Pawn Shop Find

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ATCDoktor

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I was scratching around in a local pawn shop yesterday and ran across this S&W Model 14-4 with an 8 3/8 inch barrel priced at $349.00 (no box, no papers).

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I looked it over real close and found no sscratches, rust or buggered up screw heads.

There's an extremely faint turn line on the cylinder and the recoil shield showed no wear other than that of the cylinder pin dragging on it when the cylinder had been opened and closed.

After eyeballing it pretty hard I asked the pawnbroker what he would take for it and he said the marked price was as low as he could go.

He stated that it had been sitting in his shop for over a year priced at $ 500.00 and he had just marked it down to 349.00 in hopes of getting it sold .

I looked over again and finally decided to pay the asking price .

I took it out this morning and fired approximately 200 rounds through it and I have to say its the most accurate 38 special I have ever owned.

I was able to shoot a couple inch and a quarter groups at 25 yards off the bench and was able to wear out a 6 inch plate at 50 yards offhand.

I had always heard that the model 14's and 15's were very accurate and this specimen demonstrated that handily.

I don't think i got stung too bad at 349 bucks (plus tax) for what appears to be an extremely clean Model 14 (8 3/8 inch barrel notwithstanding).
 
ATCDoktor

I don't think i got stung too bad at 349 bucks (plus tax) for what appears to be an extremely clean Model 14 (8 3/8 inch barrel notwithstanding).
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No, you most definitely didn't get stung too bad at that price and in that nice of condition! Congrats on not only a great find but on a real tack-driving Model 14!
 
bannockburn said:
ATCDoktor



No, you most definitely didn't get stung too bad at that price and in that nice of condition! Congrats on not only a great find but on a real tack-driving Model 14!
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At that price, you stole it! That very faint drag line indicates it was never fired much
 
Wow. What a steal of a price!

I guess the only people that went into that pawn shops were of the semi-auto tactical set, so they bypassed a nice little diamond of a gun.

Congrats on the find, ATC. :cool:
 
A SWEET steal! I love that long barrel! I fool people into thinking I'm a decent shooter by using my 7.5" revolvers. :)
 
You didn't get stung at all, that's a great buy, I'll gladly give your $349 back plus a $100 bonus for it right now.:D That piece is a terrific find, it's the first M14 I've ever seen in the wild with an 8 3/8" barrel.
 
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Great price, I would've been all over it.
Probably the longer barrel turned some people off plus all the kids these days want semi-autos.
And it sounds like you happen to be there at the right time, just as he lowered the price.
I stopped by a pawn shop a couple of years ago and lucked up on a super nice nickel Model 15 for $325 OTD. I was very happy.
 
ATCDoktor said:
I took it out this morning and fired approximately 200 rounds through it and I have to say its the most accurate 38 special I have ever owned.

I was able to shoot a couple inch and a quarter groups at 25 yards off the bench and was able to wear out a 6 inch plate at 50 yards offhand.
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I imagine you could get groups that tight. The end of the barrel was already halfway to the target:D.

That is an outstanding-looking wheelgun, and I wish I could find one half as nice at that price. You done good.
 
I have absolutely no need for a gun like that. But for $350, I would be all over that like white on rice.
 
I never have ever seen a deal in a pawn shop. Mostly Jennings and Davis crap guns for $300 and used Glocks for $700. I can't believe you had the guts to ask for an even lower price. LOL.

GREAT FIND. I hope someday I can get a deal like that. But I doubt it.
 
I bought a pre-14 a few years back for $350, it was one of my most accurate handguns. I foolishly sold it. Then I bought a very nice 14, almost as nice as yours a year or so ago to replace it. You've done well as far as I can tell. Congratulations, enjoy it, and don't ever sell it :)
 
Without the benefit of being able to give it a close inspection my guess is that it's a pre-1982 Model 14-4 K 38 Masterpiece. As someone that collects older pin barreled S&W smoke wagons you did good, real good. Square Butt, barely noticeable cylinder ring, little if any holster wear that I can see and a pinned barrel WOW. You just don't see older Smith's in that condition at that price and I would have gladly paid the original asking price. It will only increase in value. Have you run the serial number yet to find the date of manufacture?
 
I'm not a fan of barrels that long, but for that price I sure would be. Nice find man. I'm kind of jealous.
 
"I never have ever seen a deal in a pawn shop. Mostly Jennings and Davis crap guns for $300 and used Glocks for $700. I can't believe you had the guts to ask for an even lower price. LOL.

GREAT FIND. I hope someday I can get a deal like that. But I doubt it."

Be persistent in your visits and shelf checking and be patient. I have snagged a pre-64 Winchester lever gun for less than $200 in good condition, also got a sweet S&W model 19 in very good condition for 3 bills and plenty of model 10's in the $200 or less range. The shop I deal with took time to build a relationship with. The first couple of guns I paid sticker price. One was a fair price and the other wasn't but I wanted the Browning Hi-Power in mint condition. Once they realized I would actually spend money the deals started coming. Some times great deals sometimes not so great to which I would politely pass and walk. On some occasions I will find a rifle or pistol with an incredible high price tag and the sell price they would shoot was still too much. I would make an offer which I thought was a fair price and they would decline. I would then just wait and watch. I wouldn't ask about the item or even look at it for several months and then catch them when business is slow and make my offer again on the same item and more often than not I would get it for what I wanted and they still made money. Main thing with pawn shops, do your homework or they will skin you alive. Also when making an offer be prepared to follow through if they accept it. Be prepared to walk and be nice. Sometimes if they have nothing on the shelves I am interested in I will walk in and just buy a box of ammo or some other item from their shop, an Ipod or something else if I need it.

At another pawn shop in town which recently went out of business I would go in a couple of times a year just for laughs. They would totally BS the customer this is one line they told to me one day, "This Jennings .380 is the hottest gun on the market, reliable and made with quality and it has great stopping power and it lists for $250 dollars but today I will sell it to you for $200+ tax, that is a great deal!" I was in the market for a Ruger .22 auto pistol and I did come close to buying a Ruger .22 auto pistol from them. It was used and in good condition, $285 sticker but I could have it for $250+tax to which I offered $250 out the door and they had a duck fit. I went down the street to the shop I usually dealt with and got the same model pistol and quality for $240 OTD.
 
That is a BEAUTY!

I have been loading 148 Wadcutters on the Dillon when I find time lately, and I would bet out of such a fine gun as yours, you could do some seriously accurate shooting.

Very cool!
 
Good looking revolver at a good price.

There is something special about shooting 38 Special in a K frame chambered for 38 Special.:)
 
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