S&W M 15

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velocette

velocette

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Found on GB a while ago a cop turn in, 4", .38 spl revolver. 4" barrel model 15-2.
It had significant holster wear and almost no internal wear. As is common with police turn in pistols, they have been carried a lot an shot darn little (fortunately for the officer and for me the new owner)
It is not a collectors item, not pristine and beautiful. Well worn is how I would describe it, It was however not expensive, that means I could afford it.
The outside had holster wear, some sweat stains, probably a lot more coffee stains too. Some would say that it has character. BUT, on its inside workings it is unworn. After cleaning out the old grease and replacing all the springs, smoothing & polishing what needed to be polished & smoothed, replacing the scarred & worn grips, I have a great shooter.
Brownell's Oxpho cold blue does help a lot on the worn blue but cannot erase many years of faithful service to someones community. Now it serves me well at my club, clanging the 50 yard gong with .38 SWC bullets.
Here it sits, like me, retired, only working occasionally and relaxing a lot more than when we were working.


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Reminds me of the time I spent with a 15. Had a habit of resting the heel of my hand on the back strap and had a chore keeping rust out of the grooves there.
 
W Kentuck, M10s are excellent revolvers. Probably the best service revolver ever made. The many many years of service to law enforcement is mute
tribute to their quality and serviceability. Yours has a bit more character than my revolver. Nothing wrong there. Enjoy it for many more years.
 
I also have a 15-2 police turn in. My uncle was a Ft Worth cop and got mine from the dept when it had been turned in. I paid him $200 for it back around 1991 IIRC. Mine is in very good shape with just a little wear showing. Its been my HD gun ever since I bought it. I love shooting it. I don't have the original grips but have some Uncle Mikes finger groove rubber grips. I like them better than the Houge or Pacmayer rubber grips. They are more compact than the other two brands.

If a person was going to own only one 38 Special I think the model 15 is the best of the best. All the things that made the model 10 great plus adjustable sights. Whats not to like?
 
I got my 15-3 used a couple years ago for under $400. Has plenty of wear on the finish and came with rubber grips. After cleaning and a grip swap its presentable. Shoots like your ammo is laser guided too. I like your grip, look a lot like mine
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Great addition! I have several Model 15's/K-38 Combat Masterpieces and love them all. They all perform great and a couple are among my best shooters. I see on gunbroker that the current panic has driven the asking prices up very significantly. Before then (or at least up to the last one I bought) they were hands down one of the best values in high end quality handguns. Maybe THE best value. Hopefully they will return to being extremely undervalued for the benefit of all those shooters who don't yet have one.
 
I go back and forth on rather I like the Model 19 or the Model 15 the best. Since this is about Model 15's, I like that one best...right now. I've got a 15-2 from about 1966 IIRC, that has the "three T's", target hammer, trigger, and (diamond) target stocks. It also has a trigger stop. I have no idea if it shipped that way or if someone added all that stuff later. It is a joy to shoot, something I need to do more often.

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It shows some wear, and a few dings and nicks, but I like it.

And just so my Model 19-1, 1961? 62?, won't be left out, I'll do a "shameless show off." Y'all can compare them and see where they're the same, and different. Yea...that's it. That's why I did it. :)

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The two guns are very similar, but the 19 is a bit heavier, with it's slightly longer cylinder, rib on the barrel and the ejector rod shroud. Most of that weight is toward the muzzle. Oh, that shiny spot on the barrel is light reflecting. It's got some holster wear there, but not that much.

Edited to add: I forgot...Although it doesn't show in the pictures too well, the barrel on the Model 15 tapers down just ahead of where it joins the frame, making for a thinner, lighter barrel. That probably knocks a couple of ounces off the Model 19's thicker barrel.

To be honest, I don't know which I like best. I'm just glad I don't have to choose. :) I'll probably keep these two as long as I'm around.
 
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I picked one up at our club swap meet last Feb. 98% and tight as new. Shoots great with my 158 swc and 148 wc loads. Goes nicely with my 19.
 
My 2" Model 15.
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I also have a 4" Model 15 which is very much more common than the 2" version.

There is something special abut shooting 38 Special ammunition in a gun chambered for 38 Special.
 
All nice K frames! Two years ago I bought two well worn Model 10 NY DOC trade ins that had been shot quite a bit. They benefited from a little Oxpho Blue to soften some of their "character." Later a Model 64 LE trade in that hadn't been shot much and was tight as a drum. They were all round butts with bull barrels and just feel/fit good in my hand.
 
I've had more than a few M15s but some how only a few friends had 2" ones :( Now the 2" are too expensive for me , Ill have to settle for my 2 1/2 M19 :)
 
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