.38 Combat Masterpiece

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bigwagon

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Today I was at my favorite gun show of the year but was drawing a blank until I got to the very last row. Saw this really nice pre-Model 15 sitting on a table and ended up making a straight-up trade for a pre-war 32-20 M&P in much worse shape that I paid $325 for. It's really a beauty. The gun is SN K2168XX, which dates to 1954. It's got the nice early post-war matte blue finish and is all matching except the high-shoulder diamond grips, which number to an S800K gun a few years earlier.

I've never really been a big fan of the adjustable sight K frames, but this one is changing my opinion. I think the trade definitely worked in my favor.

XPjJjUx.jpg

NPQRKlt.jpg
 
I’d make that trade all day every day and twice on Sunday. The value of your CM almost certainly exceeds the $325 investment you made in it by at least another $100 or more. Much as I like the 32-20, that trade was a no brainer.

Froggie
 
Many people think the Combat Masterpiece/Model 15 is the finest revolver S&W ever made. If your CM shoots as nicely as my 15-3 did, you are going to love it.
 
Sell it right away 😁

Uh oh now you’ve done it. Sell it right away or you will be like me and burn through all your gun funds. I got a new in box 15 made in 1968 at a gun show January for $550. It was too nice to shoot so I got a slightly used 15-3 in February but it’s close to perfect for $480. Then I ran into an awesome deal on a 6” 17-2 for $450. It was 98% easy after a good cleaning. I use for range duty. And I just bought a 14-4 in perfect shape with the three T’s with a reddish set of target stocks that are real beauties for $580. So this year alone I have bought
15 NIB 4”
Month later 15-3 4”
In April a 17-2 6”
And October a 14-4 6”
Once you get the k frame bug there is no cure!!!!!! I sold some guns and picked up some extra money doing some work last holiday season but the last purchase emptied my funds. I put myself in time out and am working overtime to build back up the funds so I can hit a local major show in January for, you guessed it, more K frames!!
Beauty gun and those 15s are sweet! Enjoy your K frame
 
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Following my very first s&w purchase a k22 I found a pre m14 and pre m15 to keep it company. These are really quality revolvers I’m impressed.
 
I also have one of the CM 15 , also 1954 . Great balance. Tight as a drum.
It a great carry gun in a belted holster. A bit bulky for a CC piece.
It shines punching holes in paper on the range.
As one of the old guys on the line said to me after glancing at my target, " that'll keep em' off ya'."
 
I picked up my first ever CM 15-2 1965 a couple of years ago.I think I like your matt finish over the polished blue version.
 
bigwagon said:
Today I was at my favorite gun show of the year but was drawing a blank until I got to the very last row. Saw this really nice pre-Model 15 sitting on a table and ended up making a straight-up trade for a pre-war 32-20 M&P in much worse shape that I paid $325 for. It's really a beauty. The gun is SN K2168XX, which dates to 1954. It's got the nice early post-war matte blue finish and is all matching except the high-shoulder diamond grips, which number to an S800K gun a few years earlier.

I've never really been a big fan of the adjustable sight K frames, but this one is changing my opinion. I think the trade definitely worked in my favor.

XPjJjUx.jpg

NPQRKlt.jpg
Click to expand...

Great trade on a great gun.

Regards,

Kobsw
 
I find that I shoot my 15-3 more than any other single handgun I own. Having a .38spl. chamber, it's perfect for shooting the most available and most reloaded CF ammo.......
 
The older pre-15 CMs are also very nice with just a little more barrel. This is a 5 inch Missouri State Highway Patrol version, which differs from the 5 inch Illinois State Police version in that the MSHP revolver had the CM barrel taper, whereas the 5 inch ISP was a pre-14 with the straight wall (non-tapered) barrel.
 

Attachments

  • MSHP Pre-15 5 inch CM Lt 1.jpg
    MSHP Pre-15 5 inch CM Lt 1.jpg
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I agree with Shawn, the 5inch revolvers balance very well in the hand.
 
One of my big regrets was passing up an ANIB CM, ca.1950, for $500 a couple of years back. I recently bought a Model 15 no-dash former cop gun in somewhat distressed cosmetic condition for $200. Some internal and external cleanup, a pair of S&W smooth wood presentation grips from my woodbox and a few applications of Oxypho cold blue made it look far better. Shoots pretty well too after I adjusted the sights. Last week I put 20 shots into a 2" group at 50 feet from a bench rest with it. That's good enough for me.

The closest CM to SN K2168XX on my list is K1994xx which shipped in 3/54.
 
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Grimjaws said:
Uh oh now you’ve done it. Sell it right away or you will be like me and burn through all your gun funds. I got a new in box 15 made in 1968 at a gun show January for $550. It was too nice to shoot so I got a slightly used 15-3 in February but it’s close to perfect for $480. Then I ran into an awesome deal on a 6” 17-2 for $450. It was 98% easy after a good cleaning. I use for range duty. And I just bought a 14-4 in perfect shape with the three T’s with a reddish set of target stocks that are real beauties for $580. So this year alone I have bought
15 NIB 4”
Month later 15-3 4”
In April a 17-2 6”
And October a 14-4 6”
Once you get the k frame bug there is no cure!!!!!! I sold some guns and picked up some extra money doing some work last holiday season but the last purchase emptied my funds. I put myself in time out and am working overtime to build back up the funds so I can hit a local major show in January for, you guessed it, more K frames!!
Beauty gun and those 15s are sweet! Enjoy your K frame
Click to expand...
I love your thread of logic here, it's just like my mental dialog.
 
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