Model 14 questions.

[Steve St.]

Hello S&W friends.

I have a Model 14, with 6" barrel, made in 1959 that has an unusual shape square frame. The front of the lower butt is cut at a 45-degree angle. I have worked on several S&W revolvers and can't remember ever having one shaped like this. Would someone explain the reason for the shape.



Thank you.
Steve

 

[Doug M.]

Someone who actually knows the answer and can provide a basis for it will come along soon, but my recollection is that this was a special modification made by some competition shooters for a specific make/model of grip. I have seen it discussed on the forum before.

 

[JP@AK]

The grip frame was modified to fit a pair of Fuzzy Farrant grips. Not an entirely uncommon modification.

Except for the mod, it appears to be a pretty nice Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece.

 

[series guy]

Jack hit the nail on the head. A nice set of target stocks will obscure the crime.

 

[Steve St.]

Jack hit the nail on the head. A nice set of target stocks will obscure the crime.

It has Houge Monogrips on it now and I want to dress it up a little so I think a nice set of target stocks will look good.

 

[Vtgw938]

Common modification back in the day by LAPD grip makers to reduce the size of the bottom of the grip. Kind of cool I think, but not very cool if you didn't know it when you bought it. A few S&W's allowed for it to be done without interfering with the grip serial #.

These are my two cut-frame guns and what you are looking for as to grips.

 

[JP@AK]

I think a nice set of target stocks will look good.

To be correct for the year of your K-38, the target stocks will be made of walnut, have the smooth diamond at the screw location and the "football" shaped extractor relief on the left panel.

I don't have a picture handy to show what they look like, so I'll do it in stages:

They will sort of look like this, except that these are Goncalo Alves, not walnut. This one shows the diamond and the correct extractor cut.

The top revolver in this picture has walnut target stocks. However, it lacks the diamond and has the speedloader cut, which didn't show up on K frames until c. 1979.

I hope this helps.

 

[Retired W4]

Fuzzy, and others, thought the S&W SB grip frame angle was all wrong, so they came up with the "cut" and these. This set was sold previously to a a forum member.

 

[Doug M.]

Jack hit the nail on the head. A nice set of target stocks will obscure the crime.

*
I know that collectors tend to see any modification through a lens that finds almost all modifications to be a problem. I have to disagree, particularly in a case like this.

The modification of the frame was done by serious users for serious use. Back in the day, LAPD was a bastion of good shooting and good shooters, people went into really rough places and dealt with really bad people. Any modification that improved their odds was good thing to do. Remember that the primary purpose of many of these revolvers was (and still is) fighting.

That is still the primary purpose of sidearms, regardless of whatever use anyone makes of them.