After quite a bit of combing the web here I am.
Ive read a number of post here in reference to this Model only having 20 "experimental" pieces made. Another post stating only several have been accounted for.
Well here is my question. What would one of these unicorns be worth? Box and full kit.

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Looks to be nickel plated, not stainless (from what I can see from your picture).

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.............SmithNut

Added image of serial. I'm actually kind of scared of be being the real deal. Never dealt with anything like this.

That is a nickel model 15 - was my first thought but after reading comments and seeing the page from the “bible”, I too am convinced that you may have something very special. Keep us advised and please show the entire serial number everywhere it is located.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Whats the serial number?

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A Future and A Hope.

K39782x
Mod-15
11
SS
X
Markings

I'm seeing the SS stamp on the yoke. Sure looks like nickel finish though in the image.

The gun is in the serial number range of the experimental stainless steel 15's..... which were the first stainless S&W's produced, in 1960-1961. They were bright polished and on first glance appear to be nickel-plated. You definitely need a factory letter.

Call me if you have any further questions (205-531-7002).
David

Wonder if there are any helpful markings under the grips?

Can you see this revolver up close and personal or only via internet/txt?

The fastest giveaway in quick pictures for a factory nickel S&W revolver is the flat black ejector star in the middle of an otherwise nickel cylinder, but you don’t show a picture that gives that view.

That's the serial number range for the stainless run, depending on what is after the 2, the book may say who got it originally.


Where did this gun come from??

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When words fail, music speaks.

What book is this info published in?

Having both stainless and nickel guns, I'm convinced this is nickel plated, not stainless. Stainless guns also usually have hard-chromed hammer and trigger, this one has color case hardened hammer and trigger, which nickel plated guns have. I don't know about the "SS" stamping inside the yoke cut. Look at the breech side of the cylinder, is there a "N" anywhere between the charge holes, and is the extractor star blue or silvery? Blued would also indicate a nickel plated gun.

SCSW 4th edition , must have for crazy people.

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When words fail, music speaks.

I was ready to poo-poo this gun as a mis-identified nickel or refinished gun, but now I think a factory letter may confirm Unicorn status.

Congrats to the OP if so. Its worth what an advanced collector will pay you.

I suspect your PM box will fill up shortly.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Thats one of my fears about talking about this thing. The person I know at Heritage Auctions had no idea and kind of dismissed me as having a common Model 15-1. He didnt understand what I was showing him.

Image of the extractor.

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Okay that definitely doesn't look nickel but the locator pins are certainly in an odd location --OR-- I am just not that familiar with a 1960's-era S&W extractor.

If it is one of the 20 stainless Model 15s made (you’ll need a letter) you should sell it here. If that’s the case, I’d post the letter here as an update to this post and see what magically appears in the inbox.

There’s a moratorium on letters right now to let them get caught up, but it lifts soon. There are threads about how to get a letter. A gun of this type will need a letter.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Even then how does one determine value on something that never makes it to market. No public sales to base anything off of. What similar firearms have traded publicly that I can base a number off of.
Im having the same issue placing value on a 1882 $50 National Bank Note that has never before been auctioned publicly.

Pull the stock from the left side of the revolver, look near the bottom of the grip frame. A letter "N" would indicate nickel plating. The rear of the cylinder does look like stainless.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Wow.
I do believe you have one of the stainless guns.
Good for you!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Is there a screw in front of the trigger guard, like this-

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Simple-
You either auction it, and let the market determine what it will do, or you start high and come down if you have to.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Yeap, there is a screw at that location.

This gun is so far out of my league I can’t even help you.

If lightning struck and I had one of these, I would price a new pickup and list it here for that. If it sold for that, I’d kick myself. If it didn’t I’d drop it a grand a week until it did.

Its a pretty good situation to be in.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Yeah, lots of pre auction advertisement and let her rip! But it has to be authenticated with a letter I would think.


If it were me, I would be in a homeless shelter selling pencils all day and eating rats at night with that in a safety deposit box before I might consider selling it!

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When words fail, music speaks.

Okay, I'll move it back to 1896-1961.
I could not see the screw in your first pic when I moved it.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I know of three stainless Model 15s in this serial number range. One was given to Bill Gunn in 1960, who I think was S&W's Plant Manager at the time.

Bill

Since nobody posted this from the SCSW 4th edition here it is for the OP. Curious minds would like to know the last digit of the serial number. Good luck.

