Fairly rare Smith & Wesson Model 14-7

[whatnickname]

This is one you don’t see very often. Smith & Wesson Model 14-7… a transitional revolver for Smith & Wesson. Underlug barrel & round butt. Revised lock work and a MIM hammer. Likely the start of Smith & Wesson making everything with a round butt. The 14-7 began production in 1997 and went out of production in 1999 when everything was produced with an internal lock following the infamous law suit brought about by the US Government.

This one is in about 99% condition save the burred side plate screw, courtesy of the previous owner… an easy fix. The front and rear sight blades are tall enough to chop wood with. Any thoughts or observations about why that was done would be much appreciated. This one followed me home today from my LGS. This dealer is primarily focused on tactical firearms. As far as he was concerned, this was just another 38 Special revolver… $750 + tax.

 

[tubeshooter]

Pretty neat. Definitely not your typical M&P or Model 10...

Congrats on a nice addition!

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Looks like is has a 1997 frame and barrel with a 1899 front sight.
Looks like the same front sight that's on the 1899 hand ejector model 38 special. I know it isn't but just saying it looks like it.
Classic Firearms: The Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector Revolver - Gun Digest
Have you gotten to shoot it yet?

 

[horsemen61]

Nice

 

[whatnickname]

Looks like is has a 1997 frame and barrel with a 1899 front sight.
Looks like the same front sight that's on the 1899 hand ejector model 38 special. I know it isn't but just saying it looks like it.
Classic Firearms: The Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector Revolver - Gun Digest
Have you gotten to shoot it yet?

Haven’t shot it yet.

 

[whatnickname]

Pretty neat. Definitely not your typical M&P or Model 10...

Congrats on a nice addition!

Thank you.

 

[Jonesy814]

Very nice! I have only seen them in books

 

[J-Bar]

Feed it well, (my 17-3 likes Eley Club when I can find it), and send us a photo of your tiny groups.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Jealous! beautiful, nice acquisition.

 

[Bigdog357]

Nice find, I wouldn't have passed up either.

 

[bannockburn]

Nice pick-up!

I like it!

Pretty unique configuration with it's 6" full lugged barrel and round butt! Definitely not an every day occurrence finding
one of those out in circulation.

 

[Tallball]

Sweet!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Haven’t shot it yet.

Nice piece!

Personally I'd get a Pachmayr Signature grip to use when shooting -- all that weight up front would make the gun slip around too much in my hand with those skimpy Magna grips. I had that problem with my K-22 Masterpiece and it didn't have extra weight of the underlug. Not pretty, but functional:

 

[whatnickname]

Nice piece!
.
Personally . .Model get a Pachmayr Signature grip to use when shooting -- all that weight up front would make the gun slip around too much in my hand with those skimpy Magna grips. I had that problem with my K-22 Masterpiece and it didn't have extra weight of the underlug. Not pretty, but functional:

View attachment 1153749

I’ve got a whole box of Pachmayr grips that I’ve accumulated over the years. Don’t think I will be shooting this one much. I had never seen an underlug model 14 with a round butt. All of the underlugs I have seen to date had square butts. Looked it up in The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson and verified just how scarce it was. Decided that the price of $750 was a very good deal and bought it. What can I say? I like weird stuff. Wish to heavens I had bought a boat load of the Model 16 guns with underlug barrels when they came out! Young and stupid!!!

Thank you for your post.

 

[whatnickname]

Sweet!

Thank you.

 

[whatnickname]

Very nice! I have only seen them in books

First one I have ever seen. Never knew the Model 14 existed in a round butt configuration.

 

[whatnickname]

Pretty neat. Definitely not your typical M&P or Model 10...

Congrats on a nice addition!

Thank you.

 

[sanpitch]

View attachment 1153642 View attachment 1153643

This is one you don’t see very often. Smith & Wesson Model 14-7… a transitional revolver for Smith & Wesson. Underlug barrel & round butt. Revised lock work and a MIM hammer. Likely the start of Smith & Wesson making everything with a round butt. The 14-7 began production in 1997 and went out of production in 1999 when everything was produced with an internal lock following the infamous law suit brought about by the US Government.

This one is in about 99% condition save the burred side plate screw, courtesy of the previous owner… an easy fix. The front and rear sight blades are tall enough to chop wood with. Any thoughts or observations about why that was done would be much appreciated. This one followed me home today from my LGS. This dealer is primarily focused on tactical firearms. As far as he was concerned, this was just another 38 Special revolver… $750 + tax.

It would have been a most desirable revolver for PPC NRA Distinguished and that may be the main reason for it's configuration.

 

[whatnickname]

It would have been a most desirable revolver for PPC NRA Distinguished and that may be the main reason for it's configuration.

That’s what someone else suggested. Makes sense but, would not have been my choice for sight configuration as I’m basically a bullseye shooter. If I can find a replacement set of sights, I will change them. The front sight is pinned, so the swap would be easy and will not impact the value of the gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

That’s a beauty, congratulations on a fantastic fund! I would’ve torn my pants clean off pulling my wallet out to pay for that one.

That is a full Patridge blade without a ramp underneath it, so standing there alone it looks like the skeg on the bottom of a surfboard. It should give you a great sight picture for bullseye or PPC type action shooting .

You have a dinner there, let us know how it shoots for you when you get a chance to take it out.

Stay safe.

 

[Tallball]

Nice piece!

Personally I'd get a Pachmayr Signature grip to use when shooting -- all that weight up front would make the gun slip around too much in my hand with those skimpy Magna grips. I had that problem with my K-22 Masterpiece and it didn't have extra weight of the underlug. Not pretty, but functional:

View attachment 1153749

Not a coincidence that mine always end up with grips like these, too.

Smith And Wesson K22

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

 

[whatnickname]

That’s a beauty, congratulations on a fantastic fund! I would’ve torn my pants clean off pulling my wallet out to pay for that one.

That is a full Patridge blade without a ramp underneath it, so standing there alone it looks like the skeg on the bottom of a surfboard. It should give you a great sight picture for bullseye or PPC type action shooting .

You have a dinner there, let us know how it shoots for you when you get a chance to take it out.

Stay safe.

Thank you!

 

[.455_Hunter]

For me, the aesthetics are a bit off, but a great find if you like it.

 

[bubbaturbo]

I thought about going back to get that but went home to do some research first. Oh well. Congrats.
You snooze, you lose.

 

[whatnickname]

I thought about going back to get that but went home to do some research first. Oh well. Congrats.
You snooze, you lose.

Not real wild about MIM parts, but the revolver was in about 99% condition and relatively rare. Figured it wouldn’t last long at that price. The value will appreciate over time.