What barrel lengths were available in the Model 15-3, and when did S&W stop making them with pinned barrels?

I looked at one earlier and wrote down the serial number because I was going to look it up, but I must have left off a digit or two because all I have written down is 6K4099...and that can't be right, can it?

Apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

Thanks for any answers.

The pin was dropped in 1982.
The Catalog says it was offered in 4" barrels first and then in 2". In 1986 it was offered in 6" and 8 3/8". A few rare ones were offered earlier on with 5" barrels.
Jim

Thank you for that information.

I believe that the serial number you wrote down can be correct. I have a 15-3 that has a one digit (number) after the #K.... I can't remember the serial number off hand, but it is something like 4K1.

That could be a correct serial. Each time they changed the prefix (K, 1K, 2K, etc) they started over at 1 or maybe 1000. AFAIK the 15-3 was only made in 2" and 4" barrel lengths between 1967-77. The later versions of the 15 (15-5 to be specific) were offered in longer barrel lengths (replacing the discontinued M14) but not the -3. The barrel pin was dropped in 1982 during the 15-4 run, so some are seen with it and some are seen without it.

This one is 11K3794 (note the number of digits) shipped in 1977. Just realized it's a last year production for the 15-3. Of course I added the polished stags, not original.

__________________
No life story has happy end.