Semi-automatics may be all the rage now, but wheel guns like the K-frame series were a firm and reliable favorite among law enforcement officers throughout the 20th century, and they are still being made today.
To get a feel for the popularity of this class of firearm, the classic S&W Model 10 – which is built on the K-frame – is the largest-selling revolver in history ever since it was first manufactured in 1899. The letter “K” is Smith & Wesson’s designation for their medium-sized revolver frames. 4.4 4. BLACKHAWK! Multi-Position Brown Leather Holster.4.2 2. Barsony Revolver Shoulder Holster.4.1 1. Bianchi 7000 Black Sporting Holster.Velocities are averages of five shots measured on an Oehler Model 35P chronograph set 12 feet from the muzzle. NOTES: Accuracy results are averages of five five-shot groups at 25 yards off a sandbag rest. assumes any liability for accidents or injury resulting from the use or misuse of this data. Neither the author nor InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. WARNING: The loads shown here are safe only in the guns for which they were developed. If I were to pigeonhole this gun considering the size, cartridge and grips, I think it would make the ideal trail gun - finely finished, perfect in the hand and accurate. Sometimes we all forget to throttle back in our daily lives, and the Model 14 makes a perfect way to spend a leisurely part of the day. Remington's 158-grain SWC did just as well, and Winchester's 158-grain lead hollowpoint wasn't quite as good but still decent. Since this gun had its beginnings on the target range, I started testing with Federal 148-grain Match. With everyone producing ammunition - and factoring in the handloading possibilities (I always liked Speer's 146-grain hollowpoint ahead of a charge of Unique) - you would have a life's worth of work just with the. 38 Special is still a popular, easy-shooting cartridge (even in +P loadings) for those of us who like to take a break from magnums. Finally, the built-in locking system makes the gun secures the gun from unsupervised use. The checkering was clean and the finish well-applied. The cylinder diameter mikes at a trim 1.460 inches, which makes it nice and compact.Īfter working with the gun, the cylinder showed some signs of drag on the crane, and the timing was off on the cylinder (telltale drag marks around the periphery), but other than that the revolver operated just fine.While I was never a big fan of Smith & Wesson's Magna grips, they seem to be perfect in profile and shape for this gun. In order to cut production time and keep costs down, the cylinder rims are not recessed. The locking bolt recess is centered directly over the cylinder openings. The six charge holes are finely finished, and if you use first-class ammunition, under the right pressures, all spent cases eject smoothly. Pushing it forward releases the cylinder to the left. The current Model 14 features a redesigned cylinder release, which greatly aids in loading the gun. The trigger guard on the K models never change donning a winter glove, while tight for double action, works fine for single-action shooting. I can see some tweaking of the strain screw will be forthcoming. Out of the box, single-action pull was four pounds exactly, but the double action was a horrible 13 pounds. In double action, it allows the trigger finger to naturally slide off the face of the trigger for a smooth, consistent pull. The trigger, on the other hand, is between a target and service width, smooth to the touch and color case-hardened for durability. Similar to past models, the hammer is target width (.510 inch) and checkered.
The top of the frame has been bead blasted to reduce glare, and the top rib on the barrel is serrated for the same reason. The rear sight notch is highly defined with no white outline, and the Patridge front sight settles into it with ample room on either side. double actionįully adjustable rear sights are standard and are removable if you wish to add optical sights. I was fortunate to have both models shipped to me, but since I gravitate to nickel-finished revolvers, I thought I would give this one the workout.Ĥ lb. It's available in either blue or nickel finish, albeit only with a six-inch barrel. Smith & Wesson recently returned the Model 14 to the fold. In production for more than three decades, the revolver was discontinued in 1982. In 1957, to simplify all model numbers, the K-14 was changed to the Model 14. From here, it went on to be the K-38 Masterpiece (1947), and because it was a favorite of target shooters, the company offered guns that weighed 38½ ounces for target matches as the models K-22 and K-32.
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