I think I finally struck gold with this one.

[Oldschool shooter]

Over the past year or two we have all marveled at Snake Plisskin’s amazing talent for finding underloved S&W Magnums and giving them a new home. I think I finally found a near-perfect 1980-born Smith worthy of Snakes discerning eye.

I stumbled upon an auction for a S&W 8 3/8” Model 14-4 with the original box and paperwork that I just couldn’t say no to. After getting to finally look it over closely after it’s 10-day wait in the penalty box, I seriously think that over it’s 30-odd years it may have less than a box of rounds through it.

The images were good on the website, but we all know that up close is the only way to know what you’re truly getting. I can say there literally isn’t a mark anywhere on this gun. The bluing is so deep and shiny you can see your reflection in the barrel, cylinder and side plate. There is a hint of a turn line on the cylinder and the ghost of a cartridge head image around the firing pin bushing. Every screw looks untouched, the muzzle is spotless, the cylinder faces hardly have any firing ring and the case hardened trigger and hammer are bright and look like they’ve never been cycled. If this gun has seen even half a box of 50 rounds I’ll be surprised as hell.


View attachment 1003838 View attachment 1003839 View attachment 1003840 View attachment 1003841 View attachment 1003842 View attachment 1003843 View attachment 1003844 View attachment 1003846 View attachment 1003847
(The cloth I used to wipe it down had some lint on it, a bit got left on the gun .)

The matching grips are also undamaged and the back strap still has bright bluing on all the ridges and edges of the frame.

I have never had a safe queen like this one before. I don’t buy guns to sit on, I buy them to shoot, share and enjoy. So, this beauty will be exercised Friday with a few others at my bi-weekly range trip. I’ve never owned a K-frame S&W with a barrel longer than 6”, so I am really looking forward to seeing how she stacks up against her new adopted sisters; a 14-3 6” and a 15-3 4”.

A new photo of the trio, “The sisterhood of the HBWC.”

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When I get back I’ll do my best to post about how it shot for me.

Every once in a while we all stumble upon a gem, I think this is about as bright and shiny a jewel as I’ll ever find.

Stay safe.

Beautiful revolver! Looks like it just came from the factory. We all get lucky now and then, and I'd say you hit this one out of the park. Enjoy it!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

That style of grips was common in the 1970s. They were called Oversized Target Grips and were often supplied with Magnum revolvers. This was before the cut out for speed loaders. The 'football', as it was known, was cut into the left grip to help with ejection. My Model 19-3 that I bought in 1975 came with this style of grips. The wood was Goncalo Alves.






This is the only Smith and Wesson revolver I have with the 8 3/8" barrel. A Model 17 (no dash) from 1963. The grips are the same style and number to the gun. As I said, I suspect this style of grips was supplied with the 8 3/8" barrelled revolvers to steady them for target shooting. With its long barrel, this 22 is quite muzzle heavy.






This 45ACP Model 1955 Target from 1955 sports the same style grips, but they are uncheckered and are made from Rosewood.

 

[Hondo 60]

That sisterhood is marvelous
In my best Billy Crystal, "You look marvelous!"

 

[potmetal]

I've always thought the 14 had great balance and an elegant look. Yours is a beautiful example. Congrats.

 

[Riomouse911]

Howdy Again

That style of grips was common in the 1970s. They were called Oversized Target Grips and were often supplied with Magnum revolvers. This was before the cut out for speed loaders. The 'football', as it was known, was cut into the left grip to help with ejection. My Model 19-3 that I bought in 1975 came with this style of grips. The wood was Goncalo Alves.

View attachment 1003966




This is the only Smith and Wesson revolver I have with the 8 3/8" barrel. A Model 17 (no dash) from 1963. The grips are the same style and number to the gun. As I said, I suspect this style of grips was supplied with the 8 3/8" barrelled revolvers to steady them for target shooting. With its long barrel, this 22 is quite muzzle heavy.

View attachment 1003967




This 45ACP Model 1955 Target from 1955 sports the same style grips, but they are uncheckered and are made from Rosewood.

View attachment 1003968

Nice! My 17-3 is a 6” that came with the magna grips. I shot it several times before swapping them because they just didn’t fit me well.

I’ve seen the football cut outs before, I’ve just never owned a gun that came with them. If I remember right, the “crescent cut out” grips followed the football ones so speed loaders fit the cylinder even better. (I could be wrong of course,)

I found the K-frames with 6” barrels to be just about the perfect balance between shootability, sight picture and portability. I really like the ones I have, especially ringing the dueling tree plates or the small scale silhouette critters I like shooting at.

I’m really looking forward to wringing out the 8 3/8” version tomorrow and comparing it side by side with the 6”. if it shoots as good as it looks I may be in the market for a model 17 with the longer barrel next .

Stay safe.

 

[Snake Plisskin]

Wow, you beat me to it, very nice " hand me down " . It pays to be vigilant when searching for that special one in need on a good home.You never know when it will come but always be ready to pounce on that undiscovered gem.

 

[Master Blaster]

Great looking Gun, they also shoot very well. I have a Model 17-4 and a 14-3 in 8 3/8" barrels.
My 14 has a standard trigger and hammer just like yours. It seems that it should have come with a target hammer and trigger since its a target gun really.
I don't have the box for mine. I wonder if that configuration was a special order. Both came from the old Cabela's Gun library system. I had one sent from Michigan and the other from Virginia to my local store. At my local store I could get 10% off with no problem. $550 for the 14 and $599 for the 17. That was about 3 years ago. Believe it or not 8 3/8" Smiths in non magnum calibers are very slow sellers.