The K-38 Masterpiece started having "Model 14" stamped on the yoke in 1957. The model was discontinued in 1981.
S&W manufactured about a gazillion different handgun models between 1857 and 2005 and will probably add a couple more while I type this sentence. Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but they cover 87 pages in the Blue Book and that serial number will have been used on many of them. If the model number or name is not marked on the gun, I'd suggest getting a copy of the Standard Catalog of Firearms from your library and trying to identify it there. Some models may have ben made only during a narrow range of years and others for decades. There is a lot of general information available about S&W, but I do not have access to any serial lists to identify exact dates of manufacture. THE book on S&W is the Standard Catalog of SMITH & WESSON which is available through www.armchairgunshow.com but I am not enough in S&W to spend the $35. According to this web site http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp the 14-4 runs from 1968 thru 1977. 8K77394 was built in 1975. Unless the firearm is stamped somewhere that indicates it was actually a 14-4 it would be safe to assume it was a 14-3.
You can not tell the model number with just the serial number.
No way to tell model number from just the serial number.
With the serial number that you have supplied,your Smith and Wesson model 15 was made in the year 1950.
Your serial number indicates that your Smith and Wesson model 18 was made in the year 1962.
Your serial number indicates that your Smith and Wesson model 59 was made in the year 1975.
Your Smith and Wesson model 19 was made in the year 1978 by the serial number that you have supplied.
Your serial number dates your Smith and Wesson model 59 to the years 1977-1978.
No serial number given.
Can't tell model number from just the serial number.
129095
With the serial number that you have provided,your Smith and Wesson model 14-4 was made in the year 1977.
Your serial number indicates that your Smith and Wesson model 39-2 was made in the year 1976.