Happiness is a smooth Model 15

[velocette]

Smith & Wesson Model 15 that is. A police turn in. It probably saw a lot of coffee shops, donut dens, crime scenes and late night calls.
Now it is retired, finish is bit worn and thin is some places, but the working parts were all about like new.
I spent a weekend cleaning, smoothing, polishing, re-springing, {Thank you Wolff} de-burring etc etc, all about two years ago.
At my club yesterday, I ran through 50 rds of 158 LSWC Missouri bullets. DA or SA, this is just a sweet shooting revolver. When I was done, I was thinking just how good that revolver is.
Superb, light SA trigger and smooth DA, 15 yards, the bullets just found the target properly.
Its no target handgun, nor even an EDC, just a sweet shooting revolver that makes me want to keep on banging away after the ammo is gone.

 

[UncleEd]

My favorite.

If I only had one gun, it
would be the Model 15,
AKA, the Combat
Masterpiece.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

USAF approved!

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Heck yeah. My first good modern handgun was this Model 15-3 that I bought used in 1996. I put a lot of .38 wadcutters through it from then until the early 2000s, almost all double action.

Haven't shot it much for the past few years but I got it back out recently. I put these target stocks on it a few weeks ago. They fit my hands better than the Pachmayr Gripper Pros I had on it for a long time. I've fallen back in love with it.

 

[StrawHat]

I carried a S&W Model 15-? (among other 38s and 357s) when I wore a badge. I even used the Model 15 in the Duty Leg of PPC Competition. A decent revolver that gave me great accuracy. It kept me in the winners circle!

Mine was a 10 ring wonder with wad cutters and a couple of SWC loads.

I still have it but now Herself uses it.

Kevin

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I had a 2" that was handy but my 4" model 15-3 made in 1973 is a tack driver. Beautiful gun that I got for about $300 earlier this year. I can literally shoot cloverleaf groups offhand at 15 yards double action with reloads.

 

[Great Scot]

One of the best looking, most nicely balanced revolvers ever made. Great sights, sweet trigger and full size grip. I love mine!

 

[Jonesy814]

I had about 6 or 7 S&W revolvers and kept hearing how great the model 15 is. Needless to say, when I ran into a 15-3 for a fair price at the gunshop, I had to have it. Found out the hype is true. Fun an accurate at the range

Mine came with rubber grips which I promptly replaced

 

[Old Dog]

Eh, got some 15-3s and 15-4s... pieces o' dung... Just kidding! Not really, simply the pinnacle of achievement in the arena of .38 SPL revolvers. Mine have super-tight lock-up, superior accuracy and sublime triggers.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I need a 2" M15, like, really, really, really, really, really, really badly.......

I can only remember seeing ONE in the flesh, a few years ago- and the price was even reasonable. Another one of those "kick-me" gun moments!

 

[wcwhitey]

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

 

[Cemetery21]

Yep. The only duty gun I ever carried. We spent 14 weeks in the academy shooting nearly every day with the one we were issued.
Never looked hard enough to pick one up for myself, but I should have.
I did have a 5" model 10 and a few 686s over the years, but the 15 has eluded me. Nice to see you all taking care of them.

 

[PapaG]

My first center fire revolver was a model 15. I've had a few more during the intervening 61 years. I'd been without one for quite a while (I did have dad's old model 19 but that's not quite the same) so when a buddy brought one to our annual swap meet, and since had it at a nice price for a 98% gun, I snapped it up. My joy was complete when I found it to be sighted dead nuts with my 148 hbwc load.

 

[Walkalong]

I foolishly sold mine. Regret it still.

 

[UncleEd]

...(I did have dad's old model 19 but that's not quite the same) so when a buddy brought one to our annual swap meet, and had it at a nice price or a 98% gun, I snapped it up...

Indeed, "not quite the same." I've told this
before but a dealer back in the "good old days"
offered a Model 19 instead of my choice, a
Model 15. He explained the 19 had wider
uses what with the .357 capability. I said
no way. I wanted the Model 15.

(When I wanted .357 capabilities, which wasn't
often, I turned to the 586 or GP100.)

 

[CajunBass]

I agree. One of the best DA revolvers ever made. And the name..."Combat Masterpiece" is about the best "gun name" ever, being rivaled only by Colt's "Peacemaker."

I had a half dozen Model 15's at one time, but just sold my last one last week. I realized it had been in my safe for a couple of years without being fired. I took it out once in a while to wax it, then put it back in it's protective gun sock. I figured I might as well let someone else have the pleasure of owning it.

Darn good gun though.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

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

 

[PapaG]

Indeed, "not quite the same." I've told this
before but a dealer back in the "good old days"
offered a Model 19 instead of my choice, a
Model 15. He explained the 19 had wider
uses what with the .357 capability. I said
no way. I wanted the Model 15.

(When I wanted .357 capabilities, which wasn't
often, I turned to the 586 or GP100.)

Yes. I also have dad's Stainless Single action Ruger 200th year model, my 6" 686 and a 4" Security six, only one of which is nearly as smooth as the 15.

 

[stonebuster]

I walked into a LGS last August not knowing I needed a Model 15 but after handling it I knew I did need this 15-2.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

15-4

 

[high country]

Can't go wrong with a good model 15. Doesn't even need to be a nice one, mine has plenty of dings and scrapes from getting carried who knows where. The pachmayr gripper pro grips don't help win any beauty contests either.

But it locks up right, has a buttery smooth DA trigger, and shoot well. If I could only have one handgun, that would most likely be the one (thank goodness I don't need to make that call).

 

[amd6547]

Back in the days of the great police revolver sell-off, you could walk into any gun show around here and see cheap Model 10’s.
I had resolved to pick one up, even though I wasn’t much of a revolver guy. As I looked around, I found this Model 15-3, marked $200. I asked if he’d take $175, and he said “sure”! That’s about what the Model 10’s were going for.
Anyway, it is a great shooting, accurate handgun, one I would feel well armed with for self defense, and a great woods revolver.

 

[PapaG]

Back in the days of the great police revolver sell-off, you could walk into any gun show around here and see cheap Model 10’s.
I had resolved to pick one up, even though I wasn’t much of a revolver guy. As I looked around, I found this Model 15-3, marked $200. I asked if he’d take $175, and he said “sure”! That’s about what the Model 10’s were going for.
Anyway, it is a great shooting, accurate handgun, one I would feel well armed with for self defense, and a great woods revolver.View attachment 1047341

Like the grips. More figure than average.

 

[UncleEd]

An added thought on the Model 15 for
anyone looking for one: Don't overlook
the Model 67.

Both the Model 15 and 67 until
the 1980s were in the original "classic"
configuration with tapered (I call it
sculpted) pinned barrels. I like the
original 67 with stainless rear sight
although harder to use in bright
sunlight. You can always Magic
Mark it which isn't a permanent
change.

 

[velocette]

It appears that a lot of folks really appreciate Smith's old M 15. Nice to read all the happy .38 spl 15'ers out there.
Keep it up!