I just purchased my first S&W revolver yesterday and I could use the expert opinions on this forum. I bought it from my neighbor who purchased it new, he said it has less than 50 rounds through it. I know it's of the Bangor Punta era and was looking for a possible manufacture date with the serial number, K8661XX.

I'll post some pic's of it later as I have a couple more questions about the revolver too. The grips have a matching serial number also.

I figured out how to post pictures and sorry for the quality. The right grip has a small chip on the upper left and I'am concerned about the wear on the right side of the hammer, any input from you guys would be great and thank you all so much.

Very nice Combat Masterpiece,
Should be a Model 15-3 and probably shipped sometime in 1969.

Looks darn nice!
The Catalog dates it to 1969, making it a M15-3. I have one, but not as nice as that one. They are great shooters.
Jim

Thanks for the information guys I'am pretty excited to get such a nice example. Your thoughts on the right side hammer wear?

Get a .002 shim for the hammer / side plate. Or stone inner edge of plate. Which ever works the best.

Thats one sweet looking model 15. Wish I was that lucky haha

The model 15 is one of the best S&W revolvers out there. You did good!!

So just a little more in terms of educating those of us still learning the terminology, are all model 15's considered a "Combat Masterpiece"?

I have just about the same gun. This is my most accurate gun, period. At fifteen yards or less I can shoot the lights out with this little revolver.

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Back when I was a young fellow, I used to spend hours studying the Shooters Bible and Gun Digest. This would have been in the late mid/late 70's. They both used both terms in their listings for Smith & Wesson revolvers. You would see listed,

Smith & Wesson Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece."
Smith & Wesson Model 19 "Combat Magnum"

and so on.

I don't know rather the factory or the collecting community kept the name along with the number or not, but in common usage, both were used. I think the numbers gained prominance simply because it's easier to say "Model 15" than it is to say "Combat Masterpiece."

I have always thought "Combat Masterpiece" was the best name ever for a handgun. OK, maybe "Peacemaker" is right there with it.

To the OP. Beautiful CM you got there. Enjoy it.

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John 3:16 .

Yes. If you look at the blue boxes from the late fifties on, they say "Model 15" and under that they say "Combat Masterpiece".

And I agree, it is one of the coolest names ever for a gun.

The only real problem is once you have the wear there's nothing you can do about it except having case colors restored. That is a fairly common problem.

What a sweet gun though.

I'm also partial to Distinguished Combat Magnum.

Very common, particularly at that location; unless there's actual binding occurring inhibiting smooth action, you needn't worry about it.

That place on the hammer makes this gun useless for anything but parts, BUT since I am in a generous mood I will give you your money back for it. Just trying to help!!

Thanks to everyone for their input and expertise.

Took her out today and I must say WOW what a gun, I now know why everyone says what they do about S&W revolvers. Being a Glock person this thing makes my tupperware pistols look like they have bent sights!!

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner! Another convert to the S&W fold...

I just checked with my neighbor, no guns. Darn

Congratulations on a great purchase.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

That is the exact gun I used in the Police Academy in San Diego. That thing was so fine. I sold it to get a M 66 with a 6" BBL. Still have the 66 and am on a Hue and Cry to find a nice M 15 like that one.

Good job

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

That is a beauty. I have one but in lesser condition. I think these are among the finest S&W revolvers. Enjoy it and it will last you a lifetime.

Sir, you now know why most of us would rather have one Smith and Wesson revolver than two tupperware pistols.

You guys are danged awesome, many thanks. k22 fan thank you too for the link I'am a professional modelmaker and the F-1 pictured is 20th scale, I love working with my hands and working on guns.

old bear I now see what everyone has been talking about and why my fatherinlaw had the very same pistol, I thought dang that's old school! It was supposed to go to my wife when her dad passed but her brother got it instead. I paid $650 for it and to be honest I don't know if I overpaid or not.

