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03-18-2011, 11:53 PM
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The Combat Masterpiece Appreciation thread! (Pics welcome)
I have long thought that the .38 Combat Masterpiece is one of the best all-around carry guns of all time. The slim, tapered barrel makes it feel much lighter than a model 19, and the .38 special, with +P loads, has adequate power from a 4" tube. After getting a nice deal last week on a slightly holster-worn model 15-3 with period-correct football targets for $199 OTD (see earlier thread), I took stock of all the Combat Masterpieces in the stable for a pictoral essay. Enjoy and feel free to add your own!
First up, 4 screw pre-15, shipped 1956, shows holster wear, but has original diamond magnas numbered to gun and grip adaptor with S&W logo (I added the later speedloader-cut target stocks to fit my hand):
Model 15-3, shipped 1971
Model 18-3 - .22 Combat Masterpiece (a .22 conversion unit for inexpensive practice) pristine, also shipped 1971, same year as 15-3, great coincidence, huh?:
Model 15-4 2", has box & papers, shipped 1982:
Model 67-1 - the stainless Combat Masterpiece, came with the target stocks, shipped 1980:
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03-19-2011, 12:13 AM
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this is my Mod 15-2 and 18-4 (the 18 is on top), I have alot of smiths in J,K,L.and N but I think the combat master pieces are finest pistols of them all
Last edited by mtime7; 03-19-2011 at 12:21 AM.
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03-19-2011, 12:28 AM
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Here's mine. A 15-3 from 1971
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03-19-2011, 01:04 AM
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I share your appreciation for the Combat Masterpiece and would never part with mine. But, I'm afraid that my favorite gun is a Model 10 with a 5 inch barrel.
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03-19-2011, 01:41 AM
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Here's my 15-3 with a slightly dull looking frame and plum colors on the cylinder and barrel. Somebody said some Flitz or car polish would brighten up the frame, but I never got around to it. "Pretty is as pretty does," I guess. Or something like that.
The plum colors on the barrel and cylinder show a little better in this picture.
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03-19-2011, 07:32 AM
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Just read a Dave Spaulding article on "stopping power". Spaulding wrote a master's thesis on the subject, gathering data from various agencies across the country. His conclusion: there are no magic bullets. Once you get to the .38 spl. threshold, shot placement pretty much trumps all. I don't mean to start an argument about cartridge effectiveness. (Don't have ANY expertise on the subject). I'll simply observe that K frame .38 spls., like the venerable Model 15, are easy for most people to shoot well. My first Smith was a 4" 15-3 with slight holster wear and a few freckles. It's set up with original stocks + Tyler T's. The combo fits my hands well. I have a 4" 10-5 set up exactly the same way and yes, I actually choose to carry one or the other from time to time.
PC
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03-19-2011, 07:59 AM
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I'll have to work on acquiring the model 15 yet but for now here are a couple of shots of the pre 18 CM I have from 1957. Bob
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03-19-2011, 08:12 AM
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Man, I love my 15-3 (1975). see avatar.
rags
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Last edited by rags; 03-19-2011 at 03:39 PM.
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03-19-2011, 08:30 AM
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Here's my 18-3 & 18-4
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03-19-2011, 09:05 AM
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03-19-2011, 09:40 AM
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Wow, no wonder their dubbed combat masterpeices, some very nice peices here.
Bob, that pre 18 is very nice, and would make a perfect companion to my '55 pre model 15. I just aquired this one a few months ago and only shot a few rounds through her, but quickly realized these CM's are nothing short of sublime shooters.
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03-19-2011, 09:59 AM
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15-3 from 1971
18-3 from 1971 I bought it new that year.
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03-19-2011, 10:15 AM
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Here's my 15-2 from 1965 I believe. No safe queen, but a great companion.....
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03-19-2011, 10:26 AM
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There's a lot to be said for the K frame .357 (I carried one long enough) but these days I could get along quite nicely with a M15. As luck would have it the one I did get was snagged by my son about 20 years ago. Even at age 15 he had a good head on his shoulders.
He didn't get my M18, though.
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03-19-2011, 12:54 PM
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A pic of my 15-2.I need to get a group pic of all of mine together.
