Gun Show Treasures

[Mordoc]

Went to the Knoxville Gunshow today. Always a crap shoot. Best assortment of Colt Diamondbacks and Cobras/Detective Specials I have seen in a while. More sporting rifles and shotguns than usual lately. I was looking for a Smith model 18 but the only two I saw were missing lots of blueing and one was very loose. How do you shoot a .22 K-frame loose? I did find two treasures. One is a model 15-2 in the blue box serial #K723xxx and the other a model 12 (no-) serial #C437xxx. This was in the gold box, raised diamond around the screw hole on the grips. No manual but instructions were printed on the inside top of the box. No safety stuff at all but it does say "It is primarily designed for ammunition with plain lead lubricated bullets. Metal bullets may be used, but have a tendency to cause greater barrel wear". The seller claimed to be 80 and said he had the revolver for 30 years. It has been fired very little. Anyone have any idea on the age of these jewels? I also saw a 4" model 65 for sale for only $500 on another table. He also had a Marlin model 60 for $200.

 

[Old Fuff]

The only way to tell exactly when a particular S&W revolver was made is to obtain a factory letter from Roy Jinks, the company's historian. You'll find details on the S&W website.

The following are close estimates:

S&W model 15-2, serial no. K723xxx = 1967
S&W model 12 serial no. C427xxx = 1959

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Mordoc-

As per the 2nd edition of The Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, your weapons
were most likely made as follows:

Smith & Wesson model 15-2 .38 Special Combat Masterpiece with serial number K723XXX- in 1967; as the number's
ran from: (K715997-K779162)


and


Smith & Wesson model 12 Military & Police Airweight with serial number C437XXX - in 1960; as the number's ran from:
(C429741-C474148).


Hope this helps to answer your question's, regarding your
new acquistion's age. You obtained some true "classic's"
Enjoy-

Best wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Mordoc]

Thanks for the info guys.