S&W Model 15 2": Holsters, T-Grips and speedloader pouches (Pic Warning)

[jad0110]

Hello all.

I just got myself a new-to-me birthday present: A sweet 2" S&W Model 15-2 38 Special, in all it's pinned goodness . Date of birth 1965. Price paid: $375. Not a raging deal, but a fair price I believe. I had been looking for a 2.75" Ruger Six series, but I came upon this nice 15 and could not resist. The trigger has a little creep, but it is otherwise smooth. Lock up is pretty tight too. Bluing looks to be original, and is in about 95% (+/1 2%) condition. It has a nice amount of holster wear and some pitting here and there ... gives it good character. It shoots darn good too. The first cylinder full made a golf ball sized group (excluding one screw up) at 5 yds shooting two handed (unsupported) DA. What a fabulous gun! I've been a revolver guy for years, but I guess you can say that I am now a snubbie addict! This 2" 15 balances perfectly, it feels absolutely wonderful to shoot. What a pleasure! Even my father, a semi auto guy, was stunned by how wonderfully this gun shoots. I swear it has less felt recoil than my 4" 686. And it makes a nice POOOFFFF when shooting my handloads too (4.0 grns W231, 158 RNL). This is snub #2 for me, hopefully my 642 won't be too jealous of it's bigger, older brother .

Anyway, I did have 3 questions:

1) Holster - must meet the following criteria

- In-the-waistband, strong side (RH)
- 2" K Frame
- NO thumb break or other manual retention device
- Forward cant (I just don't want the gun pointing straight down)
- Prefer leather, but will consider other materials
- Prefer to stay under $100
- Prefer less than a 2 month wait (Milt Sparks for example has a 6 month-plus backlog)

The Tucker Gunleather Texas Heritage or the Kramer #2 look promising, but I was hoping to find something for a bit less $$$.

2) Speedloader pouches

I am open to suggestions here. Preferably, the pouch would hold both K and J Frame HKS or Safariland speedloaders for simpler logistics.

3) Tyler T-Grip (See POLL)

I like the stock thin would grips, they are comfortable and concealable. But my knuckles are getting busted up on the back of the trigger guard. So a Tyler T-Grip seems to be the perfect solution.

Question (a): I am leaning towards a gloss black finish, but am also considering flat black. I have not ruled out silver or brass, but am more in favor of a black. What do you think would look best (see pictures below).

Question (b): I'd prefer a used T-Grip so that the finish is a bit worn to better match up with the wear on the gun. If I end up buying new, does anyone have any suggestions for roughing up the finish a bit?

Now, time for the eye candy ...

 

[Zundfolge]

I voted brass because a brass T-grip just fits the vintage look so well.


As far as the holster goes, you might keep your eyes open for a pancake holster and then convert it to IWB with some clips and chicago screws (kind of like I did with the holster for my EDC).

Should be cheaper and you're more likely to find a K Frame pancake holster off the rack (thus avoiding the long wait).

But even if it costs more and you have to wait longer, a good molded leather holster is definitely the way to go (and I HIGHLY recommend a dual clip/loop style holster).

 

[Deanimator]

I've got a silver T-Grip on my well worn [partially] blued late '40s vintage M&P. Silver looks best on the blued guns.

 

[sandmatt]

I have silver T-Grips on my blued revolvers, I think the contrast looks great. That includes my 2 inch 15-3.

 

[huntershooter]

With respect: "...with all it's pinned and recessed goodness..."
the pictured mod. 15 is pinned but NOT recessed. None of them were.
I run T-grips on all my magna stocked S&W's. My preference is flat/matt black with a blued gun.

 

[Bellevance]

I have silver T-Grips on my blued revolvers, I think the contrast looks great.

Me, too, on my blued M 15. And I have a the black Tyler-T on my nickel M 15. To my eye, the black Tyler-T clashes with the midnight-blue shade of a nicely blued gun. Contrast is definitely the way to go.

 

[jad0110]

With respect: "...with all it's pinned and recessed goodness..."
the pictured mod. 15 is pinned but NOT recessed. None of them were.

Ha, good catch. Corrected! I always think "P&R", like nachos and cheese ... my fingers were outrunning my brain I guess .

But even if it costs more and you have to wait longer, a good molded leather holster is definitely the way to go (and I HIGHLY recommend a dual clip/loop style holster).

Agreed, I have a molded leather holster with dual loops for my 5" 1911 (Garry Bromeland Max Con V) and it works great. So does the 1.5" gunbelt from TheBeltman.

---

Thank you for all the suggestions so far, please keep them coming.

 

[sidheshooter]

Elmer McEvoy at http://www.leatherarsenal.com/ will do a *killer* IWB for a K-frame; no revolver pics on his site, but just ask. Choice of belt loop sizes, probably a much shorter wait than sparks, just a great rig. I have one myself... with both 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" loops (you can switch them out).

