Wow, they discovered a unicorn! And $5K may be a realistic asking price considering the scarcity of Model 56s. Here is a Model 15-2 that we inherited from my wife's grandfather (a Calif. LEO and Chief of Detectives in the 1950s-70s). The frame's s/n (K509199) dates it to 1962 and is the middle of the s/n range for Model 56s (K500001-K515205). This 15-2 may be one of the first 15-2 snubbies that was assembled and introduced in 1964 (it has the lined backstrap and is not marked "U.S.") after S&W quit manufacturing Model 56s and the USAF destroyed most of the production. Forum experts tell me that there is probably no way to ever know if our Model 15-2 was originally destined to be a Model 56.
|