Purchased a Smith 14-3 un-fired with issues

[Jeffrey47]

I recently purchased a safe queen 14-3 (14K0XXX) which was advertised as "played with but never fired". I was looking for a nice older Smith to shoot plates at a local club with my son that I didn't have to repair. I have seen too many gun show Smiths brought to me that had been "tinkered with" having shortened strain screws, triggers stoned incorrectly and bulged barrels.

After inspecting the exterior I could see that it had not been fired and proceeded to remove the side plate to clean any varnish and gunk out. After looking at the inside I found the yoke and trigger to be problematic. The front journal on the yoke was rough with tool marks and not concentric with the rear journal. There was a surface inclusion on the trigger that lined up with the DA sear.

I thought this one may have been put together on a Monday by someone who was still hung over. My point is that even older Smiths can have issues. I have it all fixed and put 200 rounds through it but now it's a $950 gun worth $650. Rant over.

 

[Old cop]

My 1973 Model 66 that only had 5 rounds of .38 wadcutter ammo through it when I got it. It's now w/a gunsmith due to a light strike issue and I'm not sure what it's going to cost me.

 

[Green Frog]

Of all the Smith revolvers I have owned, the Model 14-3 I bought to have converted to a Model 16-3 had the worst trigger pull, especially DA. Buying an older S&W doesn't always guarantee a great trigger.

Froggie

 

[minconrevo]

Safe queens can be a "safe queen" for a reason. I grabbed a like-new Model 28 that appeared it only had maybe 50 rounds through it. Previous owner likely bought it new in the 1970's, had functional problems quickly and tossed it back into his safe. The intent to send back to S&W or take to a 'smith never materialized. Fast forward 30-40 years and the problem is still there. Thought it was simply an ejector rod assembly issue. Used proper rod removal tool and procedure. Nope! Ejector rod snapped off flush with the cylinder. The 'smith and I got the rod stub out with a Torx bit after soaking the cylinder assembly in Kroil for a couple weeks. Happy outcome!

Moral could be to beware of and look closely at a "Like New" shootin' iron.

 

[Carrier]

Of all the Smith revolvers I have owned, the Model 14-3 I bought to have converted to a Model 16-3 had the worst trigger pull, especially DA. Buying an older S&W doesn't always guarantee a great trigger.

Froggie

Funny you say that as my 14-3 was the same way.

 

[Green Frog]

Funny you say that as my 14-3 was the same way.

Mine showed a bit of wear on the cylinder and at the muzzle, so it wasn't a safe queen by any measure, but it just has a heavy dry feeling trigger pull, especially when compared to my 1948 vintage K-22 and K-38 it was acquired to go with. I knew going in that it wouldn't have the quality feel of its older siblings, but I didn't expect it to actually be bad!

Froggie

 

[Carrier]

Mine showed a bit of wear on the cylinder and at the muzzle, so it wasn't a safe queen by any measure, but it just has a heavy dry feeling trigger pull, especially when compared to my 1948 vintage K-22 and K-38 it was acquired to go with. I knew going in that it wouldn't have the quality feel of its older siblings, but I didn't expect it to actually be bad!

Froggie

I bought mine unseen from the other end of the country. If it had been shot it was very little. Single action is really good but it felt like it was full of gravel when using double action. I took it apart but could not get the hammer off of the stud. Cleaned, lubed and put some penetrating oil on hammer stud. I just dropped it off with a smith who I've used before and knows revolvers very well.
Won't know for awhile what is up with it but he doesn't think it will be a big deal getting it slicked up to how it should be as it is a very accurate revolver.