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03-19-2011, 02:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterCartwright
Just read a Dave Spaulding article on "stopping power". Spaulding wrote a master's thesis on the subject, gathering data from various agencies across the country. His conclusion: there are no magic bullets. Once you get to the .38 spl. threshold, shot placement pretty much trumps all. I don't mean to start an argument about cartridge effectiveness. (Don't have ANY expertise on the subject). I'll simply observe that K frame .38 spls., like the venerable Model 15, are easy for most people to shoot well. My first Smith was a 4" 15-3 with slight holster wear and a few freckles. It's set up with original stocks + Tyler T's. The combo fits my hands well. I have a 4" 10-5 set up exactly the same way and yes, I actually choose to carry one or the other from time to time
PC
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+1 on this, I have no experience in shoot outs but I have been hunting along time, and to me its not how big your cannon is, its where you hit them at.. You gut shoot them with +P expando wonders, it will probaly have the same effect as a gut shot with RNL
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03-19-2011, 02:11 PM
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CM's
Love the 4" barrel CM in .38 but even more in .22lr.
Last edited by Engine49guy; 03-22-2011 at 12:41 PM.
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03-19-2011, 03:34 PM
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Howdy
Howdy,
What more could a guy ask for out of a .38?
They are nice guns.
This one is around for boat and kayak duty.
I keep it stuffed with 148 hbwc and it is a great small game getter.
Thanks
Mike
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03-19-2011, 03:48 PM
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My 15 and 18, both dash 3s, I think.
Local shop has a nickel 15 I keep looking at. I have a sense that there weren't a lot of those produced??
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03-19-2011, 03:53 PM
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And not Combat MPs but happen to be the next picture I had in Photobucket.
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03-19-2011, 04:12 PM
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This is my 1964 15-2. I bought it with the plastic stag grips, but found an old set of 63 magnas for it. they are beat up but they looks fine on the old girl.
0304111036.jpg
0318111521b.jpg
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03-19-2011, 06:41 PM
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I noticed that on the pics of the Mod 15-2's your grips have a diamond on than. I have a 15-2 K750XXX(all numbers mach on the gun, grips included) but no diamond. When did S&W change there grips or are thay something special?
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03-19-2011, 07:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blazer
I noticed that on the pics of the Mod 15-2's your grips have a diamond on than. I have a 15-2 K750XXX(all numbers mach on the gun, grips included) but no diamond. When did S&W change there grips or are thay something special?
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The diamond grips were dropped in 1968.
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03-19-2011, 08:56 PM
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M15-3 with modified targets and a holster I made for it.
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03-19-2011, 09:23 PM
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Here is my 18-4
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03-19-2011, 10:37 PM
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You guys post up some nice ones.
Art (fyimo) that's some fine stocks on your revolvers, and great photography too.
Here's a gun or two..
Mod 67 (stainless CM)
A Mod 15
Pre 18's
A Mod 18
My favorite one...Mod 15.
GF
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03-20-2011, 01:08 AM
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Here is one that shipped to the Air Force.
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03-22-2011, 01:33 AM
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Combat Masterpiece
I realize my 4" Model 15 is too new for this thread, but the 67 and the 2" Model 15 qualify.
Three of my favorite revolvers.
Sorry, only photo of my 2" is with my other carry guns.
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03-22-2011, 09:26 AM
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03-22-2011, 09:32 AM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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PS to NFIN1: I think the large relief stocks were introduced in 1984 so your 1980 M67 didn't come with them.
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03-22-2011, 09:46 AM
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15-3
15-2
Mine get shot.
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SWCA1967 SWHF244
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03-22-2011, 09:48 AM
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Ok here we go:
NIB 15-4
A shooter grade 18-4.
But no one has pictured my particular favorite the model 48 CM. This one is a 48-4 and is extremely accurate for a 4" revolver.
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Jim
Many K and N Frames
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03-22-2011, 09:49 AM
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My finish challenged 15 no dash, a great shooting gun!!
A marked as 17-2, probably rebarreled to make a hybrid 18?
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03-22-2011, 10:56 AM
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Maybe the frame was stamped with the incorrect serial (happens quite frequently) or the barrel was swapped before shipping to fill an order.
