[45Badger]

Saw this at a gun show out of state at the end of November. Looked pretty good, and price was right (I thought). Passed on it, thought about it, called/played phone tag with dealer, bought it. I just picked it up from my FFL. Like a "coyote ugly" date, this one looked better in the dim lights of a gunshow than in the harsh reality of daylight. I'm deciding whether to chew my arm off or not.

It's a model 15-3, serial #K9746XX, 4" barrel. Trigger is great, bore is mint. Has some small rust spots (under a grip, at top of 'back strap" where web of hand would contact, and top of frame, near rear sight) and cylinder could be tighter (it has a little wiggle side to side, a little wiggle on its rotating axis, and a little play front to back).

This will be purely a "beater" gun for blasting at range, maybe stuffing in glove box or nightstand, so I'm not particular about a nice blue finish. Any suggestions on other finishes? Parkerizing? How much will it cost to refinish? I've got $210 into it, and don't want to turn it into a money pit.

I do not know how it shoots/groups. I'll take it to range tomorrow to test it. If it shoots OK, I'd like to keep it. If it doesn't shoot OK, what are corrective steps? How much do they typically cost? Again, money pit concern.

It isn't particularly pretty, but it feels GREAT in my hand, and I love the trigger. Should I ditch it? Keep as is? Put a little more ($100-150) into it to improve appearance and tighten it up?

Thanks in advance for all assistance and opinions!

[Maddock]

I think you got a pretty fair price. Not great, but about market $210 out the door for a model 15 in mechanically good shape is a better deal than most will get.
I’d just clean it up and shoot it. Maybe change the stocks if you don’t like what came with it.
If it does need to have end shake and timing corrected, that is usually not too expensive, but shoot it first to see.
Shooting mid-range 38 specials out of a target grade Smith is one of life’s joys.

[Jim K]

I totally agree with everythink Maddox said. That is one of the great target revolvers, so just use it for what it was made for and you will soon ignore the few blemishes.

Jim

[P95Carry]

Hey - don't chew yer arm off ....... plays hell with shooting!!:D

More than likely - unless some awful gremlin shows up when you do shoot it ..... keep it pretty much ''as is'' .... and enjoy. Doubt the input of major funds would really give you a full payback. If timing OK in particular then ... let it stay a slight ''beater''.

Causes much less loss sleep if it gets the odd extra mark!!:)

[James Bondrock]

The Model 15 is an adjustable sighted .38 Special police service revolver. Before S&W started giving guns model numbers, this gun was called a Combat Masterpiece. It should have a narrow smooth trigger and a narrow hammer. The K-38 appellation was for a six-inch barrel target revolver with a wide serrated trigger and wide hammer. After S&W went to the model numbering system, this was called a Model 14. Although your M15 is a K-frame .38 Special, it is not what S&W enthusiasts think of as a K-38. On a $200 gun, finish wear is and should be of little concern. However, that cylinder play might be of some concern. I would have a qualified gunsmith take a look at it before shooting it, lest it shave off and spit lead in your face or something. As long as the cylinder bolt notches are not battered, end play and rotational play can usually be fixed for less than $100. Of course, that will make it a $300 gun. ;)

[45Badger]

I'm a little confused. What else is new?

Gun came with box, warranty card, and owners manual. Owner's manual calls it a "K-38 Combat Masterpiece Revolver, Model No. 15" Specifications list barrel as 2" or 4" (mine is 4"), and parts list shows wide hammer and trigger- mine has both. The box also has ".38 Combat Masterpiece" on end opposite serial # sticker.

I think it's a "K-38 Combat Masterpiece"?

As I sit here typing and cleaning (Hoppes in a keyboard-BAD), my affection for this gun is growing. Hope it shoots well. Will let you know.

[HSMITH]

I am gonna buy one in 97% or a little better tomorrow and it will cost me $400 by the time I get it home. The one I am looking at is a Pre-15 with correct diamond magna grips and it is superb in all aspects. It is one of the few reasonable prices I have seen in a long time. Good wheelguns are getting harder to find.

The $210 CM and the $250 M19's I see talked about make me sick, I can't come within $ 75 for those prices!!!!! I am looking for beater M10's and beater m15's and can't find anything under $290!!!!!! 75% guns with dark bores and they want 3 bones!!!!!!

I would take your gun and shoot it. Slop in lockup means little until you shoot it. I have shot some sloppy guns that won't get out of the same hole and some tight guns that won't hit the barn from inside. Each gun is an idividual. It is worth $210, least it would be to me. Shoot it and let us know how it shoots; pig =traded off and shooter=send to APW for a good hard chrome job.

[Subby]

K is the frame size, 38 is the caliber. Generally when Smith guys talk of a K-38 they're referring to the model 14 masterpiece, a target gun. K-22 is a model 17, K-32 is a model 16, both set up as target guns. The combat masterpieces are m15 in .38, m18 in .22, and m19 in .357.

Sub

[BluesBear]

S&W did indeed market these guns under the name "K-38 Combat Masterpiece". So it is a K-38.

Only the Model 14 & Model 15 were advertised as being "K-38" anything.

[Randy63]

I really like my 4" K38. It's a 15-4 in nickel. My dad bought it new circa 1980. The price tag is still in the box...$199.50.

