Smith & Wesson Model 14
type of revolver
The Smith & Wesson K-38 Target Masterpiece Revolver (Model 14) is a six-shot, double-action revolver with adjustable open sights, built on the medium-size "K" frame. When introduced, it was intended for bullseye target shooting competition of the type then most common on the United States, which is today called NRA Precision Pistol, specifically in the "centerfire" category. It is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. It is one of three similar models that Smith & Wesson offered, the other two being the very similar K-32 Target Masterpiece (Model 16) chambered for the .32 S&W Long cartridge and, for the "smallbore" or "22" category competition, the K-22 Target Masterpiece (Model 17) chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Most K-38 revolvers were fitted with a 6 in (150 mm) or 8+3⁄8 in (210 mm) barrel. A small batch were made with 4 in (100 mm) barrels, and even fewer were made with 5 in (130 mm) barrels. First produced in 1947 and originally known as the K-38 Target Masterpiece, it was numbered the Model 14 in 1957 when all Smith & Wesson guns were given numerical model numbers. It is built on the same frame as the seminal Smith & Wesson Model 10 ("Military and Police") revolver.
Although the K-38 was intended for paper target shooting, it was authorized for duty with the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Variants
The Model 14 Masterpiece Single-Action was available in 1961 and 1962.
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