S&W 8-3/8" and K-frame revolvers

[cfullgraf]

Before about 12 years ago, I felt I had no need for 8-3/8" S&W revolvers. I stumbled into a 460 XVR at a GOOD price and I got hooked. Since then I've bought 8-3/8" revolvers in Model 25, Model 27, Model 29, Model 57, Model 686, Model 17 and Model 14. Also, I have an 8" Colt Anaconda that kind of fits in the S&W family.

Another collecting objective that I have had is obtaining examples of the main barrel lengths S&W cataloged over the years in blued K-frame revolvers with adjustable sights. Except for Model 16's, I've completed this goal for Model14 (6" and 8-3/8"), Model 15 (2" and 4"), Model 17 (6" and 8-3/8"), Model 18 (4"), and Model 19 (2-1/2", 4" and 6").

I have one Model 16, a 6" 16-4 chambered in 32 H&R Mag, 32 S&WL Model 16's are rarer than hen's teeth and expen$ive so I've not had much luck there.

But, at the beginning of the pandemic, I realized that I had been ignoring the 22 WMR Model 48 revolvers, Blued K-frames with adjustable sights.

This weekend, the first in December, 2022, I went to my first gun show in more than two years armed with cash to buy one of couple examples on my want list. Well, I found an 8-3/8" Model 48-4. What luck finding the most difficult Model 48 to find right off the bat.

As Holmes said, the game's afoot.

I'll endeavor to add a photo of my 8-3/8" family of revolvers in the next few days.

 

[cfullgraf]

The down side to the weekend, the person that had the Model 48 also had a nice 8-3/8" Model 14. Mine is a bit "thread bare" and it would have been nice to replace it with a nicer version. I did not plan on spending as much as I needed to buy the Model 14 as well.

I was surprised at some of the prices. M1 Carbines were $2000 and up, M1 Garands were $2300 and up. Many uaed S&W revolvers were 1.5 to 2.0 times the cost they were a couple years ago. I'm not totally surprised, but a bit of sticker shock.

At the Knoxville, TN, gun show, the trend was to support self defense. Just a handful of vendors had things that I was interested in and I left the show after less than an hour.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Nice 48!
I saw a 10" M29 silhouette gun at the last show, complete with the adjustable front sight- first spotting in the wild, previously Id only read about them.
Wouldnt mind trying an 8" M14, but one of my grail guns is an 8" 686.

 

[Tallball]

I just have the one...

Smith And Wesson Model 14-4

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

 

[bangswitch]

The down side to the weekend, the person that had the Model 48 also had a nice 8-3/8" Model 14. Mine is a bit "thread bare" and it would have been nice to replace it with a nicer version. I did not plan on spending as much as I needed to buy the Model 14.

I was surprised at some of the prices. M1 Carbines were $2000 and up, M1 Garands were $2300 and up. Many uaed S&W revolvers were 1.5n to 2.0 times the cost they were a couple years ago. I'm not total surprised, but a bit of sticker shock.

At the Knoxville, TN, gun show, the trend was to support self defense. Just a handful of vendors had things that I was interested in and I left the show after less than an hour.

Meaning, of course, selling the plastic-fantastic gun o' the week that the gun rags say you absolutely can't live without. Every gun show I've been to in the last 5-6 years has been that way, with just a few sellers of classic revolvers in collectible condition (meaning they still have a finish and the barrel isn't shot out). And yeah prices on everything have gone up.

That's a beautiful M48-4, looks almost new. That long barrel should be like shooting a rifle when you take it to the range. That one still has the pinned barrel, do you know what year it was made? I'm not a huge fan of the long barrels; 6" is as long as I own, but I love S&W revolvers from pre -1982, and I have a M48-4 from 1981.

 

[bannockburn]

cfullgraf

Nice find!

Though 6" barrels is where I max out at in terms of barrel lengths, I can still appreciate the allure of something like your Model 48 and it's 8 3/8" barrel!

Good hunting for the rest of your K frame collection!

 

[ACORN]

Wish I’d known you were looking for a 8-3/8” 48.
I know where one is at.

 

[Riomouse911]

Nice score to add to the collection, that 48 is not a common variant at all.

