A little S&W revolver #### for the weekend

Nice, I have a 14-3 coming, not as nice as those, won't reflect clouds I don't think, but a very good single action. Don't know the year yet, gotta find a site to look it up and might contact the S&W to see if the single action was original or a kit install,,, hoping for the former!
 
bobdbldr said:
Nice, I have a 14-3 coming, not as nice as those, won't reflect clouds I don't think, but a very good single action. Don't know the year yet, gotta find a site to look it up and might contact the S&W to see if the single action was original or a kit install,,, hoping for the former!
Click to expand...

I got a 14-3 from Armco several years ago. Double action is smooooooth, and S/A is perfect.

View attachment 247209

Info on the 14-3 from http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp

Intro 1947
Disc. 1982
Frame: KT
Cal. 38 Spl
Name: K-38 Masterpiece

Model and Dash numbering system:

Model 14,15,16,17,18,48,53 (all start without dash in 1957)
-1 1959 Change to LH extractor rod thread
-2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, hole in front of trigger
guard eliminated
-3 1967 Relocation of rear sight leaf screw
-4 1977 Changed gas ring from yoke to cylinder

More info here:

HOW to IDENTIFY & DATE a S&W
(www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/68254-How-to-Identify-Date-a-S-amp-W)
​


I just found this FB link: "Manufacture Year by Serial Number, "K" Frame Revolvers - 1899 to 1983"

Manufacture Year by Serial Number
"K" Frame Revolvers - 1899 to 1983:
(Years/Serial Number Range)

Pre-War Years:
1899-1902...........1-20,975
1902-1903...........20,976-33,803
1903-1905...........33,804-62,449
1905-1906...........62,450-73,250
1906-1908...........73,251-120,000
1908-1909...........120,001-146,899
1909-1915...........146,900-241,703
1915-1942...........241,704-1,000,000

War Years:
1942-1944...........V1-V769,000
Post-War Years:
1944-1945...........S769,001-S811,119
1945-1948...........S811,120-S990,184

- C Series:
C1 - C233,999………….....1948 – 52
C236,004 – C261,483…….1953
C277,555 - C402,923….…1954 – 56
C402,924 – C405,018…….1957
C405,019 – C429,740…....1958 – 59
C429,741 – C474,148…….1960
C474,149 – C622,699…….1961 – 62
C622,700 – C810,532…….1963 – 65
C810,533 – C999,999….....1966 – 67

- D Series:
D1 – D90,000…………….....1968
D90,001 – D330,000……..1969 -70
D330,001 – D420,000………1971 – Early 72
D420,001 – D510,000………Late 1972 – Early 73
D510,001 – D659,901………Late 1973 – Early 1974
D659.902 – D75000………..Late 1974 – Early 1975
D750,001 – D870,000………Late 1975 – Early 1976
D870,001 – D999,999………Late 1976 – Early 1977
2D00001 - 2D80,000……….1977
2D80,001 – 2D99,999………1978
4D00001 – 6D10,000……….1979
6D10,0001 – 7D10,000……1980
7D10,001 – 9D44,500…..1981
9D44,501 – 17D8,900………1982
17D8,901 – 21D0883……….1983

- K Series:
K101 – K614……………......1946
K615 – K18,731…………....1947
K18,732 – K73,121……..…1948
K73,122 – K84,149……..…1949
K84,150 – K104,047…...1950
K104,048 – K136,690...1951
K136,691 – K175,637...1952
K175,638 – K210,095...1953
K210,096 – K231,255...1954
K231,256 – K266,154...1955
K266,155 – K288,988...1956
K288,989 – K317,822...1957
K317,823 – K350,547...1958
K350,548 – K386,804...1959
K386,805 – K429,894...1960
K429,895 – K468,098...1961
K468,099 – K515,478...1962
K515,479 – K553,999....1963
K555,000 – K605.877....1964
K605,878 – K658.986....1965
K658,987 – K715,996....1966
K715,997 – K779.162....1967
K779,163 – K848,781....1968
K848,782 – K946,391....1969
K946,382 – K999,999....1970
1K1 – 1K39,500.........1970
2K1 – 2K22.037.........1970
1K39,501 – 1K999,999...1971
2K22,038 – 2K55,996....1971
3K1 – 3K73,962.........1971
2K55,997 – 2K99,999....1972
3K31,280 – 5K6,616.....1972
4K1 – 4K1,627..........1972
4K1,628 – 4K54,104.....1973
5K6,617 – 5K73,962.....1973
4K54,105 – 4K99,999....1974
5K73,963 – 6K58,917....1974
7K1 – 7K26,043.........1974
7K26,044 – 7K70,577....1975
6K98,918 – 8K20,763....1975
8K20,764 – 9K1.........1975
8K20,000 – 9K100,000...1975
9K1,001 – 9K99,999.....1976
10K001 – 24K9,999......1977
25K001 – 56K9,999......1978 – 79
57K001 – 91K6,800......1980
91K6,801 – 124K000.....1981
125K000 – 269K9,999....1982
270K000 – 311K273......1983

In 1980's the Three-Letter Prefix Series Began with AAA0
*** Note ***
Dating a Smith & Wesson Revolver:
This list is merely a general guide and not meant to be exact.
There is some dispute regarding the dates on some serial numbers.
Your gun may actually be a year off from what is listed.
The precise shipping date as "lettered" can be several years off depending on model.
For the exact date on your gun request the letter from the S&W Historian.
Click to expand...