Good combination of a target gun and carry gun. I like mine too. I picked it up at a gunshow for about $275 about 8 years ago. But isn't in near as good a condition as this one in the original post

Very nice revolver. On my wish list.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

modelbuilder56, just remember that you did not overpay you just bought ahead of the curve, which I've done more than once. But I got the revolver I wanted, when I wanted it.

P.s impressive model F 150.

I acquired my first K-frame today and I’m beyond pleased with how accurate it is and how great it feels in my hand. I traded a Law Enforcement turn-in S&W M&P 40 (paid $329 after shipping) for a good condition (slight holster wear, mech flawless) 1989 S&W 15-6 4” blued. Was this a good trade? Can anyone speak from personal experience on this model? I would appreciate your feedback.

During the last three weeks, I've purchased two Model 67s, the stainless steel counterpart to the Model 15. The first is a no-dash gun with stainless steel sights and a factory trigger stop. It had some rash marks on it and was polished so I had the local gunsmith "restore" it and it looks and functions like an absolutely brand new one. With the gunsmith's bill and shipping, I have $420 in the gun.

It turned out so nice that I don't want to shoot it so I sought out another one and won a GunBroker auction for a 67-1 last night. It looks pretty nice in its photos and like the no-dash gun, doesn't have its original stocks but I have a small collection of nicely figured S&W checkered target stocks so that is not a concern for me. It will make a great "shooter gun" and with shipping, I'm into that one for $520.

I have seen one that was very much like new with its box, paperwork and unopened tool kit sell for $607 plus shipping and had numerous responses to my "WTB" ad on this Forum with asking prices ranging from $600 to $750.

It's really tough to beat a K-frame S&W revolver of any era or model. And those older blued ones are beautiful!

Ed

Modelbuilder56, welcome to the S&W revolver party. You now know what joy it is to shoot a precision instrument like a Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece."

Here's my Combat Masterpiece. Actually, my wife has claimed it as her revolver. Life does have its difficulties.

S&W Model 15-4 "Combat Masterpiece" in 38 Special




Thanks for looking at my wife's Combat Masterpiece.

God bless,
Birdgun

Your right, Model 15's are "tack drivers". I have a glock also but it doesn't tack drive like my Model 15. Tom

Might as well add mine to the "show and tell" show. It's a 15-2, from 1966. It has the target hammer, target trigger, trigger stop and target grips, which I like to think came on the gun. I know the regulars are probably sick of seeing it.

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John 3:16 .

That's a classic Smith & Wesson if there ever was one!

Ed

I, for one, never tire of looking at S&W revolvers either in pictures or person.

Very very very very nice.

A very nice example. I see it as 1969 also. They are one of the best S&W ever made for sure. Below are mine, in about the same condition. The 2" is factory fired only, and the one with the Culina olive wood grips is a 15-2 factory fired only. The 6" model is a 15-3 from about 1975 that has been heavily customized.

Enjoy it, you have something to be proud of!

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	M15-3X2R.jpg (71.5 KB, 37 views)
	15-3 X 6.jpg (92.3 KB, 42 views)
	15-2 oliveL.jpg (64.1 KB, 40 views)

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Congratulations on your purchase, IMHO the M-15 is truly a masterpiece and one of S&Ws best efforts.

The K-38 "Combat" Masterpiece was introduced as a standard item in 1950.
With the adoption of the Model number system became the Model 15.

The "Combat Magnum" (future Model 19) was introduced in 1955 as a 4" gun, in the 1960's a snub as well as a 6" version were produced but both kept the name "Combat" .

In the 1960's a 2" snub Model 15 was introduced and it likewise keeps the name "Combat" ,
During the 15-5 revision 6" and 8 3/8" versions were introduced,

For those interested in the Combat Masterpiece with more detail and photos here is a link to a thread I did a while back showing its evolution.

Some Combat Masterpiece eye candy

I love picture threads.. Here's my CM.



Here it is as purchased.