I collect the old 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation S&W semi autos. I got started with a used 645 back in the 80's. I am left handed so it was a good gun for me. I liked it so much that I started buying up 5900 series as well. I found this old S&W 915 languishing in a small gun store one day. It was or had a blued or something slide and the alloy frame was black. It was all beat up and butt ugly but it was still tight and had a decent barrel so I negotiated a price. As I was walking out of the store I found out it wasn't an ambidextrous safety model but thought what the heck I never use the safety anyway except to decock and thought I might be able to convert it with a 5906 decocker and it was for the collection and not a carry piece. Well the long and short of it is I took out back to my range and hit everything I aimed at with it. I was very pleased and started carrying it regularly. I fell in love with the old girl being on my backside in a much more pleasant way then my wife.

For those of you not familiar with this model it is a version of the 910 but came with a 15 round mag for LEO use instead of the Clintonized 10 round mag. It is a economy version of the 5906 and and finish wasn't part of the deal. The machining on the slide looked like economy as well. These things kind of bothered me. She was a working girl for sure but I wondered if someone would just buy her a new dress or something and showed her they cared she might just perk up a bit and feel appreciated. I know I liked her a lot. I have a bunch of pistols many cost me 4 or 5 times what I paid for her but she was always there saying you can trust me with your life.

So I bought her a new dress guys and really screwed the pooch! Ever buy your wife a chainsaw for Christmas? Yeah well the OD Green did not make her happy. Should have went with all coyote tan with black barrel and controls but I am too lazy to blast it off and do ti again. But she won't be rusting and her slide tightened up just fine with the Cerakote and smooth as butter. So I told her when she wears out the OD green I will do her right next time. But I thought I would share a pic or two and let you all get a good laugh and my color choice.

But in all seriousness this was my first shot at Cerakote and it beat the heck out of firing up the bluing crystals and it works on all substrates even plastic! What is not to like about that? BTW I couldn't get all the scratches out without major work but it is serviceable and not too ugly even if you don't like OD green.

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Jason Adams

Very nicely done.

I love it!!!

My first S&W auto was a 915. Wish I had it back. It was still the most accurate one I have had to date. The guy I sold it to will not budge on letting me have it back.

915s are great guns........ Novak utilized them for several of his custom 3rd Gen guns.

They are my workhorse/utility full size 9mm...........

Whoa, whoa, whoa! You made it sound like I was going to look at a pile of dog poop, but in reality it looks great! I'd shoot and/or carry that with pride You did a fine job. Now I'm going to have to find a similar "basket case" and try my hand at resurrection.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I was not expecting this old beater to be what it is in my hand. I only bought it to put it in a display or just to keep for an example. But it shocked me right out of the gate when I hit 5 sporting clays with five rounds in 5 seconds at 15 feet the first time I fired it. Then it just grew on me. I have a 5906 but prefer this 915 over it and I am left handed... Go figure huh? I think it is just a case of first impression when my standard test was 100%. I know it was probably just luck or a good day for me to shoot but it is a nice gun.

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Jason Adams

Cerakote takes some investment but it is soooooooo cool and the colors available are amazing. The action smoothed up (I coated the rails) and the barrel tightened up nicely in the bushing. Not that it was sloppy but it is really nice now. It gave the old girl a new lease on life.

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Jason Adams

I just couldn't leave her with the OD green so I got off my backend and took her apart and re-blasted the slide and shot it with a Burnt Bronze where the OD green was. What do you think? Better or worst?

For any of you out there who might think they like the Burnt Bronze it is a bit tricky to shoot well. It is hard to judge the cover when shooting it. Before the OD green I had shot it with this color baked it and was assembling it when I noted some thin spots. That is when I decided to go with the OD green but felt it was a little too military in looks. Then when I went back I tried to get a little more on and it sagged on me. So I really have 3 tries in getting this done this color. So note that if you decide to try this color you might want to practice with it first.

But the coyote tan, OD green, and charcoal black were a real pleasure to shoot and covered excellently. Better then automotive paint in shooting characteristics IMHO. This finish is tough as nails they aren't exaggerating when they claim it is the toughest finish available. I have never seen a polymer resin with a ceramic pigment this tough. That is what I was going for the most. Living in a semi tropical climate like Alabama in the summer I was constantly wiping up rust on the old finish we will see how this goes as it will be my EDC.

I tossed in a picture with her sisters from my collection.

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Jason Adams

So, when is the wedding date?
Jim