[4thHorseman]

The term "Combat Master Piece" is related to the S&W Model 15.
Does anyone know where term orginated at? Was it orginially printed on the gun box or did some gun enthusiast mention it and it stuck?

[jar]

S&W used the term for quite a few of their K framed handguns that came with the adjustable sights. TTBOMK, it originated in S&W's marketing department.:D :D It was used for the M-17 inn 22 and the M-19 in 357Magnum.

[Wil Terry]

The MASTERPIECE name was applied to the K-frame target revolvers as Smith & Wesson truly believed them to be masterpieces. This was no baloney, they truly are, and live up to their name.
There was the K22 MASTERPIECE, the K32 MASTERPIECE, and the K38 MASTERPIECE.
The model 15 was the K38 COMBAT MASTERPIECE.
And let us not forget the L-frame 357 sixguns were the DISTINGUISHED COMBAT MAGNUMS.

[Tamara]

"K-38 Combat Masterpiece" was the official name for the 4" adjustable-sight .38 K-frame before S&W went to numbers in 1957 and started calling it the "Model 15". ("K-38 Target Masterpiece" was the same gun with a 6" tube...)

[Thirties]

Tamara, isn't the distinguishing feature of the K38 Target Masterpiece the partridge front sight vs the front ramp sight of the Combat Masterpiece (both have the adjustable rear sights?

The Combat Masterpiece was made for police use having a snag-free front sight.

[Thirties]

"It's patridge not partridge"

Thank you.

[Blackcloud6]

I have a 5 screw Model 15 and it truely is a masterpiece. Right now its is my favorite revolver.

[Frenchy]

the M15 had a shorter (2" or 4") barrel with "quick-draw" front sight (they actually called it this in some advertising literature)

The "quick-draw" terminology was used to target the Law Enforcement market. The front sight is technically called a "Baughman Quick Draw".

[Wil Terry]

as it is a man's name.
The same with the wood S+W used for years in their factory stocks, Goncalo Alves, is it too is a man's name.

[Johnny Guest]

Interesting about the wood. Had no idea it was someone's name.

Combat Masteriece (later Model 15) was exactly like a K38 (later M14) but with a 4" bbl. ALMOST.

There were a number of Model 14, K38s, made with four inch barrels. Difference is in the barrel. M15 is slimmer barrel, with a narrow rib on top. M14 has beefier barrel and wide rib, as does the M19.

Best,
Johnny

[9mmepiphany]

i never knew that the wood was named after a person either...there's always somthing new to be discovered.

very true about the barrel and rib being a major difference the combat masterpiece had a tapered barrel (like the m-10) and a narrow rib. it also lacked the adjustable trigger stop inside the triggerguard.

the ribs, and barrel diameter, on the target masterpieces varied with the calibre of the pistol so that they would all have the same balance. ie: the bore is bigger on the k-38 than the k-22, so the barrel diameter is larger and the rib is wider on the k-38

[Lone Star]

Glad someone caught the Patridge bit. Alas, I can't recall his first name. But the wood was, I thought, the scientific name, "Goncalo alves."

It was described as a "tropical hardwood". I think it's from Brazil. There is a Brazilian/Portugeuse first name, Gonzalo, which I can't reproduce on this keyboard. The "z" should look like a "c" with a tail. So, who knows? But I think the scientific name seems more likely...

Anyone know for SURE?

Lone Star

[Moondancer]

I don't know about the wood, but after 30 years of thinking and saying "partridge" it's nice to know I've been wrong all this time!:fire:

[Dave Markowitz]

It was used for the M-17 inn 22...

Actually, the Model 17 was the K-22 target model. I think it may have been known as the "Masterpiece," but I don't remember for sure.

The Model 18 was the K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

I have both a Model 15 and Model 18 and they are simply great guns.