Happiness is a smooth Model 15

Its hard to beat the smoothness of a K frame revolver.

A while back I picked up a nice Model 66 .357. I shot it a bunch, mostly with 38’s.

Always liking the, “ya gotta shoot a Special through a gun chambered for it” mantra, I bought a somewhat bluing-challenged Model 15 about a year and a half ago. After a bit of touching up, a Wolff spring kit and new Thai grips, the gun is absolutely fantastic.

I fell for the 4” K- frame .38’s so much I added a stainless 4” Model 67… then I went .22 rimfire crazy and picked up a Model 18. Both got the innards dialed in and the same type of grips. Naturally these guns are also amazing to hold and shoot, so I rounded it out with a 4” Model 48 .22 WMR.



A play on James Bond’s family crest (The world is not enough) applies to the 4” K-frame family of revolvers, “Owning one is never enough.”

Stay safe.

I picked up this 15-3 a couple of years ago for $400.

Oh how I hate threads like this. Coulda bought 'em for $150 a piece in the early '90's What do they say about hindsight...

NIGHTLORD40K said:

If anyone DOES have a 2" M15 they have been thinking of divesting.......Im adding a listing in the "Trading Post," thanks!

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I was looking at 2 inch model 15’s on gunbroker earlier in the year. I was shocked at what they were getting for them. Anything even remotely decent was $750 and up

Jonesy814 said:

I was looking at 2 inch model 15’s on gunbroker earlier in the year. I was shocked at what they were getting for them. Anything even remotely decent was $750 and up

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Yup.
Take a look at what 2.5" M19s are going for.......

Howdy

Not a Model 15, a K 38 Combat Masterpiece, predecessor to the Model 15. This one shipped in 1953.






A companion to this K-22 Combat Masterpiece, which also shipped around 1953.

The name "Combat Masterpiece" pretty
much stayed with the designation of the
Model 15.

But with the model numbers
came the advisory later on that numbered
models in the Smith K-frame line-up could
handle +P .38s without worry, something
that was advised against because of the
the pre-mid 1950s metallurgy.

If you peruse Gunbroker, for instance,
you'll find Model 15s and 67s also listed
as Combat Masterpieces, sometimes
even without the model number designations.

Obviously the name Combat Masterpiece is
a marketing name just as are Combat Magnum
and Distinguished Combat Magnum.

UncleEd said:

Obviously the name Combat Masterpiece is
a marketing name just as are Combat Magnum
and Distinguished Combat Magnum.

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The term Masterpiece goes back to 1940 when S&W changed the K-22 Outdoorsman to the K-22 Masterpiece, denoting the first use of the modern micrometer click rear sight. Later Masterpiece revolvers such as the K-32 Masterpiece and K-38 Masterpiece also incorporated the short throw hammer, and antibacklash trigger.

"Combat" revolvers usually had a four inch barrel, adjustable sights, and a Bauhgman front sight. This type of front sight would not snag when drawn from a leather holster.

In about 1964 or '65 I bought a model 15 from the original owner for the princley sum of $50 with the seller had right of "first refusel". My wife loves the gun its not going anywhere.

My first model 15 was a Navajo Reservation Police trade-in I bought for $85. The sights had been rounded off from being dropped multiple times and it was pretty beat up looking. Shot a lot better than it looked, though. It was stolen in a day-time burglary of our home. We had a "replacement" clause in our homeowner's policy and the insurance company wanted to send me a new Model 19 in lieu of the Model 15 because they were more readily available at the time. I refused and stood my ground for the Model 15. It took another 3 weeks or so longer to get, but they found one and I couldn't be better pleased. That was 25 years ago and I still have it even though a buddy that collects S&W revolvers has been trying to get it from me for the last 10 years or so. Still looks new and still shoots sweet.

have to post a christmas picture of the finest revolver made:

this is a pre-model 15 and i have been shooting it since i was a wee lad. i got it from dad a few years back and shoot it occasionally for old times sake. this combat masterpiece won't be sold.

murf

Regarding nomenclature on the Combat
Masterpiece, currently Gunbroker has
a pristine Model 67 up for auction with
its original blue cleat-ended box.

It reads:

Smith & Wesson
.38 Combat Masterpiece
Stainless Steel Model 67
4 inch barrel

The gun dates to 1972.

I bring this up to point out that all you
owners of Model 15s or 67s can properly
refer to your fine firearms as a
Combat Masterpiece.

wcwhitey said:

View attachment 1047225

Bottom left, my first service revolver. We have a bond!

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The stainless ones, what's the model number?

Monster Zero said:

The stainless ones, what's the model number?

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left to right 66 No Dash 4”, 66-2 6” and on the bottom is a Rossi Model 511 4” .22 LR (Crazy little gun, pinned and recessed, stainless sights with red insert). Big gun on the right is a Ruger SBH .44 Magnum.

My uncle was an officer in a small town police department back in the mid 60s. When he retired he kept his model 15 service revolver. When he passed away he left me that revolver. It’s one sweet firearm.

I live pretty close to the S&W factory and they were holding a free inspection event. I went with my uncles revolver and they did the inspection. The guy mentioned that he hadn’t seen one in that good of a condition in a long time. I told him about it being my uncles service revolver and the guy was surprised. He made a joke about my uncle never having to take it out of the holster. I think he may just be right.

wcwhitey said:

left to right 66 No Dash 4”, 66-2 6” and on the bottom is a Rossi Model 511 4” .22 LR (Crazy little gun, pinned and recessed, stainless sights with red insert). Big gun on the right is a Ruger SBH .44 Magnum.

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Thank you.

velocette said:

...nor even an EDC, just a sweet shooting revolver that makes me want to keep on banging away after the ammo is gone.

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Why not an EDC gun? If you shoot it well it has that going for it.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

USAF approved!
View attachment 1047148

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Carried the snub version concealed under the flight suit for many years until they forced the M9 on us. I remember inquiring about buying one since the AF didn't want them anymore. They sent them all to the crusher, including the WRM ones that were still in cosmoline.

For those intrigued by the Model 15
and don't have one, I encourage you
to not overlook the Model 67.

As a "duplicate" to the Model 15 but
in stainless steel, the Model 67 and
67-1 are very desirable in my
estimation. The 67 and 67-1 were
only produced for about 10 years
starting in 1972.

After the 67-1, changes were being
introduced that made the gun less
a direct copy of the earlier Model 15s.

Cool find. I like the idea of carrying a gun that I can think provided a lawman somewhere some comfort at one time.

My first issued gun was a 67 (possibly a 67-1; I'm not sure) back in 1987. A few years back, I picked up a 67-1 out of nostalgia, but I have no way to know for sure it ever rode patrol duty. It's possible, as the right checkered stock seems slightly more faded than the left, implying some open-carry holster riding.

UncleEd said:

For those intrigued by the Model 15
and don't have one, I encourage you
to not overlook the Model 67.

As a "duplicate" to the Model 15 but
in stainless steel, the Model 67 and
67-1 are very desirable in my
estimation. The 67 and 67-1 were
only produced for about 10 years
starting in 1972.

After the 67-1, changes were being
introduced that made the gun less
a direct copy of the earlier Model 15s.

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How many 2" or 3" barrels?

Regarding snub nosed Model 67s,
I think the answer is none. Never
heard of any. By the '70s S&W
was probably satisfied with sales
of 2'' and 3'' Model 64s or even 65s.

Personally, I never liked the 2-inch
Model 15s and preferred the Model
10 in snub nosed configuration.

15-3

I have a lowly 67...I can't contribute.

EMC45 said:

I have a lowly 67...I can't contribute.

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Boot black it; we'll not tell.