Curious about odd S&W Model 14 and Model 65 versions

[Jim NE]

What I can't exactly understand is:

Why would S&W make a SINGLE ACTION ONLY Model 14, which is usually a DA/SA revolver? The ones I've seen are about 30 years old, I guess. I understand that it's a target revolver, and that much target shooting is done SA, but why restrict it to ONLY SA? I wouldn't think it would reduce the cost or price of the revolver, as economies of scale for the more popular DA/SA version would seem to keep the price lower.

Also confusing is:

Why would S&W make a DAO model 64 that has an exposed (but bobbed) hammer and a 4" barrel? I understand that they make a lot of DAO snubnoses nowadays that are kind of pocket pistols...that make sense. But those usually have shrouded hammers, I believe. The exposed bobbed hammer snubnoses are usually DA/SA aren't they? I'm just wondering who uses a 4" barrelled revolver for a pocket pistol.

From what I gather, S&W didn't sell either of these guns in great quantities in these odd configurations, so apparently I'm not the only guy who doesn't/didn't understand it. Any ideas?

 

[rcmodel]

At one time, the K-38 Masterpiece / Model 14 was THE NRA Bullseye center-fire handgun to beat in competition.

NRA Bullseye shooters have no need or use for DA fire, and some wanted the feature disabled, as they felt it gave a better SA trigger pull.
Which it didn't.

The bobbed hammer K-frame DA guns were a cop item mostly.
Some departments wanted to disable the cops ability to cock the revolver SA, as that was known to lead to accidental shootings of BG's being held at gun point with a cocked revolver.

The other reason they made the bobbed hammer version was, cops didn't get as many scabs on their elbows, or holes in thier uniforms from hammer spurs while getting in & out of patrol cars.

The reason they didn't make a fully enclosed hammer model 64 was because, they never made a K or N frame with an enclosed hammer.
I suppose there just wasn't enough demand for them to tool up and do it.

rc

 

[MrBorland]

At one time, the K-38 Masterpiece / Model 14 was THE NRA Bullseye center-fire handgun to beat in competition.

NRA Bullseye shooters have no need or use for DA fire, and some wanted the feature disabled, as they felt it gave a better SA trigger pull.
Which it didn't.

Maybe not trigger pull, but what about quicker lock time?

I'm just speculating here, but without DA capacity, I'm guessing the DA sear was removed, reducing the effective mass of the hammer. Was the hammer otherwise unmolested in these guns? Judicious trimming of the hammer would remove even more mass. Less mass = faster hammer fall = less lock time = more accuracy.

 

[Old Fuff]

MrBorland is close to the right answer.

The conversion involved a special hammer and trigger. What they did was make the cocking stroke of Smith & Wesson's already "short-action" even shorter. This resulted in faster lock time and less distance to recock the hammer. The trigger was matched to the hammer for a perfect trigger-pull weight.

But to do all this they had to eliminate the double-action sear on the hammer face.

They made both completed revolvers (the Old Fuff still has one) and kits to convert conventional model 14 revolvers.

In the past I offered to shoot mine in CAS matches, but they looked at me funny...