S&W 14-3 Help needed!
- Thread starter joshb
- Start date
shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
The 5" is reasonably rare. "K" Frame .38 Special. If it's DA only, it has been altered. You'll need another hammer as the SA notch has likely been removed.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Thanks for that. Another member PM’d me about my measurement of the barrel. I had measured from the frame. From the front of the cylinder, it measures 5 and 7/8 inches.
I opened up the gun and the notch is gone. I wondered if it could be a factory order or an aftermarket alteration. Then I wondered who would want a double action only.
The gun has a little lite rust spotting in a few places. I’m trying to come to a fair price to offer the guy.
Thanks in advance.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Its got the firing pin on the hammer and a pinned barrel. Thats code speak for buy it.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Yeah.....but what’s a fair offer?
As far as I know, the Model 14 was only make in 6" barrel. The Model 15, K frame 38 Special was made in 4" barrel. I had both in years past.
The Model 14 was designed and marketed to shoot the center fire stage in Bullseye Competition and was very popular in the 60's and 70's when revolvers were popular in this competition. It was also intended to be a match for the Model 17, 22 Rim Fire, in grip, weight, sights, and frame size thus making the transition for rim fire to center fire more seamless. The Model 14 was an extremely accurate pistol with hollow base wadcutters capable of holding the "X" ring at 50 yards.
At one time, S&W sold a conversion kit to convert the Model 14 to single action thus reducing the amount of hammer travel needed for cocking in single action thus reducing cocking time. This was popular for those who shot the Bulls Eye competition timed and rapid fire stages using only the single action mode which is what I did when I shot this competition with this revolver in the 70's and 80's.
I don't understand why anyone would modify the revolver for double action only since it fires double action without modification and nothing is gain by modifying for double action as far as I know.
This is a "K" frame revolver, mid frame and was primarily designed for shooting light swaged wadcutter or cast lead bullet loads for target shooting. A heavy dose of heavy 38 special loads will loosen the crane and increase wear on the hand adversely affecting the timing especially if fired double action.
If the crane is still tight, the timing alright, and there isn't a lot of flame cut on the top strap, the revolver was probably not abused.
The Model 14 was designed and marketed to shoot the center fire stage in Bullseye Competition and was very popular in the 60's and 70's when revolvers were popular in this competition. It was also intended to be a match for the Model 17, 22 Rim Fire, in grip, weight, sights, and frame size thus making the transition for rim fire to center fire more seamless. The Model 14 was an extremely accurate pistol with hollow base wadcutters capable of holding the "X" ring at 50 yards.
At one time, S&W sold a conversion kit to convert the Model 14 to single action thus reducing the amount of hammer travel needed for cocking in single action thus reducing cocking time. This was popular for those who shot the Bulls Eye competition timed and rapid fire stages using only the single action mode which is what I did when I shot this competition with this revolver in the 70's and 80's.
I don't understand why anyone would modify the revolver for double action only since it fires double action without modification and nothing is gain by modifying for double action as far as I know.
This is a "K" frame revolver, mid frame and was primarily designed for shooting light swaged wadcutter or cast lead bullet loads for target shooting. A heavy dose of heavy 38 special loads will loosen the crane and increase wear on the hand adversely affecting the timing especially if fired double action.
If the crane is still tight, the timing alright, and there isn't a lot of flame cut on the top strap, the revolver was probably not abused.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Hi Ken. I have the gun.I opened it up and looked at the hammer. No notch. It has a very smooth pull but Double action only. I pull the hammer back with my thumb and it doesn’t catch. I innocently told the guy I thought it was broken and would need to be fixed.
“I don't understand why anyone would modify the revolver for double action only since it fires double action without modification and nothing is gain by modifying for double action as far as I know.”
It has me scratching my head, too!
The gun feels tight and doesn’t look abused, just neglected. Some holster rubbing the blue off in spots.
I’d shoot lite wadcutter loads in it or snakeshot “rattler killers”. I had the opportunity to shoot one of these guns as a kid. I’ve some fond memories. This one just fell in my lap.
