Digging through some old paperwork, I found the serial number of the Model 15 that was the beginning of my interest in handgun shooting. I bought it used in the early 70s.

It's long gone now, but I'm curious about which variation ("dash") it would have been. My note only says "Model 15".

Serial # K8761xx

Thanks for any info.

-Mark

Not sure about the dash number.....the model 15 went into production in 1949.....and, accoring to the Standard Catalog, your serial number lands on the year 1950.
Could be a "no dash".

Someone will be along shortly to nail it down for you.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Hi
K8761xx dates to 1969, so it would have been a Model 15-3, which started in 1967.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

An easy mistake to make. You counted one too few digits. In 1950, the K serial numbers only had 5. This one has 6.

Also, no "Model 15" existed until 1958 (ship dates). Before that, it was simply the .38 Combat Masterpiece. The SCSW is misleading where it says this sort of thing. Dates listed in that section include the revolvers that were of the same line but made before model numbers were assigned.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

missed it by a mile....senior moment, lapse of consciousness?

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

K8761xx
K848,782 – K946,391....1969 (manufacture)

Great! Many thanks!

In part, my curiosity came from trying to replace the old one by buying an unfired 15-4 (from 1980, I think).

The newer gun had a gritty trigger and it shot much to the left relative to the sights. A local gunsmith cleaned up the trigger some, but I couldn't live with having to run the rear sight all the way to the right and still shooting left. The good part of the story is that I found someone who really liked Model 15s, and i traded with a little boot for a 629-6 Mountain Gun that is my current favorite.

I just acquired a 15-4 serial 223K031 gun has never been fired just kept in a collection and was wondering what year as not much info online about serial numbers. Thanks in advance.

That serial number would probably be 1982.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

I recently inherited an older pistol, the model number is faint but looks like 15-2. The serial number is k772342, could somebody tell me a bit more about it? How old etc. I would greatly appreciate it. This is my first time on here.

Welcome...I believe you'll get better response by starting your own thread rather than piggybacking on an older thread......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I'm confused here. I'm not a collector, but just looked at a couple of 15s I've had for about forty years or so. Neither have a dash; one is K340959 and the other is K771563, a pretty big difference in numbers, but I guess all K frame guns shared the number range.

Welcome to the Forum. Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson says 1967 K715997-K779162. You have one of the best double action revolvers ever made by S&W. Do a search on this forum and you will find lots of information.

From SCSW - K340959 dates to 1958, K771563 dates to dates to 1967.

But, oddly, while the 1958 would be a no dash, the 1967 would be a -3, or maybe a -2.

Perhaps the -x is faint or the stamp was so far to the right the -x missed the frame?

Just looked again using a magnifying glass this time. Nothing there but the quoted serial number and MOD-15 under it. Nevertheless, the assistance is appreciated.