Smith & Wesson Model 14
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 152 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.02 kg
- Introduced
- 1947
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Smith & Wesson Model 14, also known as the K-38 Target Masterpiece, is a six-shot, double-action revolver built on the medium K-frame and chambered exclusively for .38 Special, designed specifically for competitive target shooting and bullseye competition. First produced in 1947 as the K-38 Target Masterpiece and given the Model 14 designation in 1957 when Smith & Wesson transitioned to numerical model numbers, this revolver represents the pinnacle of Smith & Wesson's K-frame target revolvers. The Model 14 features precision-adjustable micrometer rear sights, a Patridge front sight, target-tuned trigger and hammer for crisp single-action shooting, and exceptional accuracy that made it the dominant choice for NRA Precision Pistol (bullseye) competition in the centerfire category for decades. Most examples were fitted with 6-inch or 8.375-inch heavy ribbed barrels for optimal sight radius and weight distribution, though limited numbers were produced with 4-inch and 5-inch barrels. The revolver came standard with Magna-style wooden grips extending to the top of the backstrap, designed for target shooting rather than concealed carry.
The Model 14 dominated NRA bullseye competition for decades, with its accuracy becoming legendary among competitive shooters. At Camp Perry, the annual Mecca of American target shooting, the Model 14 was so ubiquitous in the 1950s through 1970s that seeing anything else in the centerfire match was noteworthy. Its precision was such that poor groups were blamed on the shooter, never the gun.
The K-38 name comes from the K-frame designation and .38 Special chambering. When introduced in 1947, it was specifically intended for bullseye target shooting competition, particularly in the 'centerfire' category that is today called NRA Precision Pistol. The Model 14 earned legendary status among competitive shooters for its exceptional accuracy, with many examples capable of one-hole groups at 25 yards in the hands of skilled shooters. The target trigger and hammer feature wider, more comfortable contact surfaces compared to service revolvers, and the single-action trigger pull is typically tuned to 2.5-3.5 pounds. Despite being designed for paper target shooting, the Model 14 was authorized for duty use by the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1960s and early 1970s due to its quality construction and accuracy. The Model 14 Masterpiece Single-Action variant was available in 1961 and 1962, featuring single-action-only operation for competitive shooters who never used double-action mode. Production in the original form ran from 1947 to 1981, with the model being revived in later years. The Model 14 remains in limited production today as part of Smith & Wesson's Classic series.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1947
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 152 mm
- Overall length
- 290 mm
- Height
- 140 mm
- Width
- 38 mm
- Sight radius
- 191 mm
- Weight, empty
- 1.02 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action single action
- Trigger pull
- 22.0 N
- Capacity
- 6
- Magazine
- Rotary
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Carbon steel
- Barrel
- Carbon steel
- Finish
- Blue
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 260 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 273 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
K frame
Adjustable sights
Swing out cylinder
Target trigger
Target hammer
Patridge front sight
Micrometer adjustable rear sight
Magna grips
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 .38 Special pistols | 1.02 kg | 595 g | Heavier than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 290 mm | 196 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 152 mm | 51 mm | Among the longest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 6 | 5 | Holds more rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Smith & Wesson Model 14
How much does the Smith & Wesson Model 14 weigh?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 weighs 1.02 kg (2.25 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Smith & Wesson Model 14?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 is chambered in .38 Special.
How many rounds does the Smith & Wesson Model 14 hold?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 holds 6 rounds, fed from a rotary magazine.
How long is the Smith & Wesson Model 14?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 is 290 mm (11.42 in) long overall, with a 152 mm (5.98 in) barrel.
Who makes the Smith & Wesson Model 14?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 is made by Smith & Wesson (United States).
When was the Smith & Wesson Model 14 introduced?
The Smith & Wesson Model 14 was introduced in 1947.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- U.S. Air Force
- United States
- Los Angeles Police Department
- 1960
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/smith-wesson-14' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "smith-wesson-14", "name": "Smith & Wesson Model 14", "manufacturer": { "id": "smith-wesson", "name": "Smith & Wesson", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1852, "website": "https://www.smith-wesson.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "6e259a578cb1b21d72610d761d652c983ff25806b9e736e2db8d2938596e9202" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1947, "barrel_length_mm": 152, "weight_empty_g": 1021, "action_type": null}