Beat 15s

[njl]

A big local shop apparently recently acquired a large # of police trade-in guns. Primarily S&W, both autos and revolvers. They're out on open tables in the store for easy inspection. I've looked over the current selection. It's mostly 15s, a few 10s. Unfortunately, most are very finish challenged, ranging from mostly good to "where's the blue?" The trouble is, even the few that have good finish, have letters/numbers engraved (and it looks like a kid did it with a dremel or something) on the side of the frame below the cylinder. Prices range from $275 to $350. I'm kind of interested in picking up a 15, but to me, $350 + tax seems a little high for a defaced police trade-in. One of the sales guys told me "all these guns were carried a lot but hardly ever fired." I don't know about that. The lockup on most of them is pretty loose. I've only found one that has decent finish (ignoring the engraving) and tight lockup.

What's the odds engraving like that could be more or less buffed out and the blue touched up?

 

[DWalt]

If it really bothers you, it probably could be. But as a shooter, and that's what these are, why bother? Most cop guns were carried a lot more than they were fired, and if they seem tight and in time, $350 for even a cosmetically-challenged Model 15 is not a bad deal. I'd just pick the best of the lot and go for it.

 

[bmesw49]

njl,
My LGS is part of a chain as well. They have been displaying a similar group of model 10 and model 15 revolvers on their used gun table for several weeks. Some have the original S&W wood grip and others have different rubber grips. The first ones were exactly as you described, but recently the ones that are on display have the engraving on the inside of the frame at the bottom of the cylinder opening.

I have been looking at them after my weekly range sessions. I do not see any more model 10's but the model 15's are mostly newer - 15-5, 15-6, 15-7 and this week I saw a 15-8.

The 15-8 was pretty tight and had the least amount of wear on the finish than any of the 50-60 that I had looked at over the past month or so. It came home with me.

All of them were priced at $325, but were "on sale for $279.

In addition to the revolver, for an extra $9.00 I purchased a leather OWB holster, two speed loaders and a leather speed loader case.

I was told that hundreds of these were trade-ins from the Dep't. of Corrections. Each week my LGS has different ones on display. Be patient and keep looking. I am sure you will find one to you liking.

Here are pictures of the one I bought. It has Uncle Mike's boot grips.

 

[bananaman]

I went to the local gun show last Sat. There were nice 15"s there. I saw 3 at $430 or less. 1 was a snub. (I really wanted that 1 ) There was a 4" that was wearing Jay Scott stag grips. With the contrast of the deep blue & the grips it looked beautiful. Was on a mission for a short barrel. Wanted a K snub. Ended up with a 3" 36, numbers matching w/box 1957.The point to this rambling, is that are some nice 15's to be had out there. I was not expecting any. Then presto....15's Bob

 

[murphydog]

njl,
My LGS is part of a chain as well. They have been displaying a similar group of model 10 and model 15 revolvers on their used gun table for several weeks. Some have the original S&W wood grip and others have different rubber grips. The first ones were exactly as you described, but recently the ones that are on display have the engraving on the inside of the frame at the bottom of the cylinder opening.

I have been looking at them after my weekly range sessions. I do not see any more model 10's but the model 15's are mostly newer - 15-5, 15-6, 15-7 and this week I saw a 15-8.

The 15-8 was pretty tight and had the least amount of wear on the finish than any of the 50-60 that I had looked at over the past month or so. It came home with me.

All of them were priced at $325, but were "on sale for $279.

In addition to the revolver, for an extra $9.00 I purchased a leather OWB holster, two speed loaders and a leather speed loader case.

I was told that hundreds of these were trade-ins from the Dep't. of Corrections. Each week my LGS has different ones on display. Be patient and keep looking. I am sure you will find one to you liking.

Here are pictures of the one I bought. It has Uncle Mike's boot grips.

That's a nice deal you got...not so much for the FL taxpayers, but at least they got something back .

 

[Hapworth]

These days, $275 to $350 is low-to-mid grade shooter territory for S&W revolvers, save for the oddball great deal -- just where the market is now, like it or not.

Depending on how deep the engraving is, you might be able to spot-buff it out, likely needing to wet-or-dry sand it. Once done and cold blued, it still won't perfectly match but will be functional and your eye might like it more.

Seems more work than needed for what you're looking at, though.

If I wanted a shooter, I'd ignore the finish issues and hunt for one in the bunch that still had great specs -- b-c gap, headspace, firing pin protusion, timing on single and double action, good bore and chambers, no push-off, correct alignment in lockup, etc. -- and make a low-end offer, then haggle it out to a mutually disappointing compromise and walk out with my new shooter.

As a rule -- especially with blued guns -- if it's a shooter, buy as-is at the best price you can get and plan on leaving it as you bought it; more than that isn't really worth the effort. If you want a good finish to match the (hopefully) good specs, put a little more cash into a higher grade purchase.