He gave it to me a couple of years later and suggested that I not fire it and keep it NIB. Well, I didn't take his advice (it wasn't the first time;)) I do baby it though.

It's a great platform for the .38 Special.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/040708.jpg

Randy

[riverdog]

My Model 14 "Masterpiece" came with target sights, trigger & hammer, but with a 4" barrel vice the 6" normally associated with the target revolvers.

[JoeHatley]

riverdog,

It's no wonder folks get confused. My Model 15-4 "Combat Masterpiece" has the 6" barrel and a Patridge sight.

http://www.iowatelecom.net/~hatley/15_6l.jpg

Gotta love it...

Joe

[mec]

Yep. All those permutations occur in the 4 and 6 inch ks. Sometimes, a bit of play in the cylinder is a good thing- allowing some kinetic alignment after the primer hit. A friend bought two old k 22s and gave me the one with the least tight cylinder. Guess what, It outshoots his tight one. Hamilton Bowen called it " An accurate old girl" and subscribes to the doctrine that looser is sometimes better.
http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/k22fiveoffhand.jpg

[berto]

I paid $ 250 for mine.Tight and accurate as hell.IMO one of the greatest combat handguns ever.

[Jim March]

Rotational slop (in moderation) isn't a problem with S&Ws and Rugers, it's part of the design. Front/back (endshake) is another story though. With only mild amounts, it should be safe to shoot some target wadcutters or standard pressure 38 fodder (esp. plain lead of any sort) but the +Ps (esp. the more potent varieties such as Cor-Bon), could beat the crap out of it in short order.

Light endshake can be cheaply fixed with shims, as long as everything else (such as the crane!) is straight. Once fixed, the "battering effect" is vastly reduced. Shooting a gun hard with endshake going on smashes the hell out of each end of the cylinder and eventually stretches the frame past spec.

[HSMITH]

MEC, tell us a little about that fantastic gun in the picture. WOW!! What a beauty of a pre-14or 15? Pre-war, but what year? I will get some pics of my new one up this weekend. Not as nice as yours for sure, but sweet.

[Majic]

The hammer and trigger could be ordered as either the narrow combat or the wide target. Both the M14 and the M15 have been built with either the 4" or 6" barrel. Usually the M15 has the 4" and the M14 has the 6" barrel. They are the same gun in reality, just built for different purposes.

[45Badger]

WOW! I'll never give up my 1911s for a wheelgun, but this puppy shoots! It ain't a bullseye gun, but a pretty good blaster for sure. I just ran 42 rounds of S&B 158 gr soft (flat) point through it, at 10+ yards.

First target- 6 rounds fired single action, two hands. 4 shots in one nice cloverleaf, other two were within an inch, to the left.

Second target- 6 rounds single action, two hands. 4 shots in a 1" string, other two within an inch either side.

Next 30 shots were fired double action, one or two hands, kept all inside 4".

I also shot 12 rounds of some 130 gr Winchester TMJ. Sprayed all over the place (8 " at 10 yards).

So, I won't chew my arm off. I will take it in to correct end shake. I will lesrn to shoot a double action centerfire. I think I've been spoiled by single action triggers a couple high end 1911s. This might make me a better overall shooter.

On a side note- My "new to me" Model 36 is working fine, but I'm finding it uncomfortable to shoot with the itty bitty factory grips, it stings. Yes, I'm a recoil wimp. Who makes a nice set of wood grips (don't like rubber/plastic) that are a little bigger and would better fill my hand?

Thanks for all the replies!

[HSMITH]

Figured that old girl would get under your skin if you shot it........

It WILL make you a better shooter, your trigger control and follow through will be improved, you will pick up a new gun and befriend it faster than you ever could.

Grips... Eagle makes some really nice grips from mild to wild. Herrett still makes some of the finest. Hogue makes some nice wood grips. There are plenty of nice grips out there, just depends on the budget and your taste.

I recommend that you try a Tyler T-grip first, before you spend the money on some new grips. Heck if you ask I bet someone here has one you can borrow to find out if you like it for only the cost of postage. I have smaller hands but find that the stock grips and a Tyler takes care of all my grip issues while not adding any bulk.

[dinosaur]

Unless you have hands like hams the Tyler T with the Magna (small) S&W grips should be good enough.

We would put the Tylers on police recruit Model 10`s and the improvement was remarkable. Most were non shooters to begin with and their scores immediately went up. I tried many grips but went back to the same setup.

[rbert0005]

Yup, the model 15,

You wil continue to enjoy it for a long while.

I bought this one NIB about 2 months ago. Made in the 70's. Now it is LNIB.


Bob

[BluesBear]

I thought the Model 15 was available only in 2" & 4" versions while the Model 14 was available in 6" & 8-3/8" and only occasionally made in 4"

[Majic]

The M15 was built in 2", 4", 4 1/4", 6", and 8 3/8" barrel lengths over it's production lifespan.

[Airboss]

Just thought I would add a pic of my ex-cop model 15-4 Been carried a lot shot a little tight as a tick and shoots way better than me.The best part $180.00 plus shipping of $20,$10 Transfer fee.I bought it orginaly as Trade Bait but it may have found a home.