I bought one 8 3/8” Model 14-3 a while back. Sadly, before I shot it I missed the teeny bulge in the barrel about 1.5” from the muzzle that completely ruined accuracy. Seller wouldn’t take it back so I found another 8 3/8” Model 14-3 and had the first one cut to 5” and resighted by Gary Reeder.

I half-heartedly went about buying a Model 17 with the long barrel a few months back, but the bids went too high, and other shiny things caught my attention, so I stopped.

I can’t wait to see the family photos once you get a chance to take and post them.

Stay safe.

 

[cfullgraf]

Meaning, of course, selling the plastic-fantastic gun o' the week that the gun rags say you absolutely can't live without.

Right! There were a few snub revolvers as well in a few different flavors.

...do you know what year it was made? .

From the "Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson," it looks like 48-4 was made about 1980.

 

[ATCDoktor]

I too am a shooter that that loves Smith & Wesson revolvers but never had an interest in their long barreled versions; until I shot one.

From the very first shot of that first Long Tom S&W I’ve purchased (and regularly use) several.

My 8 3/8” Model 14 is one of my finest shooters:
6 shots @ 25 yards into 1.5”


This 8 3/8” Model 617 shoots like a rifle and has accounted for a fair bit of small game:



This 8 3/8” Pre Model 27 had knocked its fair share down as well:

 

[WestKentucky]

Long barrels are awesome. The 8-3/8 guns I have ran across have all been what I refer to as “good used truck money” so they stayed where they were. I would love to see that long barrel family photo, including the Colt.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice 48!
I saw a 10" M29 silhouette gun at the last show, complete with the adjustable front sight- first spotting in the wild, previously Id only read about them.
Wouldnt mind trying an 8" M14, but one of my grail guns is an 8" 686.

The silhouette gun would be fun to have if it does not stretch the budget too much. I do not have access to a silhouette range anymore, but it would have been interesting to see how the gun performed on the long range targets.

Before the pandemic, I passed on a 44-40 S&W N-Frame (some commemorative model) that I now wished I had invested in. Oh, well.

The L-frame 8-3/8" Model 686 is nice to shoot full power 357 Magnum rounds. I hope you find one sometime.

 

[9mmepiphany]

collecting objective that I have had is obtaining examples of the main barrel lengths S&W cataloged over the years in blued K-frame revolvers with adjustable sights.

...I realized that I had been ignoring the 22 WMR Model 48 revolvers, Blued K-frames with adjustable sights.

You seem to have also ignored the Model 53

 

[Smaug]

I bought an 8-3/8” 29 for my first revolver. I recall it being quite accurate with Specials, but it shot loose easily with Magnums.

I sold it and replaced it with a 7-1/2” Ruger Redhawk, which is heavier despite being shorter. It never shot loose, but the barrel broke off and tumbled down range, taking my scope with it. (Ruger fixed it without comment and it has been fine since)

The Redhawk has a better DA pull, but a worse SA pull than the Smith. On a long-barreled 44 like this, I think the SA is more important. I should’ve kept the 29 and just shot lighter loads from it. It was the nicer gun.

 

[Tallball]

I guess every LGS is different, but the owner of ours can't stand to have a gun in the case for more than a month or so.

After a few months he just wants to get rid of it.

Keep your eyes open. That's how I got my 9.5" SRH and the 8 3/8" Model 14. No one else wanted them, so he let me have them for about what he paid, because he just wanted to get them out of the shop. Barrels that long are apparently not popular with the masses.

Ruger Super Redhawk

• Tallball
• Sep 28, 2019

 

[MachIVshooter]

Congrats!

I imagine the really leggy ones are more difficult to find in smaller frames, though I'd also think the market for them means they're less likely to be snatched quickly than more popular 3"-6" guns.

 

[cfullgraf]

You seem to have also ignored the Model 53

You are right. I am aware of the 22 Jet S&W revolvers but did not think they had their own model number. I just did not do the research. I'll keep my eye out for a Model 53 but I want to get serious about finding Model 16/K-32 guns first.

I have my father-in-law's Model 51 which got me thinking about the Model 48.

With the purchase of this Model 48, I learned S&W made a Model 647, a 17 HMR revolver. If I want to branch out into stainless K-frames, it is another rare bird to look for.

On the other hand, maybe I'll just stick to the more common cartridges and adjust my collection requirements to that.