 

[aHFo3]

Very nice! I just saw a M 10 in the same configuration for about what you paid. I like the snubbies too.

I'd go with brass because it contrasts nicely with the blue, and matches the grip medallion. To make it look vintage, you could put the adapter in with a jar of misc nuts and bolts and shake it for a while (warning: just an idea, I've never tried it)

Have you checked out Simply Rugged holsters...they're on my short list, and they meet the low cost option.

 

[Oro]

I have silver T-Grips on my blued revolvers, I think the contrast looks great.

Ditto. The black just never matches and just slightly odd. I have a shiny black one on a 27, and I much prefer the silver that is on my 19.

Nice 15. Always has been one of my favorite S&W snubbies.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Go with the matte aluminum T-grip with the S&W grips.
Here's a pear grip with aluminum T-grip.

 

[Randyc74]

I voted gloss back. I think it will be a nice addition to your Model 15. I recently added a polished aluminum T-Grip to my satin nickel 442
Randy

 

[hexidismal]

On dark blued (almost black) old smiths, I personally like the gloss black. It just looks right to me.
I only actually own one T-Grip , and it doesn't reside on the gun because I found grip options I liked better somewhere along the road.
Here's a pic of that though.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I only have one T-grip.

 

[cpirtle]

I did a 10-5 project last year, mostly along the same thought process as yours, but I did not start with as good of a specimen so mine was hard chromed.

I ended up bead blasting my Tyler. I've tried it on a blued gun as well and think it looks great...

 

[hexidismal]

Nice. I really like the bead blasted one cpirtle. For whatever reason, I don't think I would have ever thought to try that.

 

[rainbowbob]

These are the questions and answers that I'm looking for here.

Nice Model 15...I vote for gloss black - which is what I have on my Model 36. But brass could turn my head. I only have the one S&W wheelie so far...but I plan to acquire a Model 40 and a Pre-10, and a Model 19...and now I gotta have a Model 15 2 inch...

 

[Bellevance]

That's a very nice hard-chromed Model 10-5, cpirtel. I have a blued one with a set of Don Collins birdseye maple boot grips. Love it. Yours makes me wonder what it looked like beforehand. Any before pix available?

The Tyler's frosted look complements the revolver very well--an elegant combination.

 

[cpirtle]

Thanks, glad I could contribute.

Bellevance, unfortuately I did not think to snap a pic before sening it to Mahovsky's.

The grips are not the original's, they were in about 70% condition, the gun itself was about 80%. Not terrible shape but some minor pitting. I think having this one "metalife'd" was the best $135 I've ever spent on a gun

 

[popeye]

The gun depicted on the Tyler T boxes is a 15 2". The only Tyler I've seen close to brass, is their gold anodized one. I had a gold one laying around that I put on a blue Colt Cobra. It looked very strange. I removed the anodizing and it is still on the Cobra today.

 

[jad0110]

I only have the one S&W wheelie so far...but I plan to acquire a Model 40 and a Pre-10, and a Model 19...and now I gotta have a Model 15 2 inch...

Resistance is futile!

In addition to the 40, pre-10, 19 and 2" 15, every self respecting S&W Revolver nut must also own a K-22 Model 17 or 18. And we're not even onto the N Frames yet!

The 15 is S&W revolver # 5 for me. I've got tons of respect for Rugers and Colts, but I just keep finding nice S&W that keep coming home with me. The 15 won't be my last. A 2.5" 19 or 66 would be a nice find. So would a 4" Model 25.

The only Tyler I've seen close to brass, is their gold anodized one. I had a gold one laying around that I put on a blue Colt Cobra. It looked very strange. I removed the anodizing and it is still on the Cobra today.

Actually, my OP and the poll are incorrect. It is not brass, but manganese bronze (polished or brushed). At the moment, I am split between the gloss black (shiny powder coated aluminium) or brushed bronze. The black is nicely understated, but the brushed bronze may make the golden wood panels and gold S&W medallions really stand out. Oh well, I decide tomorrow and make my order.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Anyone have more ideas vis-a-vis IWB holster and speedloader pouches?

 

[rainbowbob]

Anyone have more ideas vis-a-vis IWB holster...

I can tell you that after having my Galco clip-on IWB holster fall off while working outside in the yard - I'm looking for somnething with a more positive connection (e.g., snap loops).

 

[jad0110]

Well, I decided on the brushed bronze T-Grip. What the heck, if I don't like it I'm only out $40 (and I can sell it on THR for a small loss).

The FIST #20 IWB holster looks good, and the price is right. I'll check a few more options before ordering tomorrow ... I'll post what I decide on.

 

[rainbowbob]

I googled the FIST #20 IWB holster. That looks like a good one at a good price.

 

[jad0110]

I'm about to order the FIST #20 now. Next, I just have to find a good speedloader holder (or 2).

Anyone have any suggestions?