Early Inheritance

[Schmidty]

Today, I visited my grandpa whose health is failing. A few years ago, I bought him this S&W model 15-3 when he wanted something for home defense and when he went on trips in his motorhome. I bought it from a guy at work for $220. He bought it for like $200. The story is, the old lady he bought it from had bought it for her son in the early '70's when he got hired as a police officer. He didn't want it, he wanted a .357 instead. So, she threw it in a drawer and there it sat for 30+ years, never seeing the light of day allegedly. After he bought it, he just kept it for awhile in his ginormous safe. He brought it to the range and I watched the first and only 50 rounds get fired through it. I offered to buy it from him a few months later and he sold it to me. I gave it to Grandpa for Christmas. He said it was the best present he had ever got.

The other gun listed is my great-grandfather's Colt Woodsman. He died about 10 years ago and my grandfather inherited it. I cleaned it up a few years ago and gave it back to my grandpa. He always told me I would get them someday, after he goes. He is not doing well and probably does not have much time left. He wanted to give me (and my brother) these guns, and insisted we take them, to make sure we got them before he's gone. He never did get to shoot it. But he did tell us how much he appreciated the gift and it gave him peace of mind having it.

If anybody could do me a favor, I don't have a S&W bible. Could you tell me what year the gun was made? The serial number is 5K359xx. Thanks for looking.

 

[surjimmy]

Can't help you with the gun, but what a great story and your Grandfather will be in our prayers.

 

[neon8]

1973

 

[gunnut2u]

Very nice looking relic.

 

[fyimo]

Great story to go with a great gun.

 

[69HEMI-R/T]

Great story and very nice pistols. Give me all but the last 2 numbers of the Colt Woodsman and I can figure out the year of manufacture for you on it.

 

[Schmidty]

Thanks for the replies and thought about my grandpa. His health has been on the slow decline for years, it has just accelerated. We all know what is coming, and he is the first to talk about it.

69Hemi, the Woodsman serial number is 306xx-S. Hope that helps. The Woodsman is really nice. My grandpa said my great-grandpa used to pick robbins out of trees and carried it around the farm on his hip daily in the same leather holster my grandpa kept it in. It has a lot of holster wear. I will NEVER get rid of it. I brought it home about 8 years or so ago, took it apart and cleaned it up. It had hay (believe it or not) under the grips and was totally crudded up. After cleaning it, I function tested it with 10 rounds I think, cleaned it again and gave it back. Wish I could take my grandpa out to shoot it one last time, but those days or gone.

 

[panamajack310]

Hi, Nice looking guns. That colt woodsman is awsome..I have not seen one in that good of shape in years...The woodsmans were really popular in the 1960's... I think they stopped making them in the late 70's early 80's.

 

[69HEMI-R/T]

The Woodsman would have been manufactured in 1949 and it is a very nice example! I wish you could take your Grandpa out shooting one more tome too!

I have a Colt Challenger (same gun, just cheaper with fixed sights and a few details different) from 1951 and it is a great .22 pistol.

 

[Schmidty]

69Hemi, thanks for the info. Now I can at least pass down the age of the gun to my boys when they get older. Neither of the guns have boxes or anything. The box of ammo seen in the pic with the Woodsman came with the gun though! I am pretty sure it is older than me!

 

[Crazy K38]

Iam sorry to hear about your grandfather and it is nice he gave them to you in person, I have a 15-2 and it is a great gun, I think these guns will give you memories you will cherish for the rest of your life until your kids can take on the tradition

 

[Little Joe]

Kevin,
Those pics are nice, but I can't wait to see them in person! We'll have to put together some "special pleasure" loads if you decide to shoot the 15.
Joe

 

[S.B.]

Schmidty, the guns you speak of are truely treasures but, the true treasures of your story are your grandfather and late great grandfather. No gun can replace their experiences or being able to actually talk with them. I think your doing the correct thing when keeping family treasures of gun, in the family. I'm sure you'll have several stories to pass down, pertaining to these guns, to the next generations of family members.
Steve

 

[hhb]

S&W Mod 15

The grips on the Model 15 are S&W grips, but not original to the revolver.

 

[ElToro]

cant help you with the dates but great story and that 15 is clean. colt woodsmans are pretty neat little semi's as well

3 years ago at Christmas my grandpa who is 95 now gave me his old Belgian auto 5 and my bro his savage 99 in 300 sav

bro lives in Tx and used it on several hunts and sent him some nice game pics of the rifle and an elk and deer.

that january after xmas, i used the A5 to bag a few pheasants. We had my grandparents over for dinner with my folks as well. he told me he bought it for a bird hunt in the 60s and never shot it again. he quit hunting after that. hopefully my son ( hes 1) will get to use it some day for birds. Grampa still has some old winchesters that predate him and have seen lots of use by many men in my family but are fully functional. at least they have stayed in the family. i would love to inherit the .32 special win 94 to kill a deer or pig and share that meal with him before he goes.

 

[Schmidty]

ElToro, that is some good stories. I have several guns now that I have already collected to give to my boys (5 and 7) when they get about 12-14 age. I have 2 Winchester 1894's put away in storage which are shooters, not collectors. I have mine which was my first big caliber when I turned 21. My Dad got that for me. I will NEVER get rid of it. I have several other guns too, all which will be passed on to family members someday. I am only 32, hopefully a long time from now.