model 14 single action

[rich davis]

a friend is looking at a model 14 that has a card from the factory that made it single action only. any info please.

thank you

rich davis

 

[sigp220.45]

I know they were popular with target shooters who only shot them single action anyway. I think the conversion gave them a shorter hammer fall.

I had one and thought it was broken, so I traded it off.

 

[SS336]

I know they were popular with target shooters who only shot them single action anyway. I think the conversion gave them a shorter hammer fall.

I had one and thought it was broken, so I traded it off.

Oops.
I would like to have one, for sure.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I'm not sure what you mean by has a card, but they could be had one of three ways; originally shipped that way from the factory, shipped as a double action that was returned to the factory for the conversion, or you could buy the conversion parts yourself, and you or your gunsmith could install them.

Great shooters!

 

[Truckman]

Mine shipped from the factory as such, according to the end label on the box......Ben

 

[RSinOR]

I've got one that shipped from the factory as a SAO in 1962 according to Roy's letter. What a fantastic shooter.

 

[JP@AK]

The Model 14 K-38 Masterpiece SAO was an available factory option from 1961 - 1978. The SCSW says 1961-1982, but Roy gave me the 1978 year, and I rather tend to trust his information.

The vast majority were Model 14-2 and 14-3, but the early -4 was also included. There are at least two known examples in 14-1 that shipped on June 28, 1961. There could be more of those out there. I own two confirmed examples with serial numbers very close together. Both are -3 and shipped in 1973. Here is one of them:

 

[dsf]

a friend is looking at a model 14 that has a card from the factory that made it single action only. any info please.

thank you

rich davis

I see you're in California. If "looking at" a Model 14 single action means it's currently out of state he should be told that SA revolvers are exempt from the CA "roster" which means it can come into the state via FFL. Even if not C&R eligible it is due to SA only.

The SA exemption applies to "conventional" DA/SA revolvers, not just older or "cowboy" stuff.

 

[rich davis]

a friend is looking at a model 14 that has a card from the factory that made it single action only. any info please.

thank you

rich davis

thank you for all the information. the card was from the factory explaining the modifications that were done. if the sa did not come from the factory what modifications were done to make it sa only. were the parts sold so you could convert yourself.

thank you

rich davis

 

[JP@AK]

the card was from the factory explaining the modifications that were done

That is interesting. Sounds like the owner sent it to S&W for them to change it from DA to SA. Rather odd, since the parts were available separately (see below). Look on the left side of the grip frame under the stocks. Down near the bottom at the toe, you might see a date code. It will look like this: x.xx or xx.xx, where the x indicates a digit.

if the sa did not come from the factory what modifications were done to make it sa only?

Remove DA sear. Replace hammer. This was the correct way. Some "backyard smiths" simply removed the sear and used the original hammer. Not as slick, but it worked.

were the parts sold so you could convert yourself

Yes. Dealers all over the country sold them in a blister pack.