 

[Art Doc]

I would not pay $350 for the gun you described. I would not buy the gun at any price. Sounds like you shouldn't either. Keep looking. For $350-$400 you can get a 15 without the crude engraving.

 

[M3Stuart]

I would not pay $350 for the gun you described. I would not buy the gun at any price. Sounds like you shouldn't either. Keep looking. For $350-$400 you can get a 15 without the crude engraving.

What he said.

I don't mind a few scratches and A LITTLE honest wear, but those are beaters. Keep looking, you'll find something you actually want in a 15 for around $400. And it won't take that long now that you know what you're looking for.

IMHO; you really can't sand off the engraving and it'll cost you upward of $200 to have it reblued - even then it won't look like it 'should'.

 

[Art Doc]

njl- Check your PM for a beautiful 15-3 I found today for $400. Sent you the seller's info.

 

[Art Doc]

OK, never mind. I stupidly thought your post about looking at 15s meant you were actually shopping for a 15. Won't do that again.

 

[kbm6893]

Sometimes you get lucky. I got a 67-1 in near perfect condition but with pachmayr Gripper grips (which are my favorite rubber grip) for $230 delivered off gunbroker. $30 bucks to my FFL and I got it for $260. One of the best deals I ever got. Buy it Now price was $200 and I hit it right away. Don't think it was listed for more than an hour. It's a 4" and has become my favorite revolver. Makes me miss my 66 that I sold a few years ago, but the Ruger Service Six I have is a better match for .357 Magnum.

 

[27 Man]

All this reminds me of some HB model 10s some security company (Wells Fargo I think) traded in a several years ago. They were in similar condition as the ones you describe for $99. I wanted a truck gun but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I still have it and shoot it now and then but it isn't anything you would enter in the fair.

 

[njl]

For $99 I'd buy one and either not care about the finish or maybe buy two, not care about one, and treat the second as a project, disassemble it, re-blue it myself, and if I screw up, who cares at that price?

Personally, I'd prefer stainless (66 or 67), since finish issues are less likely and much easier to "erase", but I may see if I can get one of the better looking ones at the lower price. It also occurred to me, this place has lots of "branches" and the one I've been to recently is the one closer to home. They have another closer to work. I need to swing by there and see if the pickings are any better.

 

[njl]

I've kept checking from time to time (to see if they've put out any fresh meat). I was in today, and lots more were out. The pickings have gotten better too. Some still have engraving on them, but not all of them, and those that do, it's much more subtle than the ones I looked at a month or two ago. Apparently, these are trade-ins from the Department of Corrections. The big surprise today was several model 14s, not in bad shape, and, IIRC, priced at $349-$499 depending on condition. I've already got a pristine 14, so I didn't spend much time looking at those. I did find a 15-7 with a nice tight cylinder, not too much blue wear, a couple of what might be tiny rust spots, and what look to be original wood grips...and priced at $275 (which is their lowest grade price...i.e. others are $299 or $349 depending on condition). The only reason I could see for this one to be priced that low is the grips are missing some material. I already have a spare Hogue wood monogrip I've been saving for my next K-frame...so I didn't care about the original grips

Also picked up some HKS speed loaders for $2/each and a $5 holster that looks like it was barely used.

edited to correct model 14 pricing

 

[MyDads38]

Sounds like you did well. I'd love to find a decent 15 to have as a shooter. Right now, I'm collecting M&P's; but always looking!

 

[njl]

Here it is, rubbed down with CLP and new and the old grips:

 

[raylan007]

It is always nice to see a model 15 find a nice home. Congrats

 

[CO_Kid]

Just my .02. If I only bought "pretty guns", I'd be without my best shooting gun. Got a 10-6 about 7 or 8 years ago for $150 out the door. Amazing shooter, right to the sights, bright sharp bore, freaking incredible trigger. But the finish looks like it was left in a field for a decade and has the engraving. Former VA DOC gun.

You never know.

 

[waffles]

I picked up this trade in 15 for $295 out the door last year

Note the "speedloader" cut. It's a perfectly functional gun, and one you don't need to worry about banging around in the woods. If you don't really need the $350 you could do a lot worse.

 

[CajunBass]

I picked this one up for $350.00 a month or so ago. No electric pencil engraving on it, but not much blue left either. I cleaned the rust and dried oil crud off it with Flitz, and it looks a lot better. The mechanicals all checked out fine.

The Tyler didn't come with it.





I know people say they know where they can fine nicer ones for less, but I sure can't.

 

[Old Corp]

Working at an LGS about 3 years ago, this 15-3 came in on a trade. Very finish - challenged, but no real rust. Lots of blueing gone, replaced by 'patina'. At the time, I had no M15, so sorta wanted it.
Boss made me pay $150 for it. Shoots really good.

 

[njl]

Finally got to the range with my "new" 15. It's a shooter. I was chronographing, so I was only shooting at 8yds, but of the first cylinder, 5 shots made one big hole. One was a little off and didn't quite touch the hole the others went through.