1953 Combat Masterpiece

[Flip18]

First, thanks to all for helping me identify exactly what I have. The more I look at and handle this gem I fear my love of semis will diminish. What a gun. And I have yet to shoot her. I doubt more than 150 rnds have been shot in this gun.

Couple of ?. I need a new hammer nose, any thoughts on the new made one from Jack First or Power Custom?

Also, my revolver came w/the serialized grips and a set of FM Inc 10 Point grips. I can find little info on the FM grips. Any insight? They sure feel good.

Thanks for any help, Flip.

 

[sodacan]

Less than 150 rounds and needs a new hammer nose?

 

[Flip18]

Former owner, no longer with us, Korean vet, POW, 30+years as an officer. I will not question anything. Needs a new nose. That is all I know.

 

[H Richard]

Have you tried to shoot it? I'm like sodacan, unless there is visible damage to the pin I can't believe it would need replacing. I have quite a few S&W's from as far back as 1880 and I have yet to ever needed to replace a hammer nose (firing pin). Several of my S&W revolvers have 10,000 to 20,000 rounds.

 

[Flip18]

Sorry, my bad. I forgot to say the hammer nose and rivet were removed by or for the original owner of my gun. That is why she needs a new one.

 

[DWalt]

Most all of the gun parts houses should have firing pins and rivets. Might even find some listed on eBay. A pretty simple job to replace one. SEE:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fZsIEhhpV0[/ame]

 

[JayCeeNC]

The Fray-Mershon Co. in California manufactured the line of "10 Point" grips for various revolvers.They also made grip adapters.
This grip was basically the forerunner of today's Pachmayr grips, but I'm not sure if there was a connection between FM and Pachmayr.

 

[Flip18]

Great video, much appreciated. I have done home smithing on CZ's and 1911's, this is my first wheel gun in over a decade. Should be fun.
Good info on the grips.

Thanks again.

 

[Flip18]

Finally ordered a hammer nose and rivet from Jack First. Very nice part and got it in 4 days. Never worked on a revolver before, but with a good utube vid it was not hard to remove the hammer and do the job the correct way. I am impressed as to how nice Smith made these guns, the guts were awesome to see in comparison to my modern semi's.

Took her to the range today for the first time, what a nice shooter. Had the numbered stocks on and not too crazy about the small size. Looking at Altamont grips, target or Coker style suggested?

This will be a never sell or trade gun, but I do plan to shoot quite often. Any do's or don'ts in regards to this era of Smith? Okay to dryfire on a regular basis? Need to work on my da trigger control.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[Green Frog]

It all depends on your hand size as to which grips are best. I'm 5'10" or so with about average to slightly large hands and the Altamont version of Roper grips work OK for me... they could be a little thicker and I'd like them better, but as mass produced grips go, they are OK.

Froggie

 

[OldChief]

It's OK to dry fire your revolver, it's rimfire revolvers that you don't want to dry fire without snap caps or fired brass. If you're worried about your 15, get some snap caps. I'm about to put Culina target grips on my 15, they're a bit pricey but I know John and I'm a big fan of his work. Let me show you a set of his walnut targets I have on my Mod 19.

 

[glowe]

It's OK to dry fire your revolver, it's rimfire revolvers that you don't want to dry fire without snap caps or fired brass . . .

I may be in the minority, but totally disagree. I never have and never will dry fire any firearm and certainly would not recommend doing it to anyone else. It is only tempting a bad outcome down the road and totally unnecessary. Without the "anvil" (primer or snap cap) to stop the nose-piece, the hammer's hard stop can stress the small rivet, just as a solid hammer nose can fracture or break with repeated dry fire. Also, the hammer itself hits the frame at high speed without the primer to cushion the blow. Lastly, the OPs gun was not yet a Model 15 , but rather just a plain old 1953 Combat Masterpiece.

Flip18, give us a look at your CM, posting a couple of images. I recently picked up a 1952 and agree with you about the quality and feel of the gun. Mine came with Magna stocks, but I had an extra set of Targets, so put them on the gun to shoot. Too bad the weather is too cold to get out. Maybe next month.

 

[Waveski]

Flip -
You hold your Combat Masterpiece in high esteem , and I appreciate that.

A suggestion - Please consider a set of S&W target stocks to satisfy your desire for a larger grip. I've put them on most of my K frames - they look great and shoot great ; they are right for your revolver.

Pictured is a worn/great shooting 15-3 (aka Combat Masterpiece) with a set of targets I got off of Gunbroker.

 

[Absalom]

The Fray-Mershon Co. in California manufactured the line of "10 Point" grips for various revolvers.They also made grip adapters.
This grip was basically the forerunner of today's Pachmayr grips, but I'm not sure if there was a connection between FM and Pachmayr.

Old stuff, but I just saw this thread for the first time.

Mershon was a real pioneer with the wrap-around hard rubber grip. It doesn't apper to have been that much of a success, though. While Mershon's Sure Grip adapters (variously marked Fray Mershon or just Mershon and found with address lines for both Glendale and L.A.) are very commonly found on 1940s to 1960s revolvers, the 10-point shows up rarely.

Pachmayr bought up Mershon around 1959, although Mershon products continued to be marketed under that label through the 1960s. So there is likely a direct line from the 10-point to Pachmayr's later grips.