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Hey Josh. It's a good guess that the OEM hammer has been replaced or modified. As opined by K22, why convert to double action only when that mode is built in already. I believe Power Custom offered a double action only hammer for the S&W (maybe just the N frame) but it was "bobbed" so no choice but to shoot double action only.
Josh here's a link to Numrich for replacement parts for the 14-3. I've used them a number of times. Good source. Looks like about $65 for a replacement hammer.
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/search#query=smith & wesson 14-3 hammer
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/search#query=smith & wesson 14-3 hammer
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Someone that shot PPC matches owned that gun.. All shots are DA..
hpshooter
Gold $$ Contributor
"Someone that shot PPC matches owned that gun.. All shots are DA.."
You beat me to it!
Also, some law enforcement agencies only allowed double action function in their service revolvers. There are Ruger service 6's that are double action only that were department marked.
You beat me to it!
Also, some law enforcement agencies only allowed double action function in their service revolvers. There are Ruger service 6's that are double action only that were department marked.
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
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243Lapua
Silver $$ Contributor
The last S&W model 14-3 I bought was the model with the target trigger and target hammer. Installed new set of Wilson combat springs which made for a smooth pull.
I paid $575.00 in excellent condition.
I know prices have gone up on revolvers, especially S&W's
Somewhere I also read there was a DA only model.
I paid $575.00 in excellent condition.
I know prices have gone up on revolvers, especially S&W's
Somewhere I also read there was a DA only model.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
I shot a lot of PPC matches back in the ‘70’s. We did remove the single action function while radically smoothing the double action.
I used to build PPC pistols for local police teams, including Houston. I would start with a cheap model 10. I replaced the barrel with a 6 inch custom barrel, (I used Shilen blanks), with the sides slabbed off. I added a Bomar rib. I removed the single action feature, and modified the double action to where it was smooth as glass.
These pistols would typically shoot 1 inch 6 shot groups With 148 grn wadcutters at 25 yards mounted in a Ransom Rest.
The typical course was 12 shots in 30 seconds at 7 yards, 6 shots standing at 15 yards, 6 shots at 25 yards right hand barricade, then 6 shots Left hand barricade, 6 shots kneeling, and then 6 shots at 50 yards from prone.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
Do yourself a favor and learn to shoot it DA. you'll never regret it, and a 'perfect" SA trigger will never be as important you you again.
I bought a couple M 64's from JG a few years back with bobbed hammers , DA only. Stainless, with 4" bbls. $185 bucks I think. jd
I bought a couple M 64's from JG a few years back with bobbed hammers , DA only. Stainless, with 4" bbls. $185 bucks I think. jd
I have several K frames all reworked for competition shooting. I learned to shoot double action and actually prefer that. I would not hesitate 1 second to buy that. There is a guy in San Antonio that I know has the parts to replace the hammer if you really had to. The parts are on the shelf. I would let you shoot mine sometime if you want.
Someone above said they would loosen up with heavy loads. I would beg to disagree if built right. I have 1 model 10 with 10's of thousands of rounds of heavy 38 special loaded ammo and not a problem wore out a barrel but that is it. It was not uncommon in action pistol to see k frames with hot ammo. There was a lot of advantages to doing so. A friend the same thing with the magnum cylinder k frame version. He just took the bull barrel off an put a 4 inch factory barrel that he sent to get magna ported and shoot very heavy h110 flame thrower type ammo again no problem with a steady diet.
Good luck and PM if interested Josh
Someone above said they would loosen up with heavy loads. I would beg to disagree if built right. I have 1 model 10 with 10's of thousands of rounds of heavy 38 special loaded ammo and not a problem wore out a barrel but that is it. It was not uncommon in action pistol to see k frames with hot ammo. There was a lot of advantages to doing so. A friend the same thing with the magnum cylinder k frame version. He just took the bull barrel off an put a 4 inch factory barrel that he sent to get magna ported and shoot very heavy h110 flame thrower type ammo again no problem with a steady diet.
Good luck and PM if interested Josh
shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
Kind'a like this one?
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