What years S&W model 19-4

[VICTORE]

sn 27Kxxxx. Just got this 38 special from an older than me old timer. He said it was never fired and it appears that way. 6 inch barrel, partridge front site, adj rear target hammer. Plain blue cardboard box, metal reinforced corners, no stickers on the box. Just S&W wax paper and some paper about S&W bullets in the box. Nothing dated. I cannot post pics. at this time.
Opinion about firing it? I have plenty of other revolvers.

 

[NYlakesider]

sn 27Kxxxx. Just got this 38 special from an older than me old timer. He said it was never fired and it appears that way. 6 inch barrel, partridge front site, adj rear target hammer. Plain blue cardboard box, metal reinforced corners, no stickers on the box. Just S&W wax paper and some paper about S&W bullets in the box. Nothing dated. I cannot post pics. at this time.
Opinion about firing it? I have plenty of other revolvers.

Well you called it a 19. If thats correct it should be a .357 that also shoots .38s.

Hang on a bit I'm sure that you will get some more answers soon. Sounds like you have a nice gun there!

 

[murphydog]

Welcome, first post 12 1/2 years after joining!

The serial number might be on a model 19-4 in .357, or if it is stamped ".38 S & W Special CTG" on the right barrel a model 14-4, both from about 1978. The main visual difference is the model 19 has a shrouded extractor rod and factory Target stocks.

 

[413Maxwedge]

It should have the model-rev stamped in the crane cut-out.

 

[VICTORE]

Well you called it a 19. If thats correct it should be a .357 that also shoots .38s.

Hang on a bit I'm sure that you will get some more answers soon. Sounds like you have a nice gun there!

So sorry it is a model 14-4. Typo or old age getting to me. Thank you for the correction. I cannot find any sign of anything gone down the barrel or powder burn on the cylinder. I thought all were fired at the factory. Everything appears perfect. A light line around the cylinder that's it. MY friend says he thought it was 60 years or so when he bought it. No reason to not believe that except the -4 might be a better indicator than his memory.
I just checked and a 357 will not go all the way into the cylinder so it is a 38.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome back to the Forum! The Model 14 is an excellent .38 Spl. revolver- extremely accurate and fun to shoot. Yours sounds like it's in excellent condition, but it might need a good internal cleaning if it hasn't been fired since about 1978. The 6" bbl. was standard. Does yours have the smaller walnut magna stocks (wood grips), and is the barrel pinned to the frame with a small pin in front of the cylinder? Pictures would help us better ID your 14-4. There is no reason you shouldn't take your revolver to the range and enjoy it.

 

[VICTORE]

Yes it has a pined barrel and small wood grips. Very strange to me is I removed the wood to inspect and inside is as new clean with no gummed up residue. I rubbed some silicone cloth and did get a red tint from the big spring but no sign of rust anywhere. Action is smooth. It has been stored in the original wax paper and box and a dry Arizona climate for now guessing 45 years. Good idea to get some oil on the internal moving parts.

 

[JP@AK]

sn 27Kxxxx.

27K numbers were issued in 1979.

Opinion about firing it?

I can't think of a single reason not to. The K-38 Masterpiece, Model 14, is a premium .38 Special target model revolver.

Here is a picture of a Model 14-4 that I bought brand new. It left the factory on July 21, 1980; shipped to Boise, Idaho.