S&W Model 15

by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 05:16 (485 days ago)
edited by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 08:24

Got off work last night. Got a call from a friend. He'd just glommed a decent shooter grade Model 15 4", and invited me to shoot it. Given the distance to his acreage, and the amount of daylight left, I had to get out w/o delay, and I did.

This revolver was bone stock except for a no-name grip adapter. Pretty fair holster wear, and several dings on the grip area, but as for signs it had actually been shot a lot, not so much.

He had a couple boxes of pretty old Black Hills std pressure 158 lead swc. Stuff shot right to sights (as received) at 25 yards. It was also pretty smooth, and we don't think the thing has ever had the sideplate off.

It was a nice, if not so nice looking, revolver.

We know nothing of its history, but it gives me vibes of being a rural cop's sidearm.

Model 15s are not as common, from what I see, as they used to be. That said, if you wanted one, I doubt it would be too hard to find one. They made a lot, and over a fairly long time. But I never really appreciated them all that much. Now I do.

He's gonna tear it down, clean/lube, and look up the production date today.

S&W Model 15

by Fivegunner @, LOWELL Mi., Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 06:44 (485 days ago) @ A K Church

I love S&W K frames, I have 2 -15`s and 2 -67`s and a bunch of Model 10`s I like shooting them with cast bullets, so much fun . My big bore revolver`s don`t get to the range much . Thank`s for posting AK Church.:-D

I have always liked the fixed sight S&W K frames

by JimT, Texas, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 06:51 (485 days ago) @ A K Church

but the Model 15 and Model 19 have also attracted me. My preference may be the result of being issued the 4" Model 10 Heavy Barrel when I worked for the Dept. of Corrections. What ever version, the K frame S&W's are excellent.

--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

I have/had a 3" HB Model 10.

by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 08:07 (485 days ago) @ JimT
edited by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 10:37

Uncommon gun, but as received, with a little freckling rust, and Century Arms markings on it, it would never have collector value.

So I had it cut to a round butt, put Spiegel cocobolo grippies on it, and bead blasted it with a coarse blasting medium, then Parkerized it. Roundbutting it meant the first digit of the serial went away, and had to be restamped, so an ATF guidance letter was also obtained in an abundance of caution.

It's on probably permanent loan to my little sister.

Anyway, I thought the final product was a near perfect example of fine K frame goodness. Mr Slowhand made me a fast holster for it, and the overall arrangement was just great.

Also had a 5" skinny Model 10. We never really bonded.

I May Have Posted This Here Before

by JimT, Texas, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 10:24 (485 days ago) @ A K Church

but several years ago I bought one of those J&G Sales Model 10's with no barrel. Then I bought the parts to put it together and rebuilt a nice roundbutt 4" Model 10. I don't believe it was ever shot much as the crane & cylinder have no end-shake and lock up tightly. It was a Police gun from Malaysia.

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I managed to get the barrel fairly straight and it is more accurate than I am. Fun little gun.

--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

Way cool, Jim!

by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 10:39 (485 days ago) @ JimT

I'd say it came out GREAT.

I have/had a 3" HB Model 10.

by JohnKDM, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 16:24 (484 days ago) @ A K Church

I still have your skinny 5", somewhere in the catacombs.

I have/had a 3" HB Model 10.

by A K Church, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 18:58 (484 days ago) @ JohnKDM

You got THAT a fair few years back.

Indeed - a guess of twenty years would likely land

by JohnKDM, Thursday, May 25, 2023, 22:12 (483 days ago) @ A K Church

within handshake distance.

For the longest time I wanted a 2" model 15, ...

by pokynojoe, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 14:43 (484 days ago) @ A K Church

a neato shoulder holster to go with, and a '67 Mustang to go with it. And an awesome girlfriend who doesnt' understand me cause I'm too complicated.

Here's mine

by Frank S, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 16:41 (484 days ago) @ pokynojoe

[image]
Grips were abit rough, and so e dings in the trigger guard.
Got it a while back for next to nothing

Smoother than chipped glass!

by pokynojoe, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 22:16 (484 days ago) @ Frank S

n

No Mustang or cool old shoulder holster, but...

by Hoot @, Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Friday, May 26, 2023, 10:26 (483 days ago) @ pokynojoe

This is from Dad. Stags were found at a little show here'bouts.[image]

Oh! It's not a 15 either! :-D

by Hoot @, Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Friday, May 26, 2023, 10:27 (483 days ago) @ Hoot

***

cool, nevertheless...

by pokynojoe, Sunday, May 28, 2023, 08:12 (481 days ago) @ Hoot

My old boss's father was a detective back in the 60's for the KPD and carried one just like that, had stags too.

S&W Model 15

by Otony, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 21:08 (484 days ago) @ A K Church

One of my favorite Smiths of all time. I’ve had a few but not currently. A just about perfect revolver.

Otony

S&W Model 15

by Slow Hand ⌂ @, Indiana, Thursday, May 25, 2023, 08:51 (484 days ago) @ A K Church

I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever owned one Model 15, but it’s a great one. My late aunt’s first husband was a cop, back in the 70’s. She bought him a Model 15 for a present when he graduated the academy. He eventually got into the Narc side and back then a 4” .38 pretty much painted you as a cop so he started carrying other, smaller guns undercover. When they divorced she kept the gun, but with a small daughter around, she was nervous of having the gun so she gave it to my dad for safekeeping. Many years later, I got my carry permit in Indiana. I got it while I was away at school and when dad saw an envelope from the Indiana State Police, he assumed I had gotten a speeding ticket on my way back to school! He opened it up and realized what it was, so next time home he gave me Aunt Sara’s Smith. It has one roof the smoothest and lightest actions I’ve ever felt in both DA and SA! I shot a five gallon bucket load of reloads through it while I was over in IL. We had a small weekly ‘defensive pistol’ match and I’d shoot it almost every week there. Carried it in an old Roy Baler pancake. I cut down some nicely figured aftermarket target grips and out a Tyler T-Grip on it. It doesn’t get shot much but it’ll be around as long as I am![image]

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https://facebook.com/M2bKydex/

I have one of Baker's Pancake Holsters for the 1911.

by JimT, Texas, Thursday, May 25, 2023, 10:17 (484 days ago) @ Slow Hand

It was Paco's. He gave it to me years ago.
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--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

S&W Model 15 rescue....

by Catoosa, Saturday, May 27, 2023, 09:47 (482 days ago) @ A K Church

Three or four years ago we went to an estate auction up in the hills next to the Kentucky border. Several guns sold, but for more than they were worth IMHO. As the sale was winding down an older S&W came up. Grimy and neglected, but seemed solid. Most of the serious buyers had left, and the scruffy old Smith was about to go for $250. I just could not stand to see an S&W K-frame go that cheap so I "rescued" it for $265.

When I got it home it turned out to be an early 1950s vintage pre-Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. I cleaned the cobwebs and crud out, touched up the finish in a few places, and lightly lubed the innards. The wonderful old 1950s action came alive again. Found a set of nonmatching but correct diamond Magnas to go on it, and an old basket stamped El Paso Threepersons holster. Rob supplied a matching cartridge slide, and it made up into a pretty classy rig. This is one that will stay around as long as I can still pull a trigger.

They didn't call 'em "the Masterpiece" for nothin'.

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