Hey all, I would like to buy my first handgun, and I think I'd like a revolver. I like the look of the older S&W with the deep bluing, and I think I'd like a longer barrel. Also I have small hands. My budget is limited. Would the model 14 be a good choice ? What else should I look at ? Are there any well priced used gun stores in NJ, or is online my best bet ? How much is a realistic amount I should expect to pay for a used but in decent condition revolver like the model 14 ?

Big spread on costs when it come to revolvers. What's the budget? A good first purchase is always a 4" 686. You have the choice to fire 38 or 357 at that point. If you must have longer you can get a 6" instead.

Have you shot the 14? Garden State Shooting Center in Lakewood has one to rent.

You can expect to pay $700 and up for that blued classic look. Thats not necessarily a pristine Model 14. You're in new L frame territory at those prices. If you can deal with stainless you'll get a lifetime warranty and 357 capability in return on the new revolver. New K and L frame guns have a K frame round butt profile so the grip on a new L can be smaller than a square butt K.

 

If you want a K frame and 38 special S&W catalogs the Model 67 but you'll have to settle for a 4" and stainless. The good part is the price. S&W lists a msrp of $749 for the M67. That's less than you'll pay for a nice blued M14.

 

A 38 special will fill most needs. Most people like to get a 357 so they have that option available. A 4" 357 is a gun you can use for just about anything. When you learn to shoot a DA revolver well, everything else is easy.

I picked up a 686+ as my first pistola and I couldn't be happier with it

 

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OP stated he likes the blued look - so instead of a 686, maybe get a 586.  

 

586/686 are pretty much the same except the 586 uses Carbon steel (Black) vs Stainless Steel (Shiny stainless)

Big spread on costs when it come to revolvers. What's the budget? A good first purchase is always a 4" 686. You have the choice to fire 38 or 357 at that point. If you must have longer you can get a 6" instead.

I was hoping to spend in the $400 range but I don't know if that's realistic. Someone also mentioned a model 66 and I found this thread

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389375

I like the look of the one posted by madcrate about halfway down, but it looks a little bigger than a M14 and I don't know if it's more expensive. I don't think I'd ever shoot .357, I'd just stick to .38 special.

$400...ur looking at a Ruger LCR .357 snubbie!

OP stated he likes the blued look - so instead of a 686, maybe get a 586.

 

586/686 are pretty much the same except the 586 uses Carbon steel (Black) vs Stainless Steel (Shiny stainless)

I'm not hung up on it, I just like the older look, I'd probably keep wood grips on it if I can still shoot it comfortably. I just looked up the 586 and found a nickel one that looks really nice, but pricey. Like GRIZ said it was about $780 used.

Dupe.

$400...ur looking at a Ruger LCR .357 snubbie!

Lol, what's more realistic for a used but decent condition older S&W ?

My buddy picked up a model 29-1 (44mag) for like $400 in mint condition from middlebrook. It might be worth it to call around and find a deal locally. I see them sell for 800-1100 all day.

 

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You'd have to find a used one to be down close to that price range.  I got an older 686-3 pre-lock for $500 used, but that was a steal right there... 

The model 14 is also called the K-38 Target Masterpiece - this is pre-model number nomenclature. It was used for Bullseye Competition (2700) when it was contested using revolvers, It was generally available in 6" and 8 3/8" barrels. If you desire a 2" or 4" barrel it would be the model 15, which was called the Combat Masterpiece. Those were both chambered for .38 Special.

 

Model 15

 

The model 19 is the magnum equivalent and it was called the Combat Magnum and available in 2 1/2", 4" and 6". Visual differences between the .38's and the .357's were that the .357's had a shrouded ejector rod and a slightly longer cylinder. All of the above are built on the medium K-frame and have adjustable sights.

 

Model 19

 

There are stainless equivalents for some of the above. The 15 equates to the 67. The 19 equates to the 66. There is no equivalent in stainless to the 14.

 

The 586/686 are .357 Mag L-frame guns. The L-frame is slightly larger than the K-frame, but uses the same size grips. The 586 is the blued version and the 686 is the stainless.

 

Model 586

 

BTW, both the K & L frame grip frames came in a round-butt and a square-butt version. Which a specific gun has is dependent on year of manufacture, barrel length and whether the moon was full that night - OK, just kidding about that last one, but there is no tried and true formula on determining what a particular gun comes with - the closer to the present day, the higher the likelihood it will be a round-butt. Round-butt give you greater flexibility in grip choice.

 

Square-Butt / Round-Butt

 

The above barely scratches the surface, and with S&W there is always an exception.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

There are $400 S&W revolvers out there, you just have to look.  My last purchase was a mdl 19 6" in the original box in excellent condition - for $400 plus tax and NICS.  Check all your local gun shops and let them know what you want.  It'll turn up sooner or later. 

The model 14 is also called the K-38 Target Masterpiece - this is pre-model number nomenclature. It was used for Bullseye Competition (2700) when it was contested using revolvers, It was generally available in 6" and 8 3/8" barrels.

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Thanks for weighing in PB, I was hoping you and Alec.mc would give me some advice. I'll keep an eye out for the M14, K38, and M19. What's the difference between models with a dash and others with just the model number ?

Also what other models would you advise I consider ?

There are $400 S&W revolvers out there, you just have to look. My last purchase was a mdl 19 6" in the original box in excellent condition - for $400 plus tax and NICS. Check all your local gun shops and let them know what you want. It'll turn up sooner or later.

I understand that I can't expect to find something like that, but can you guys recommend a few gunshops that carry a decent number of used guns ?

Middlebrook, effingers, lous, basically all of them will have a few

 

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Where are you located, OP?

Where are you located, OP?

Ocean county, but if I hear of a shop that has something for a good price I wouldn't mind driving. I checked out shore shot and GSSC today.

Ocean county, but if I hear of a shop that has something for a good price I wouldn't mind driving. I checked out shore shot and GSSC today.

 

Those 2 would probably be your best bet down that way...

The dash number after the model number indicates an engineering change. For instance on model 29's (N-frame .44 Mag) the last pinned & recessed model was a 29-2. When they stopped pinning the barrels and machining the rebates in the cylinder it became the 29-3.

 

Finding revolvers is tough - especially if you are looking for bargains like those indicated above. Deals like those are more about being in the right place at the right time than anything else. Realistically  you may find a model 15 in the $400 - $600 range. A model 14 in the $500 - $650. A model 19 from about $550 - $700. Their SS counterparts about the same. The philosophy of S&W collectors is that you never pay too much, you just buy too soon.

 

Good hunting!

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

I think I'll look at the model 10 and the 1905 (victory ?) too.

I think I'll look at the model 10 and the 1905 (victory ?) too.

 

Those are both fixed-sight K-frames. The 1905 being the M&P - the Victory was a revolver made for lend/lease to Britain during WWII - the precursor to the model 10. If you find a Victory and decide that is the way you want to go, make sure that it is chambered for .38 S&W Special NOT .38 S&W - two entirely different cartridges and not interchangeable - the Victorys were made in both. The .38 S&W is the equivalent to the British cartridge the .38/200.

 

If you are OK with a fixed sight gun, my opinion would be to go for the model 10 HB (Heavy Barrel) which is 4". The regular model 10's came with a pencil barrel (tapering and thin) in 4" or 5". You will find model 10's in varying configurations from $250 - $450. Thousands out there as this was the preeminent police revolver and there are a lot of ex-LE guns out there - many with lots of exterior wear, but mechanically very little wear - carried a lot, shot a little.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob 

I highly recommend the S&W model 19. It is versatile with .38 or .357 Magnum. The quality is excellent with a great deep blue finish.