[dakotasin]

found a very nice looking smith today. model is 14-3. looked to be in about 95% or better condition, wood grips, red dot scope on it. barrel length i'm guessing to about 6". nice looking piece.

also saw a model 15, also in 38 special. looked identical to the 14-3 except for the shorter barrel length.

so, i'm confused, now... what is the signifigance of the '-3', and what is the difference between the two guns, aside from barrel length (which is what the counter guy told me: 'nothing but barrel length'). i really, really liked the looks and feel of the 14-3, but not really being much for handguns, i have no idea if this gun might be a keeper, or what.


any idea if these guns might be current production, or older (how old??). counter guy told me that they were nearly new, no older than 5 years, and probably only a year old. like i said, i know little about handguns, so any input appreciated.

[Majic]

As S&W make design changes on a model they add a dash (-) number after the model number.
The Model 15 not only has a shorter barrel than the Model 14 the barrel is also lighter, tapered and have a ramped front sight. The Model 14 has a heavy barrel and a Patridge front sight.
The -3 versions of the Model 14 and 15 were made from 1967 to 1977 so you can see they are much older than 5 years old. Beware of what a salesman may tell you to make a sale.
Both are excellent revolvers and the Model 15 is basically nothing more than a short barrel Model 14. The Model 14 was S&W's mid sized (K-frame) target revolver and the Model 15 was made as a LEO's holster revolver.

[dakotasin]

majic- thanks much! never before have i learned so much out of a single paragraph. really appreciate the help.

as far as the salesman goes, i'm pretty sure it was a case of ignorance, and nothing more. if he had told me the gun is a 1970's model, it woulda come home w/ me then, instead of me coming home and asking questions on a forum.

the gun was priced at $400, which included the box, base, rings, and red dot scope. the rear sight, as far as i know, is gone - though there is an off-chance it is in the box. i know there is some wiggle room there, and expect the 'final' price will hover around $375.

i'm starting to get drawn to s&w 38 specials, and if this one is still there next time i get to town, i think it will have to come home w/ me. unfortunately, i live a long ways from town, so it might be a week to 10 days until i get back there. we'll see.

[ulflyer]

Both are nice guns and have better hammers and triggers than other Smiths.
If the Mod 15 is under $250 I'd suggest you also take a hard look at it for a good all around target and shooter gun. Heck, get em both. Oh, and the rear sights are avail from Brownell's if you ever need one.

[Old Fuff]

Be careful about that rear sight. At 15-3 they relocated the mounting screw hole in the leaf, and did it again at 15-7. The currently available sights may not fit a 15-3 or a prior version. While we know that the model 14 in question is a -3, the model 15 may be something else.

[dakotasin]

i didn't look that closely at the m15 because it did not interest me, but i am pretty sure it is just a 15, no dashes. it did, however, have all its parts-n'-pieces on it, so replacing sights wouldn't be necessary.

the condition of both the guns was outstanding, bluing was perfect. the only flaws w/ either gun was that the grips showed a little age. the 15 was priced at $325, and again, that was w/ a little wiggle room. i would expect they'd take $300 for it, but doubtful they'd go any lower. and as i said, the platform just didn't interest me (barrel, chambering).

the 14-3 does interest me, though, as a target gun, and a teaching tool for my kids. i may just have to go back and get it. still thinking on it.