Ruined Model 14, and To What Purpose?

Y'all are giving me food for thought here. I'd assumed that the nitwit mutilator had hogged out the cylinder for some obscure and inane reason. I'd only posted it as an absurd and horrible curiosity but may glean some education from it.

I've seen pressure-damaged cylinders of all types but have never see one that blew out in this fashion. The chamber wall is thinnest at the notch so it makes sense that the weakest spot is the notch. Will an excessive pressure event really blow a hole out through a notch in this fashion without swelling or cracking the cylinder over that chamber to any superficially obvious extent?

Even though there is some evidence of shearing, a portion of the hole in the cylinder appears "chewed" to me.

In the photo that shows the left side of the revolver in its entirety, what appears to be merely reflection on the left side of the top strap looks more like a bright scuff mark in a later close up photo of the left side. The thumb piece appears to be somewhat dinged in the best close up out of the poor quality photography.

Could the revolver have been caught in some machinery? A replacement front sight was fitted over the damaged barrel perhaps?
 
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How much would it cost to have the barrel cut down, and have the cylinder replaced? Even if the price of the gun was low enough to consider these fixes, one would have to wonder if that frame was stretched at all, and what other damages remain unseen.

The butcher was obviously an idiot. The seller is totally unethical.
 
bmcgilvray said:
I've seen pressure-damaged cylinders of all types but have never see one that blew out in this fashion. The chamber wall is thinnest at the notch so it makes sense that the weakest spot is the notch. Will an excessive pressure event really blow a hole out through a notch in this fashion without swelling or cracking the cylinder over that chamber to any superficially obvious extent?
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In the book "Big Bore Handguns" by John Taffin, he referrences a Colt SAA in which he buldged the stop notch with an excessive load. They will blow right at the notch where it is thinnest. If you look at the chambers of this gun, they are very dirty with large flakes of unburned powder. It looks like left over grains of Unique, which is a common powder for target shooting, and would be easily double charged by a careless reloader. It could be what happened here.

I believe still, that someone was trying to use some type of silencer, hence the groove laterally across the barrel. Shove it on, and twist.:rolleyes:
 
As my old granddad used to say, "I'd only pick it up lying beside the road to keep a kid from getting ahold of it." I saw this also and was amazed at the "nice used Smith and Wesson" and "does not affect the reliability or functions of this weapon" lines. This is the very reason I am very reluctant to buy guns from gun broker and so far only internet transactions have been on the forum. The seller should be ashamed.
 
And I was upset over someone scribing their name in the sideplate of an otherwise perfect 4-screw 14 that I bought.

And he has the nerve to ask $350.00!?!?!

Maybe $35 , then I could take it to a gun turn in for $50.
 
I saw that auction prior to this thread and was shocked. I mean what the hell! How can the seller in good conscience (spelling?) sell that good the way it is. What if the cylinder blows completely? Poor decision on the sellers part there!
 
I didn't notice the end time of the auction when I opened the link to check it out yesterday; but it seems that it was closed early.
 
Pollux said:
I didn't notice the end time of the auction when I opened the link to check it out yesterday; but it seems that it was closed early.
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Hi
If someone was smart, They alerted Gunbroker.com about this "Death Wish". How can the seller even mention the function of the gun is fine with a Blown cylinder ? It is ingredients for Disaster, or at best a Liability Suite on the seller's part if it did explode under firing condition's...:rolleyes: A quick check shows he has a Model 28 with a chunk right out of the sight plane just behind the front sight,{See Picture # 4 They are K-Frame Grip's} along with a Gap between the grips you could Park your Car in, Yet he makes no mention of either issue, Other than it is Nice and has Minor handling Issues.:mad: These gun's appear to be Throw down guns bought at in an alley Way at best. and this Guy has an FFL doing Business this way ? :rolleyes:. Hammerdown




S&W Mod 28 Highway Patrolman 357 Cal 4", Nice! : Revolvers at GunBroker.com
 
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The auction has been relisted, with a modified description. Here's the original description:

"You are bidding on a nice used Smith and Wesson S&W Model 14-4 six shot caliber 38 Special revolver with a 5 3/4 inch barrel. Bluing is good with typical signs of use and handling. Someone messed with the muzzle and one of the locking chambers on the cylinder (see pics)It functions fine with the exception of the damaged cylinder. This chamber should not be fired, but the other 5 are fine. The bore is bright and crisp with sharp lans and grooves. Sights are front fixed blade and rear adjustable notch. Case hardened trigger and hammer. Cylinder locks up tight. The chceckered walnut grips are exceelnt with typical minor signs of handling but NO chips, cracks, breaks or gouges. Functions perfectly. SN# 27K8367. No layaway. Major credit cards accepted with a 3% serfice fee. Free insured shipping with the buy-it-now option. Returns require pre-approval and incur a 10% restocking fee. Item is for sale in my retail store and is in stock at time of listing. California residents allow 2-3 extra days to acquire/verify paperwork. Know your local gun laws prior to bidding as your bid constitutes contractual obligations."

Here's the revised description:

"You are bidding on a used Smith and Wesson S&W Model 14-4 six shot caliber 38 Special revolver with a 5 3/4 inch barrel. Bluing is good with typical signs of use and handling. Someone messed with the muzzle and one of the locking chambers on the cylinder (see pics)It functions fine with the exception of the damaged cylinder. This chamber should not be fired, but the other 5 are fine. The bore is bright and crisp with sharp lans and grooves. Sights are front fixed blade and rear adjustable notch. Case hardened trigger and hammer. Cylinder locks up tight. The chceckered walnut grips are exceelnt with typical minor signs of handling but NO chips, cracks, breaks or gouges. Functions perfectly. SN# 27K8367. This item is on consignment and I must ask what the owner wants me to ask. We have tested the 5 undamaged cylinders without failure. This gun is in need of some repair to make it fully functional, but it ha alot of useable parts if someone needs them. The cylinder has been ground on and not exploded by a hot round. No layaway. Major credit cards accepted with a 3% serfice fee. Free insured shipping with the buy-it-now option. Returns require pre-approval and incur a 10% restocking fee. Item is for sale in my retail store and is in stock at time of listing. California residents allow 2-3 extra days to acquire/verify paperwork. Know your local gun laws prior to bidding as your bid constitutes contractual obligations."


"This item is on consignment and I must ask what the owner wants me to ask." Or, he could tell the owner that he's an idiot. Or ask him if he's drunk. Or not accept the consignment.
 
I have to believe that it also opens the seller and the gunshop up to litigation too. Even if they are disclosing the damage, If something happens to the buyer while shooting this POS, in this day and age anti gun lawyers are just waiting to try a case like this, and even if they lose, they get big press out of the deal, with a lot of negative publicity for gun ownership..:rolleyes:
 
I'm with most - wouldn't even want any parts from that gun. They made too many of them to spend any time worrying about that one. Unattractive even as a paperweight. Candidate for part of a man hole cover.
 
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