Over the past year or two we have all marveled at Snake Plisskin’s amazing talent for finding underloved S&W Magnums and giving them a new home. I think I finally found a near-perfect 1980-born Smith worthy of Snakes discerning eye.
I stumbled upon an auction for a S&W 8 3/8” Model 14-4 with the original box and paperwork that I just couldn’t say no to. After getting to finally look it over closely after it’s 10-day wait in the penalty box, I seriously think that over it’s 30-odd years it may have less than a box of rounds through it.
The images were good on the website, but we all know that up close is the only way to know what you’re truly getting. I can say there literally isn’t a mark anywhere on this gun. The bluing is so deep and shiny you can see your reflection in the barrel, cylinder and side plate. There is a hint of a turn line on the cylinder and the ghost of a cartridge head image around the firing pin bushing. Every screw looks untouched, the muzzle is spotless, the cylinder faces hardly have any firing ring and the case hardened trigger and hammer are bright and look like they’ve never been cycled. If this gun has seen even half a box of 50 rounds I’ll be surprised as hell.
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(The cloth I used to wipe it down had some lint on it, a bit got left on the gun
.)
The matching grips are also undamaged and the back strap still has bright bluing on all the ridges and edges of the frame.
I have never had a safe queen like this one before. I don’t buy guns to sit on, I buy them to shoot, share and enjoy. So, this beauty will be exercised Friday with a few others at my bi-weekly range trip. I’ve never owned a K-frame S&W with a barrel longer than 6”, so I am really looking forward to seeing how she stacks up against her new adopted sisters; a 14-3 6” and a 15-3 4”.
A new photo of the trio, “The sisterhood of the HBWC.”
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When I get back I’ll do my best to post about how it shot for me.
Every once in a while we all stumble upon a gem, I think this is about as bright and shiny a jewel as I’ll ever find.
Stay safe.