Mod14 smith
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RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Everyone should have one adjustable sighted 38 Special, Model 14 or others. Mine is a pre-model 14, Military & Police Target, from 1914.Even after all these years, it will shoot better than I can hold at 25 years.
It is the bottom one in the case., 6 1/2" round butt.
It is the bottom one in the case., 6 1/2" round butt.
I have that same gun!!
Dont shoot it much,because the sights are so fine,i have trouble seeing them.
I researched my gun years ago,cant really remember,but i think it is 1912-15ish.
Glass smooth action,but it has a very pitted cylinder and bore.it will still shoot 148,s into 2 inches@25 yards!
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
The Model 14 / K-38 was an incredible series. Probably one of the finest centerfire target revolvers to be made in large numbers.
The Combat Masterpiece / Model 15 takes all the target shooting refinement of the model 14 and puts it in a package suitable for a sidearm. A tapered 4” barrel and a ramp front sight are about the only concessions made to divert from a true target gun.
It always amazed me that back in the days of DA revolvers in LE, such a refined target gun was routinely carried. The LAPD used model 15’s (albeit with DAO actions), the USAF used the model 15 for decades. And there were countless other users.
The Combat Masterpiece / Model 15 takes all the target shooting refinement of the model 14 and puts it in a package suitable for a sidearm. A tapered 4” barrel and a ramp front sight are about the only concessions made to divert from a true target gun.
It always amazed me that back in the days of DA revolvers in LE, such a refined target gun was routinely carried. The LAPD used model 15’s (albeit with DAO actions), the USAF used the model 15 for decades. And there were countless other users.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Might be worth looking into something like the this- https://eyepalusa.com
I always wondered why smith used such a narrow set of sights,on there 1905 target model,they must have had much better eyes,back then!
I shoot handguns with 1.0 power reading glasses,the front sight is nice a sharp,its just on this ol gun,the sites are just to dam small.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Mine is just lightly salt and pepper cylinder and bore. Action is great and shoots my 3.0 grains of Bullseye loads better than I can hold.
Enjoy yours as much as I enjooy mine!
Enjoy yours as much as I enjooy mine!
JonB
Halcyon member
I guess this is Mod 14 show and tell?
.
A bunch of years ago, my buddy buys two identical 6" target model 14.
I bought both of them, from him after he got tired of owning them, he only test fired them.
So, I shot a bunch of ammo through both, and kept my favorite and sold the other.
They both came with rubber Hogue grips, I ordered some $50 Thailand "clone" grips.
Those grips fit and feel like the real deal.
.
A bunch of years ago, my buddy buys two identical 6" target model 14.
I bought both of them, from him after he got tired of owning them, he only test fired them.
So, I shot a bunch of ammo through both, and kept my favorite and sold the other.
They both came with rubber Hogue grips, I ordered some $50 Thailand "clone" grips.
Those grips fit and feel like the real deal.
Full lenth barrel lug,,bet it holds well!!
Mine is 8 3/8ths barrel,bet they feel about the same.
You think it was blackpowder,or corrosive primers,that caused this?Mine is just lightly salt and pepper cylinder and bore. Action is great and shoots my 3.0 grains of Bullseye loads better than I can hold.
Enjoy yours as much as I enjooy mine!
JonB
Halcyon member
I think it holds well. I tend to prefer heavier revolvers.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Corrosive primers! While Savage made the first non-corrosive US rifle ammo in about 1920 using Swiss primers, it was late 20's after Remington started non-corrosive 22 and quickly revolver ammo.
When folks stopped using black powder ammo and cleaning with water, they thought they could clean smokeless with oil. But you had to have water to clean the corrosive primer residue.
Best I can research, all 38 Special and 44 Special was smokeless by 1910. Black was still loaded in 32 colt, 32/20, 38 and 44 WCF, and 45 colt. And probably many others after that date.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Corrosive primers are not a problem. It is the failure to clean the gun after using corrosive primers that is the problem. And as Rick correctly points out, water is the ideal solvent to remove the salts left over from corrosive primers.
Although I grew up long after the age of corrosive primers, we still had some old ammunition with corrosive primers. The elders in my family made the rules about guns in the family. One of the standing orders was that guns were to be cleaned after use. It was a cardinal sin to put a gun away after use without cleaning it. I suspect some of that diligence concerning cleaning was a holdover from the days of corrosive primers. The idea of shooting a gun and not cleaning it, is an anathema to me.
While most (maybe all) American ammunition had non-corrosive primers post WWII, a lot of the foreign stuff and the surplus stuff often had corrosive primers. A lot of the Soviet or Soviet bloc ammo used corrosive primers. The fail safe was to just assume the worst and clean the gun after use. Even if water was not used, it was still better to clean the gun with Hoppes #9 or some oil, than to omit cleaning.
Although I grew up long after the age of corrosive primers, we still had some old ammunition with corrosive primers. The elders in my family made the rules about guns in the family. One of the standing orders was that guns were to be cleaned after use. It was a cardinal sin to put a gun away after use without cleaning it. I suspect some of that diligence concerning cleaning was a holdover from the days of corrosive primers. The idea of shooting a gun and not cleaning it, is an anathema to me.
While most (maybe all) American ammunition had non-corrosive primers post WWII, a lot of the foreign stuff and the surplus stuff often had corrosive primers. A lot of the Soviet or Soviet bloc ammo used corrosive primers. The fail safe was to just assume the worst and clean the gun after use. Even if water was not used, it was still better to clean the gun with Hoppes #9 or some oil, than to omit cleaning.