458winshooter
New member
Is this the epitome of 38 spl revolvers or does the hipe exaggerate the truth of this gun?
K-38 target masterpiece aka model 14
- Thread starter 458winshooter
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No hype-it's the genuine article. The K38 Masterpiece (AKA Model 14) and the Colt Officers Match/Officers Special, are truly classic revolvers that aren't likely ever to be offered new again for sale. They cost way too much to make and, sadly, there are way too few people anymore who give a damn enough about quality workmanship who're willing to pay the price.
NoSecondBest
New member
That was my first handgun fifty-one years ago. It was a good gun back then if you shot bullseye revolver. Since then I’ve owned more handguns that I can remember (really). I traded that gun in about a year after I got it and never looked back. I never shot bullseye and other than that it really served no purpose. It filled a very small niche. I’m not trying to call anyone’s baby ugly, but it really doesn’t offer any practical purpose.
The K38 is a good gun, for target work until displaced by semi autos.
It was a popular police gun, LAPD, and CHP used it, as well as others.
It's still an accurate, dependable gun.
I went to model 15s, I like a 4in barrel, but had a lot of fun with a K38 shooting ground squirrels in the 80s.
It was a popular police gun, LAPD, and CHP used it, as well as others.
It's still an accurate, dependable gun.
I went to model 15s, I like a 4in barrel, but had a lot of fun with a K38 shooting ground squirrels in the 80s.
jetinteriorguy
New member
When I want to look good at the range, I bring the model 14 and some wadcutters.
ammo.crafter
New member
model 14
This was the first center fire handgun I bought my daughter. No hype whatsoever; this is the real deal. A consistently accurate 38 spcl with a slick trigger as well as near perfect balance.
This is the 38 spcl all others should be measured against.
This was the first center fire handgun I bought my daughter. No hype whatsoever; this is the real deal. A consistently accurate 38 spcl with a slick trigger as well as near perfect balance.
This is the 38 spcl all others should be measured against.
highpower3006
New member
I once shot what was in essence, a one hole six shot group at 15 yards with my 1950 vintage K38 Masterpiece.
They really are that good.
They really are that good.
Indeed, it was the first model to which the 38 special cartridge was created for. The Military and Police model of 1899 with a 6 inches barrel (though with fixed sights). Some years later came the adjustable sights model, now known as model 14 k38 masterpiece (with minor modifications).
highpower3006
New member
Actually not quite true. Of the 20,975 Model 1899 revolvers made by S&W in .38 special (5,311 were made in .32-20), about 5-10%, so somewhere between 1,000 to 2,000, were adjustable sight target models. It is estimated that as few as 10% Model 1899 First Model Targets survive today in unaltered condition. I have one of them I bought a few years ago. At the time I didn't know what it was until I did some research.
No exaggeration, they are the real deal. I have an 8 3/8" 14 and a 6" K38 Target Masterpiece. They're super accurate and I've always felt that S&W treated the 14 as something of a flagship model. They have excellent fit and finish and a much smoother DA pull than your average Model 10, which I've always found amusing because a 14 used for its intended purpose is rarely fired double action.
Anyway get one, feed it wadcutters and if it's not amazingly accurate, it's probably not the gun's fault.
Anyway get one, feed it wadcutters and if it's not amazingly accurate, it's probably not the gun's fault.
Slight Topic Drift
I'm a revolver guy. Specifically, a Smith & Wesson revolver guy.
But I have never fully understood the distinct difference between a Model 14 and a Model 15. Best I can tell, it was just the barrel lengths offered (??).
Anybody who can shed some light, feel free.
I'm a revolver guy. Specifically, a Smith & Wesson revolver guy.
But I have never fully understood the distinct difference between a Model 14 and a Model 15. Best I can tell, it was just the barrel lengths offered (??).
Anybody who can shed some light, feel free.
There are still courses of fire for revolvers in Bullseye matches, and they can be used in all Bullseye events, with the exception of the Pistol National Trophy and EIC Matches Program, where the the "Service Pistol" must be used (with the exception of Junior shooters).
Most serious Bullseye competitors favor a relatively heavy, 6" long barrel when using a typical da revolver (which are generally fired sa, even during the Timed and Rapid Fire stages). A longer, heavier barrel affords the advantage of having a greater distance between the front and rear sights and makes the gun "hang" better when shooting offhand with one hand, as per Bullseye rules.
During the decades of time when Bullseye was the only game in town, many handguns were developed and designed to accommodate Bullseye shooting competitors' wants and demands, including the S&W Masterpiece revolvers (.22 rf, .32 ACP and .38 Special), the 1955 Target (.45 ACP.) and the Colt Officers Match revolvers (in .22rf and .38 Special). Many .22 autos, including the Colt Match target pistols, the S&W Model 41, the Ruger Mark series having a bull barrel and adjustable sights, the Browning Medalist and the many High Standard target variants were intended to compete in Bullseye matches.
In terms of centerfire autos, the fabulous S&W Model 52 (.38 Special wadcutters) was developed expressly for Bullseye competition as were the Colt target 1911s of the time, including the National Match/Gold Cup pistols (.38 Special and .45 ACP).
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