 

[cfullgraf]

Here is my group of 8-3/8" S&W revolvers plus an 8" Anaconda

Top to Bottom: 17-3, 686, 48-4, Anaconda, and 14-3


Top to bottom: 27-2, 460XVR, 57-1, 25-5, and 29-3

As a side note, the 57-1 is the only 41 Magnum that I have I need to remedy that.

I really like Pachmayr presentation grips on my revolvers but the N-frame, square butt grips have been discontinued. I've found a few, used, at gun shows and will keep looking. I do keep the original S&W wood grips for the next owner.

 

[cfullgraf]

cfullgraf

Nice find!

Though 6" barrels is where I max out at in terms of barrel lengths, I can still appreciate the allure of something like your Model 48 and it's 8 3/8" barrel!

Good hunting for the rest of your K frame collection!

I hear you, I did not appreciate the long barrel S&W revolvers for a long time. I guess, my experience with shooting IHMSA handgun silhouette with 10" and 14" Contenders I finally embraced an 8-3/8" S&W revolvers long after I quit shooting handgun silhouettes.

But, personnel preference, and funds, always come into play.

Besides, if you are not interested with them, then there will be more for me.

 

[cfullgraf]

I too am a shooter that that loves Smith & Wesson revolvers but never had an interest in their long barreled versions; until I shot one.



This 8 3/8” Model 617 shoots like a rifle and has accounted for a fair bit of small game:
View attachment 1119100
View attachment 1119101

Nice looking Model 617

I need to keep my eye out for an 8-3/8" model 617. I need a M617 anyway so why not the long barrel version.

 

[J-Bar]

I'm in.

My S&W 17-5 .22 LR was shipped in 1987. It is the only 8 3/8" barreled revolver I own. I wish I had gee whiz targets to show you, but a long barrel does not cure shaky old man syndrome. At least I can call my shots reliably with it. On good days it thinks its a rifle.

 

[CraigC]

I really like the idea of 8 3/8" K-frames and always wanted a 14/17/48 "set". Also figured if I wanted a .32, it'd be easier to convert a 14 or 17 to .327Federal than to buy a 16.

 

[Jeff olson]

I too only have one k frame with the 8 3/8" barrel. My 48-4. I love this revolver.

 

[cfullgraf]

I really like the idea of 8 3/8" K-frames and always wanted a 14/17/48 "set". Also figured if I wanted a .32, it'd be easier to convert a 14 or 17 to .327Federal than to buy a 16.

Yes, you are probably right on the Model 16's.

But, you have given me an idea. Find a better 8-3/8" Model 14 than I have and covert my Model 14 to 32 caliber. Except, I'd like to have a 4" or 6" 32 S&WL K-frame.

I have a GP100, SP101, and a Single-Seven chambered in 327 Fed Mag. All are great but if I'd do a 32 caliber project K-frame, it would be something other than 327 Fed Mag.

My S&W Model 30 and Model 31 with fixed sights shoot crazy small groups with 32 S&WL. I'd like to see what I could do with a larger frame revolver.

But, I understand your opinion. A k-frame 327 Fed magnum would be a great gun.

 

[CraigC]

Yes, you are probably right on the Model 16's.

But, you have given me an idea. Find a better 8-3/8" Model 14 than I have and covert my Model 14 to 32 caliber. Except, I'd like to have a 4" or 6" 32 S&WL K-frame.

I have a GP100, SP101, and a Single-Seven chambered in 327 Fed Mag. All are great but if I'd do a 32 caliber project K-frame, it would be something other than 327 Fed Mag.

My S&W Model 30 and Model 31 with fixed sights shoot crazy small groups with 32 S&WL. I'd like to see what I could do with a larger frame revolver.

But, I understand your opinion. A k-frame 327 Fed magnum would be a great gun.

I think the difference between converting a 14 versus a 17 is an interesting conundrum. The 14 precludes the rimfire to centerfire conversion but then you need a new barrel and cylinder to rechamber/rebore. Although the 14's barrel could possibly be relined. I know that Jim Stroh was relining model 19/66 barrels to rimfires. Last I asked JRH about a rimfire to centerfire conversion, sometime in the last year, it was around $400. I also know that Bowen has K-frame cylinder blanks just for doing such jobs.

Another option would be the .25-20 or .25Flea. The Flea is a .22Hornet blown straight and shortened. Don't recall the case length, probably 1.2" or 1.4".