S&W Model 15 matte finish??
- Thread starter diyj98
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trapshooter
Member
Probably refinished. It depends on how you feel about appearance. If it checks out functionally, you could always get it refinished. The Mod 15 is a great, classic, accurate gun. You only have to ask yourself, if it has been refinished, why? And why matte?
Jim Watson
Member
A store in my area deals in a lot of police department tradeins, as they go from revolvers to autos. The ones with the most holster wear are usually refinished in matte blue; the scratched up stainless guns are just bead blasted to a matte gray. Some of them are pretty well done, but it is not anything that came out of S&W. Sound shooters, usually at a good price.
The Mighty Beagle
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- Dec 30, 2002
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Distributors often get these guns and re-finish them to increase the salability of them and that's probably what these are. I know one that routinely adds aftermarket grips, touches up bluing, and does some polishing on stainless, so it's highly likely the matte finish was done there.
Incidentally, I haven't had good luck with Smith surplus revolvers like these. My feeling is (and I would love to believe differently) that from the 2 I owned, they are pretty much at the end of their useful lifespan. The actions of both guns had seen many armouring attempts, and I think were finally just junked due to unreliability. Some minor gunsmithing at my expense fixed one well enough, but it never was accurate, and the other never could be fixed.
I also wonder if these distributors aren't slapping these guns together out of parts, as mine seemed way less accurate and functional than they ought to be, despite having a great finish.
Incidentally, I haven't had good luck with Smith surplus revolvers like these. My feeling is (and I would love to believe differently) that from the 2 I owned, they are pretty much at the end of their useful lifespan. The actions of both guns had seen many armouring attempts, and I think were finally just junked due to unreliability. Some minor gunsmithing at my expense fixed one well enough, but it never was accurate, and the other never could be fixed.
I also wonder if these distributors aren't slapping these guns together out of parts, as mine seemed way less accurate and functional than they ought to be, despite having a great finish.
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- Dec 19, 2002
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Police guns probably aren't shot as much as civilian weapons. Why? Because most cops don't care about shooting or guns. They should also have been serviced once a year by the armorer.
Now, here's the bad thing about police revolvers. Those officers who don't shoot also tend to neglect their firearm.
Solution: treat each gun as you would any other firearm. Reference Jim March's Used Revolver Checklist that we have floated in the wheelgun forum. Inspect the gun according to Jim's checklist before you buy. It's the savvy that win.
Now, here's the bad thing about police revolvers. Those officers who don't shoot also tend to neglect their firearm.
Solution: treat each gun as you would any other firearm. Reference Jim March's Used Revolver Checklist that we have floated in the wheelgun forum. Inspect the gun according to Jim's checklist before you buy. It's the savvy that win.
FPrice
Member
diyj98...
"What throws me is I don't remember the 15 in a matte blue finish."
What exactly is a "matte blue finish"? IIRC the M-15's I learned on in the AF were parkerized. Is it possible this is what you saw?
"What throws me is I don't remember the 15 in a matte blue finish."
What exactly is a "matte blue finish"? IIRC the M-15's I learned on in the AF were parkerized. Is it possible this is what you saw?
bpisler
Member
I've seen a few matt finished 15's on auction arms and they looked to be bead blasted and then blued,one did appear to be parkerized.
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