 and 14-3 .... isnt the Model 586 a stronger design thats pretty close in look and feel but at a fraction of the cost or is there a rule that doesnt allow .357's loaded with .38 special bullets to be used in competition shooting ?

I have a Model 13 that Bill Davis mounted a 581 barrel on. The K-Frame makes the gun a hair more nimble for action shooting, and the smaller cylinder helps with the speed reloads. A 4" full-lug model 14 would be even better because of the theoretical improved accuracy of a .38-only cylinder.

 

[civil1977]

The Jim Rae letter is in reference to a specific gun and he lists the serial number at the top. The statement regarding the square butt configuration is in reference to this particular gun being one of the last square butt guns to leave the factory. I don't think he is stating all 4" Model 14-6 Roper guns are square butt.

In fact half of the standard 14-6 production was square butt and half was round butt spanning the three year production run from 1994-1997. The square butt frames were phased out during 1995-1996. That's when these first few Roper guns were made.

The Roper sales flyer is dated March 10, 2000, which is four days prior to the date of Jim Rae's letter, and certainly is confusing since it shows round butt grips in the picture but lists square butt grips under the features. However that's four or five years after the square butt frames were phased out so it seems reasonable to think in 2000 they would have been using round butt frames. The square butt grips mentioned could have been round to square butt conversion grips.....but that's not what the picture shows.

 

[M3Stuart]

Great gun and great story! Thanks for sharing!

 

[nuguy]

Evening fun

This has to be the best forum that exist! Every time I log in I get educated and find something else I would like to own, but I can't go there for several reasons. I do indeed enjoy looking at all the rare smiths. Keep it coming.

 

[sw dan]

14'S

HI FOLKS,
yes that 14-6 in a 4" is a great find, wish i could find one. just think, there are some model 14-2s that are also 4", that are like a model 10, but have adjustable sights, which are also hard to find. thanks for sharing. sw dan

 

[CALREB]

Somebody asked this . Yep they shoot pretty good,
and I know several others shooting the same model gun who have the same trophy, or a few of them. If it goes outside the x ring at 25 yards its your fault. WW 158 swc or P Delta.
These 2 consecutive ser #----- 59/60

 

[Jebus35745]

Was lucky to find 2 of em with the original boxes and broke the bank to buy them. I shoot the one, it's very accurate. The previous owner shot it also. The second one is in great shape, the box has wear on it. May be for sale in the future.

Bought a 16-4 and a 17-6 with the 4" full lug barrels to get a 3 Caliber set which is hard to obtain. Had them on display at the NE Ohio Bunch a couple times, there was actually 3 of the 4" full lug 14's at the one Bunch. Larry

 

[CALREB]

Jebus, could you post a photo of the boxes, mine came in plain brown cardboard if I remember right. I always wondered if they were all that way. Bob

 

[Chuck4422]

WTB 14-6 four inch

Shoot me a pm if your thinking about selling.


Charles

 

[CALREB]

I would like to see a photo of the boxes people got them in from the distributor. The ones I have came from the factory and came in plain cardboard boxes. Thanks

 

[StrawHat]

...So if I understand this correctly, some guy named Roper had a special order made up for 131 of these Model 14s with 4" full underlug barrel ... Who knows, with 129 more of them out there, maybe one will fall into my hands as well... stranger things have happened!

Froggie...

So, did you ever find one of these? If so, when is Andy turning it into a 32?

Kevin

 

[schutz5]

Hello, did Smith use a basic L frame barrel (full lug) and cut K frame threads and bored for .38 sp ??

Nice rig that 14-6.

I have shot a model 29 that had the full lug barrel- guy at range had it- limited run from the 80's ??

 

[oysterer]

wow what a gun...love it and appreciate learning something new every day. A 14 dressed up as a 586...that must be some good shooter.

 

[kaaskop49]

OP's gun brings to mind the revolver carried by my friend/supervisor in a security job in the early 80s. It was a 4" bull barrel Model 14 with Patridge front sight. Would probably snap one up if I came across one. Of course, his 14 did not have an ejector rod shroud. Always felt his gun was cool.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[CALREB]

Apparently, people still look at this thread. Just to clear up a couple things. Roper was the LE distributor that handled these guns. I think there were actually less than 100 of these made. I think the other 30? barrels were put on other after these were made. I believe Jim Rae stated he made all of these guns, but I could be mistaken. I have also been told that the RB in the ad was just a gun Jim threw together for the ad, I have never seen or heard of a round but "original" of this model. What I HAVE seen are many other models of 14s, 15s, 19s,66s all with some of the " left over 4" barrels installed on them, by the factory. Not saying there isn't one out there, but I and others have never seen one.

The dates of shipping on some of the early guns may be off. My letter says mine was shipped in 2000, but I actually got it in 1995 or 6. Below is actually a 15-3 2" model.