I found a gun at my dad's in his gun safe and he cannot remember where it came from. It is a model 15-3 with a very heavy round barrel with NO markings on it. It also has a aristocrat sight system and the hammer has no thumb tang. The bluing on the frame is very nice, it has what looks to be original wood grips. The bluing on the barrel definitely does not match the frame. I wonder if someone can tell me about the weapon. Is it for sure a .38? Any idea of an approximate value? anybody seen anything like it?

Thanks for your help.

Attached Images

s&w model 15-3 aristocrat sight.jpg (102.6 KB, 234 views)

It reminds me of a heavily modified gun used in the action shooting sports back in the 80s.

It is a PPC revolver. PPC is the initials for Police Pistol Course or Practical Pistol Course. The FBI is usually credited for developing PPC in the late 1950s and popularizing it for police training during the 1960s. PPC matches became very common before partially fading away. At one time large police departments had PPC teams that they sent across the country to compete on company time. As PPC matches became competitive games first Python barrels were installed on S&Ws and Ruger Security Sixes then PPC revolvers developed into 3 1/2 to 4 pound bull barrel revolvers. The later usually had Aristocrat ribs with front sights that change elevation with the flip of a switch. That was needed because the standard load was low power 148 grain full wadcutters that have a lot of drop over the 50 yard course. Many of these were high dollar conversions. Most shots were fired double action so they usually have tuned double action pulls. PPC required a very accurate combination of pistol and ammunition. Reaming the chambers deeper to accept .357 magnum cartridges would have been counter productive so it is very unlikely that your 15-3 is not a .38 special.

At the national level automatics have superseded revolvers as the most competitive PPC pistols and S&Ws converted into heavy bull barrel PPC revolvers are fairly common. Although PPC matches are still held they have mostly been replaced by matches that require drawing, shooting much faster and moving between firing positions. Consequently, there are more PPC revolvers for sale than competitors shopping for them.

K22 has it exactly right. You also see a good number of model 10s with BoMar ribs on them. They were absolute tack drivers, but they were for sport, not combat, and fun, not training. It will probably shoot one ragged hole out to 50 yards with wadcutter or SWC ammo. Great guns!

Thanks guys, that is good information. called dad last night and told him not to sell, at least not until I get a chance to shoot a few holes in some paper.

These modified guns do not sell very well. I have seen several similarly modified revolvers priced fairly moderately (under $500) at gun shows which are there show after show after show, etc. without being sold. Probably good buys if you like things like that. Not too many PPC shooters today will use them. I'm sure they were costly to make, but just have little appeal to collectors or casual shooters.

I bought an old PPC Ruger Security six. It has an after marked slab sided barrel, a ball detent on the crane, and scope mount. Nice gun, shoots great groups. $300.00 well used.

Accurate beyond belief. Yours is probably too.

David

The late Jim Cirillo of the NYPD is credited with starting the PPC bull barrel trend, as documented in one of his books or articles.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220