Brought Home a 15-3 Yesterday

P

pbryant

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Messages
44
Reaction score
56
Location
NE Georgia
While I was at the gun store yesterday I spotted a VERY lightly used model 15-3 in the case that was for sale. I talked to the manager and he said that it had been sitting in the case for the better part of a year, so he cut $50 off the price and I came home with it. Here's a link to a couple of pictures:

Model 15-3 - Album on Imgur

It's a 4" barrel 15-3 with a target hammer and target trigger. The serial number (1K828XX) indicates that it was produced in 1971.

The only issue with this revolver was that the previous owner apparently enjoyed shooting cast lead bullets, but did not enjoy cleaning it. It took the better part of an hour's worth of very determined bore cleaning to get all that lead out, but it finally cleaned up like new!

Unfortunately it didn't come with target stocks. The stock that's numbered matches the serial of the revolver. The side that's not numbered is a bit different in color, so I'm not sure if that's a factory mismatch in stock color, or if it was replaced at some point for whatever reason. Could a color mismatch have happened at the factory?

I added the Tyler T-grip to it myself, but I would like to add a set of target stocks. Which style of target stocks would a 1971-produced Model 15 have left the factory with?

I also have a Model 15-2 from 1966 with its original box that's marked K-38 Combat Masterpiece. Would this 15-3 from 1971 also be a K-38?

Thanks in advance!
Phillip
 
Register to hide this ad
I also have a Model 15 with original Target Hammer and Target Trigger. While those features were less commonly ordered, like Target Stocks it is wrong to presume they were added latter.

There are strongly held opinions on what the same model from different time periods should be called. Mine is that "K-38" without any qualifying words is correct for all .38s built on K frames. However, some like to insist that it is only correct for post WW II target sighted K frame .38s made before model numbers were stamped. Take your pick.

There are ways to remove heavy barrel leading without a lot of elbow grease. One is to wrap a tuft of solid copper Chore Boy dish scrubbing pad around a bore brush. Before buying a different brand use a magnet to verify the pads are not copper plated steel. Another is to buy a Lewis Lead Remover Kit. They've been around since at least the early 1970s so I often see them in boxes of used stuff in gun shops and on gun show tables. They use a round copper screen with a small hole in its center. A cylindrical rubber piece is slipped over a threaded attachment followed by the screen then a knurled nut that presses them against a shoulder expanding the rubber. The screens are also used over a cone shaped piece to clean the forcing cone. A little Chore Boy is faster so I have not looked at my Lewis Lead Remover in a long time.
 
Both panels of your magna stocks are likely original, if they fit properly, even though slightly mismatched in color. That is not uncommon.

Target hammer and trigger could be original. I've seen them come from the factory with and without. I see the trigger stop is still in place.

The period correct target stock for your revolver would be checkered Walnut or Goncalo Alves. You'll want the "football" recess variety; the speedloader cutout came about several years after your gun shipped.
 
Thanks for the help, guys! The trigger on this revolver is a beauty...the 2-stage pull is very mild, and the single action pull is very light and breaks like glass. Probably one of the best triggers I've ever felt. Every bit as good as my 1966 15-2, if not better!

-Phillip
 
Sounds like a great find. I just acquired a 15-2 TH/TT/TS and it has a wonderful trigger both DA and SA. Hard to believe it sat on the shelf for that long!
407a3a4148b4f65195447071261c3318.jpg


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
rbmac52 said:
Both panels of your magna stocks are likely original, if they fit properly, even though slightly mismatched in color. That is not uncommon.

Target hammer and trigger could be original. I've seen them come from the factory with and without. I see the trigger stop is still in place.

The period correct target stock for your revolver would be checkered Walnut or Goncalo Alves. You'll want the "football" recess variety; the speedloader cutout came about several years after your gun shipped.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking the non-diamond target stocks? I think the diamond design had been removed from all the stocks by 1971 when this 15-3 was built, correct?

-Phillip
 
Last edited:
Old method.

pbryant;

I've just reviewed this thread's discussion, including methods of removing barrel leading, due to shooting cast bullets, and being lax in cleaning the barrel regularly.

In interest of the 'history our shooting hobby', I thought you folks might like to hear an old, condemned, method, of lead removal. "I certainly hope that no one will be foolish enough to use this dangerous method"!

Back in the early days of casting, and shooting huge amounts of cast lead bullets, and sometimes shooting soft lead, 'Hot loads', without 'gas checks', lead removal was often needed., as it still is today This was the most often used method. I won't go into exact details, but, here it is.

The bbl. to have lead removed, was plugged from the muzzle to the leaded portion, with a cast material, then mercury was poured into the breach of the bbl. until full. The gun was then sat aside for a time. The mercury, in a short time would complete amalgamated with the lead, and could be poured out, saved, and used again, for this same purpose This method left a bright, clean barrel, with little effort.

"I don't approve of this method"! Before this method was condemned, I did use it many times, still have the components, and lived to be 87. It does tho, give me something convenient to blame for, my "Old Poop Maladies".

Chubbo
 
Diamonds were deleted in the late 60's (1968ish?). So it likely wore non-diamond magnas if shipped in 1971.

Edited to add: Non-diamond checkered football target stocks would be correct for your gun, as well
 
Last edited:
rbmac52 said:
Diamonds were deleted in the late 60's (1968ish?). So it likely wore non-diamond magnas if shipped in 1971.

Edited to add: Non-diamond checkered football target stocks would be correct for your gun, as well
Click to expand...
I'll add that I remember that during the early 1970's when less expensive revolvers like 15s, 28s and 17s were shipped with TT, TH and TS the standard Targets for them were walnut. Goncola [? spelling] Alves went on the more expensive magnums. At some point walnut targets were discontinued and Goncola Alves became standard for all of them.

I presume that at that point American walnut had become more expensive than the next random hardwood the logger came to walking away from his truck in a South American rain forest. ;) Goncola Alves varied so much that it was often described that way.
 
I had a 1971 15-3 with plain sights and trigger, bought unfired from an estate consignment, that had the sweetest trigger pull of any firearm I've ever shot. I don't know what it is about the 15's, but they are simply wonderful shooters. I've seen a lot of talk here calling them the best revolver S&W ever built.
 
Gentlemen, here are a couple of updated pictures of my 15-3. I was able to quickly locate a set of very nice target stocks locally that are of the correct vintage. I believe that these are made of Walnut.

Model 15-3 Target Stocks - Album on Imgur

Much better!

No worries though. The original stocks are safely stored away!

-Phillip
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Max242
Question on correct grips for my 15-3
Replies
12
Views
581
Max242
Max242
W
Dad's Model 15
Replies
8
Views
573
WILDPIG
W
Cotis
my model 15's came home!
Replies
10
Views
886
SGT ROCK 11B
SGT ROCK 11B
s3dcor
An Unusual Model 15
Replies
11
Views
1K
RebCop
R
MGWLLW
K-38 Masterpiece Factory Box Question
Replies
7
Views
411
RKmesa
RKmesa

Latest posts

Back
Top