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The experimental stainless M15's had case-hardened hammers & triggers, as well as the bright-polish finish I mentioned earlier. They were built five years before the M60 and, same as with the earliest M60's, especially using the bright-polish finish, S&W didn't have a hard-fast plan on exactly what and how they would do with some of the parts when planning future mass production.

My money is definitely on the gun in question being original...
DC

Tell-Tale sign of a factory nickel is this tiny "N" under the extractor star.

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John

Interesting, my first impression of the pic was that it was nickel, but not a good quality nickel, upon more inspection, there appears to be "grain" in the finish, so it's entirely possible that this is stainless.......

Never heard of the 20 that is being discussed, maybe I should study M15's.... ?? No, belay that, I prefer M14's....

Hopefully this turns out to be one of the 20, that would truly be a find... And as noted, might get the current owner a new truck..

As is noted many times throughout the S&W forum, "never say never".. !!

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.............SmithNut

I’m pulling for you and your M15, OP!

Think it is ok to post full SN here. I have done it frequently and have seen it done a lot.
The 6 guns known to have been shipped have SN in the 20s.
Since yours is also in the 20s would be interesting to know if yours is one of the 6 known to be shipped or one of the other 4 possibilities.

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David Reynolds

Wow, so which one is it, 823, 25, 26, 27, 28 ?

The easiest way to determine stainless from nickel is using a magnet...I keep a small pocket magnet with me whenever I have a pocket...The magnet will stick firmly to carbon steel whether it's nickeled, blued or coated...The magnet will have a very weak attraction to stainless steel because of the lessened ferrous content in the alloy......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Congratulations to you if it turns out to be one of the stainless model 15s.

This is the message about the current moratorium on letter of authenticity requests:

Important...Moratorium on Requests for Factory Letters

But January 24 is only a few days away. Good luck!

PS We have a lot of discussion here about the definition of a "scarce" or "rare" gun. A stainless model 15 definitely is rare!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Sorry, but a magnet will stick to a stainless gun with just about as much force as a regular one. 400 series stainless steel is a kind of iron, carbon chromium alloy. This stainless steel has a martensitic structure and an iron element, so it has normal magnetic properties. Take a magnet and stick it to a 60 or 600 series gun. THUNK

The more common 300 series stainless id not magnetic of weak attraction

Oh my!!
"Welcome to the forum from the Wiregrass!" is the usual greeting and he will be around shortly to greet you.
Congratulations on your revolver. A bit of advice....you have been given a phone number in this thread and I suggest you call him. He can answer all your questions and has an excellent reputation in the collecting world.
Hank

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Hank
SWCA 2945

The strangeness continues. On factory nickel 15's the star is blued, not some shiny finish. Shiny is shown for this pistol's star.

OMG! Unicorns do exist!

I can't even imagine what that gun would bring at auction. If you do confirm it and sell. Please let us know what it went for.

I've tried it more than once, on guns and the difference between the two is noticeable...But I realize you have a lot more experience in metals than I do so I'll take your word on the different grades of stainless...I would like to hear the OP's report on the magnetic qualities of his 15 and any blued or nickeled Smiths he has...

I don't know whether I even have a stainless gun in my safe as I don't really care for the appearance, but if I don't I'll try my pocket buddy at the next gun show on somebody's table...As Sheriff Bart said, "Pardon me while I whip this out"......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I've got my knife and fork ready, serve up the crow and I'll eat my share. I'm rooting for this to be a stainless M15, but I'd have bet my left gonad this was a nickel gun. I'm speculating the "SS" in the yoke cut was a reminder to not send this to the bluing tank or to say "this ain't nickel" since it was a model that usually got one or the other of those finishes.

Gotta watch this guy, next gun he gets will probably be a M28-1

Very cool story. Does the OP’s presentation case give any clues? Would that case have been around in the 60’s? By the way notabot, we have a member jcelect that restores the boxes for a very reasonable expense.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

From the size of the revolver cutout, I think the case is for a 4" N frame.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Just did a magnet test. Just as magnetic as my Model 63, my childhood revolver. First gun I ever fired.

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Here's hoping we get the back story of this revolver and what happens to it.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Guess its OK to let the cat out of the bag.

Serial ends in 25, so HH Harris. Would this have been shipped to them to supply one of their clients or presentation piece?

As for selling or keeping. Im not sure yet. I dont consider myself a gun collector, but with a dozen or so around I might be called one. I have always been a collector of militaria, rare coins/currency, and watches. So might as well add guns to that list, as many that know me might have already.

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I own it and I myself wanna know where its been since '63.