According to that, my 14-3 (8k8###x serial #) was made in 1975.
 
Last edited:
Great info, based on that, mine was made in 1962, K486###, now to find out if it left the factory as single action! I hope so, but wouldn't be heart broken if not! Thanks for posting that!
 
bobdbldr said:
Great info, based on that, mine was made in 1962, K486###, now to find out if it left the factory as single action! I hope so, but wouldn't be heart broken if not! Thanks for posting that!
Click to expand...

The FB page was a new find for me. Somewhwre in the various links I followed there was a discussion about "single action only" versions but darned if I could find it now. The S&W Forum would be the place to ask. I believe that the SA only feature was achieved by just removing (or not installing) the DA sear on the hammer, so you'd just need the sear, spring and pin to make it shoot DA. Pity Murray Charlton is closing down as he might well have had those parts :(
 
Yea I read some info on the smith forum from a few years ago before I even bought the gun, I wouldn't want to change to double action if it is an original, kinda wanna keep it that way, supposedly was offered for the target shooter types. If it turns out that it was originally double action and the smith and Wesson kit was installed then I may consider returning it to double. Looking forward to trying the trigger out. This is my first non antique smith Revolver, I have 3 antique smiths, 1 model 3 target, and 2 1rst model DA ( 6" nickel, 4" blued) in .44 Russian love them!
 
The rare bird S&W model 14's are the 14-5's & 14-6's.
These 14's have the full length underlug like the S&W 586's. Wide knurrled Target hammer for single action use, but the thin ungrooved trigger. The dash 5's had the factory patridge front sight, while the dash 6's has a black serrated ramp. Both front sights are pinned.
Looks like a S&W 586 but on the famous "K" frame in 38 special. Superb!
 
josquin said:
I got a 14-3 from Armco several years ago. Double action is smooooooth, and S/A is perfect.

View attachment 247209

Info on the 14-3 from http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp

Intro 1947
Disc. 1982
Frame: KT
Cal. 38 Spl
Name: K-38 Masterpiece

Model and Dash numbering system:

Model 14,15,16,17,18,48,53 (all start without dash in 1957)
-1 1959 Change to LH extractor rod thread
-2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, hole in front of trigger
guard eliminated
-3 1967 Relocation of rear sight leaf screw
-4 1977 Changed gas ring from yoke to cylinder

More info here:

HOW to IDENTIFY & DATE a S&W
(www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/68254-How-to-Identify-Date-a-S-amp-W)
​


I just found this FB link: "Manufacture Year by Serial Number, "K" Frame Revolvers - 1899 to 1983"



According to that, my 14-3 (8k8###x serial #) was made in 1975.
Click to expand...
I have one similar to that and a pleasure to shoot I must say..
 
I had a single action one ,one of the ones tradeEx brings in some times, had 2 or 3, finish not great, but super price and they work.
I took the single action down, the hammer is different, but other than that they are the same inside, change the hammer and you are back to SA/Da.
I had a NOS 14-2 8 inch in the box , with wrapper, paper work, and the tool kit still in the bag, that one went fast, too cheap, The finish was not the Hi Gloss as on the early Master P.
 
hatman1793 said:
The rare bird S&W model 14's are the 14-5's & 14-6's.
These 14's have the full length underlug like the S&W 586's. Wide knurrled Target hammer for single action use, but the thin ungrooved trigger. The dash 5's had the factory patridge front sight, while the dash 6's has a black serrated ramp. Both front sights are pinned.
Looks like a S&W 586 but on the famous "K" frame in 38 special. Superb!
Click to expand...
Cool info, thanks.
 
marshall said:
I had a single action one ,one of the ones tradeEx brings in some times, had 2 or 3, finish not great, but super price and they work.
I took the single action down, the hammer is different, but other than that they are the same inside, change the hammer and you are back to SA/Da.
I had a NOS 14-2 8 inch in the box , with wrapper, paper work, and the tool kit still in the bag, that one went fast, too cheap, The finish was not the Hi Gloss as on the early Master P.
Click to expand...

Yep, mine is from Weimajack, who I am sure got it from Tradex, I was watching it and researching it a bit, then decided to buy, always fair prices from both those guys and honest grading of the guns.
 
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