Gave my M15 a facelift

[.38SuperMan]

About 32 years ago I bought a 15-3 made in early 1970. The finish was bad but it was smooth and had no obvious issues other than cosmetic. My son was 10 and getting into shooting USPSA with me and I thought this would be a good choice for him to shoot.

We were fortunate to have a master gunsmith in town that I knew quite well and I had him do an action job and replace the ramp sight with a target sight. I then had him send it off and have it electroless nickel plated.

When I got it back it was exactly what I had envisioned. The action is the smoothest and lightest I’ve ever seen. It’s a very light DA pull, absolutely no creep and crisp SA. The finish is excellent and has been in and out of a leather holster thousands of times.

My sons in his 40’s now and I still have the 15 and promised it to him one day. When he was shooting it I had rubber grips on it but put the original back on then decided to get something better looking than the original service grips. I ordered a set of walnut Altamont Ropers and they’re perfect. I had a set on a 617 that I traded and loved them and thought they’d be perfect for the 15.

I’m looking forward to getting her on the range again.

 

[jeffrefrig]

That looks nice. A few years back I bought a blue 15-3, 4" off a Forum member down Texas way somewhere, since deceased unfortunately. It's one of the nicest looking K frame I have, I think. It seems the 15-3 is a very popular S&W, as I see it quite often on the Forum. It came with numbers matching Magnas. He supplied a very clean set with it also because the originals had a small chip in one. I like your gun; it looks new!

 

[Narragansett]

The model 15 is one of S&W's best efforts. I had 3. I gave one each to my 2 sons, and kept a 15-2 for me. I put my smooth rosewoods on it from my duty days.

Yours is a beauty OP. If I could find a worn one I might do the same finish you did

 

[.38SuperMan]

My dad had a model 15 in the mid 60’s that I loved shooting. The 15 and his 4” Python were my 2 favorite guns he owned.

I think the K frame is the most versatile frame for Smith. I have three snubnose, a M&P from the 20’s, the 15 and 3 6 to 8-3/8” Target models in 22 and 38. You have 6 shots in a concealable package you can shoot 357’s comfortably in and conceal easily to a daily carry service revolver or a precision long barrel Target model. You don’t get that with any of the other frames. I think the K frame is the sweet spot for Smiths revolvers.

Now all I need is a 2” M15.

 

[Narragansett]

Here is one. 15-3 with Culina Osage orange combats

 

[Bald1]

That’s a beauty OP. But you guys better be careful talking about refinishing S&Ws. Apparently it’s a sin around here.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Here is one. 15-3 with Culinary Osage orange combats

Beautiful! I really love snub nose anyway.

 

[.38SuperMan]

That’s a beauty OP. But you guys better be careful talking about refinishing S&Ws. Apparently it’s a sin around here.

Understand completely. I’ve seen some folks get pistol whipped over refinishing. I can understand that if it a somewhat rare or unusual piece but a common everyday M15 that needs some TLC is no big deal. I sort of feel that way about street ridding classic old cars. For a long time I felt they should be restored to original but then realized if that person hadn’t street rodded their car I probably would have wound up rusting away.

 

[CajunBass]

I just had my 15-2 out at the range over the weekend. It's no wonder they called it a "Masterpiece." I'm one of those guys you see at the range shooting everything at the 7 yard line, but this time I ran the target out to 20 yards, just to see how poorly I'd do. To my surprise, I was able to hold almost everything in the 8 ring on a B-27, with most of them being inside the 9/10/X (50 rounds 38 wadcutters, DA). Heck, I was tickled pink. Not bad for an old man with a gimpy back I didn't think. I'll have to do that more often.

I call it my "pimp gun" with it's faux pearl Eagle grips.

I say all the time, I go back and forth between the Model 19 and the 15 as to which I like better. For now, it's the Model 15.

OH...I've got a set of those ropers on my 686. They do look, and feel great, don't they?

 

[jasnake65]

That looks sweet, many more years left in her

 

[Protocall_Design]

The electroless nickel is a really good, but forgotten gun finish. It's relatively cheap and easy to do, and lasts just about forever. Too bad more guns aren't refinished that way.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I just had my 15-2 out at the range over the weekend. It's no wonder they called it a "Masterpiece." I'm one of those guys you see at the range shooting everything at the 7 yard line, but this time I ran the target out to 20 yards, just to see how poorly I'd do. To my surprise, I was able to hold almost everything in the 8 ring on a B-27, with most of them being inside the 9/10/X (50 rounds 38 wadcutters, DA). Heck, I was tickled pink. Not bad for an old man with a gimpy back I didn't think. I'll have to do that more often.

I call it my "pimp gun" with it's faux pearl Eagle grips.

I say all the time, I go back and forth between the Model 19 and the 15 as to which I like better. For now, it's the Model 15.

OH...I've got a set of those ropers on my 686. They do look, and feel great, don't they?

Some fine looking guns there. I have a M17-6 4” without the underlug and a set of Ropers would look great on it too.

You really don’t see many guns finished in electroless nickel. I think Cold did a few Pythons in it years ago but those are the only ones I’m aware of.

 

[CajunBass]

Some fine looking guns there. I have a M17-6 4” without the underlug and a set of Ropers would look great on it too.

You really don’t see many guns finished in electroless nickel. I think Cold did a few Pythons in it years ago but those are the only ones I’m aware of.

I had a Colt GM, 1911 in EN back in the early 80's I guess it was. With those black Pachmayr wrap around grips, that was one fine looking gun. Microscopic GI type sights, but I was much younger then.