When I was a "tadpole" ( ) I remember a few of the local officers carried nickeled Combat Masterpieces/Model 15s. (For some reason, I don't recall ever seeing an M&P being carried by a local officer.) They are catchy looking.

I remember after school I would stand around and talk with one officer, in particular, about his revolver. I knew him because his Mom and Dad lived across the alley from my home. He once told me he had been taught to dust his holster with baby powder so he could draw faster. Things were different back then. He was not really a gunman and I recall his most common remark was that the gun was quite a burden.

I always disliked nickeled S&Ws, but then, for some reason, I fell off the wagon and bought one in a moment of weakness. I believe it was a particularly nice 8-inch Model 29 that was priced attractively. Ever since then, I have grown to kind of like them.

Very pretty guns you have there, even the oddball.