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03-22-2011, 11:54 AM
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I have posted this before in the discussions on Farrant grips. But I sure like it, a retired police revolver........
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03-22-2011, 12:10 PM
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Pair of CHP's 67 and 68
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03-22-2011, 06:53 PM
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03-22-2011, 08:47 PM
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My "new" pre-model marked Combat Masterpiece
My 15-2. Excuse the cheesey gold hammer and trigger. Looking to replace them but it shoots like a dream...
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03-22-2011, 08:53 PM
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SaxonPig you have great taste!
Here's my 15-3 wearing bone elk stag (please excuse picture quality).
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03-22-2011, 10:44 PM
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Here is my 15-3. It came with factory target stocks not these cheesy white ones!
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03-22-2011, 11:33 PM
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I've show it before, but given any opportunity I will show it again: an early CM from before the model number era -- K101707 (1951).
Now that I have seen the attractive specimens of 2" Model 15s in this thread, I'm going to have to keep an eye out for one. I have a postwar K-frame snubnose from 1947, but it would be really cool to have a specimen with adjustable sights.
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03-22-2011, 11:45 PM
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Again, as in many threads here, beautiful guns and photography.
Here's my M15-4 bought off gunbroker.com on Xmas Eve 2010.
Before the purchase I kept thinking, "Why a M15 when I have a M19?".
But they are not the same. Perhaps it is the same thing with a .41 Magnum and a .44 Magnum.
The "why" cannot be answered. It is a "must have".
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Have guns...will shoot'em.
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03-23-2011, 09:27 AM
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My 15-1
Recent purchase at Cabela's in Buda, TX. Probably paid to much, but it was worth it to me. I've been told it was born in 1978.
Pray for our WarFighters.
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jd
Nov 2, 2012
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03-23-2011, 10:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by txchl33
Recent purchase at Cabela's in Buda, TX. Probably paid to much, but it was worth it to me. I've been told it was born in 1978.
Pray for our WarFighters.
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I'm no expert by any stretch, but did the 15 come in stainless as well as blue? Also, I believe a 15-1 would be at least in the early 60's since I was told my 15-2 is from 1965. I may be way off base as I'm learning about these things daily.
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03-23-2011, 12:23 PM
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Yes it did, see wikipedia url below...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevadadvx
I'm no expert by any stretch, but did the 15 come in stainless as well as blue? Also, I believe a 15-1 would be at least in the early 60's since I was told my 15-2 is from 1965. I may be way off base as I'm learning about these things daily.
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Smith & Wesson Model 15 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
" In addition, the Model 15 was issued by many police departments across the United States as well as various federal law enforcement agencies.[1] In 1974 S&W produced a stainless steel version of the Model 15 which it termed the Model 67. "
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jd
Nov 2, 2012
Last edited by txchl33; 03-23-2011 at 12:24 PM.
Reason: change pix orientation
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03-23-2011, 01:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by txchl33
Smith & Wesson Model 15 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
" In addition, the Model 15 was issued by many police departments across the United States as well as various federal law enforcement agencies.[1] In 1974 S&W produced a stainless steel version of the Model 15 which it termed the Model 67. "
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Ah, ok thanks. So is yours marked as a 67 or 15? Just curious, as I state, I'm learning daily.
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03-23-2011, 01:29 PM
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15-3
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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor
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03-23-2011, 01:42 PM
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Marked as a model 67-1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevadadvx
Ah, ok thanks. So is yours marked as a 67 or 15? Just curious, as I state, I'm learning daily.
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I'm new to this S&W stuff to believe me. It's interesting tho...
I haven't had time to even shoot it yet, dang-it! I bought +P to carry in it.
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jd
Nov 2, 2012
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03-23-2011, 09:26 PM
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Pre-15, 5 Screw Combat Masterpiece. Born in 1951.
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03-24-2011, 08:26 AM
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Here, alongside their big brother, are my two 15-3s, one in blue (1971) and one in nickel (1977).
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Tags
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22lr, 327, 44 magnum, cartridge, combat masterpiece, k frame, k-frame, m19, masterpiece, model 10, model 15, model 19, postwar, pre 18, snubnose, speedloader, stag |
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