Model 15's Are They "Special"?

[Peter J.]

I have owned a bunch of S&W's for over 30 years, but here is a question I have often wondered about. Did Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" style revolvers get special treatment like a better than average trigger job before they left the factory? Or are they pretty much just an average Model 10, but with adjustable rear sight?

 

[bmcgilvray]

The Model 15-3 that I have features the trigger stop and a wider hammer spur than Model 10s of the era. That and the adjustable sights appear to be the main difference.

The Model 15 is one of the best handguns for range use that can be had. The thing about Smith & Wesson was that they were all good, from the plebeian Model 10 to the fancy models.

 

[PeterCartwright]

I'll be curious to hear from those "in the know" on this issue. I've been told that the 15 got some extra attention to make its double action smoother. I have a 15-3 and a 10-5. I can't tell any difference between my two K-frames. (They're both very nice.)

PC

 

[Nframe]

I doubt the factory would have spent extra time on them. They would just let the user shoot it to smooth it up or have a local smith/armorer do it.
I have an early 5 screw "pre-15" that is nice but a M10 that has a much nicer action. Its the one I choose to shoot more too because of the action...

Just my opinion.

 

[29aholic]

Here's my nickel pre-15

I gotta admit the trigger is pretty sweet.

To try to answer the question though, to my knowledge Smith never did action jobs to speak except maybe in the order from the factory days.
Thats not to say a worker might have taken extra special care in fitting at times. I have seen identical age 29's where one was like glass and the other atrocious.

As a gun produced predominantly as a service weapon and less expensive model than others logic would dictate if Smith was going to spend more time it would be on the 27's, 29's, etc.

 

[Doug.38PR]

I have a Model-15 from 1971

My dad has a Model-10 from 1971


His action is tighter than mine. But his looks brand new and mine looks like it's seen a lot of use in a cop or security guard's holster. Could have been worked after leaving the factory by a previous owner

 

[bmcgilvray]

Of course the Model 15 Combat Masterpiece was the 4-inch rendition of the K-38 target revolver so it wasn't the bottom-of-the-line Smith & Wesson. It appears that in the early days of its existence the Combat Masterpiece was considered a premium .38 Special lawman's gun.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

I have several, several S&W 38's, ranging frim I/J frames up to K frames.

I have to say, my M15 has the sweetest trigger of all of them. Not counting the M36, no dash, it hasn't been fired. They are all good but the 15 is surely special

 

[Davwingman]

I don't know if this one will be "special" yet. Just picked it up on Mon. It will be getting a range trip come Sunday.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have some 15's, and some model 10's. They feel the same to me, but the 15 is a much cooler revolver.

 

[Wickahoney]

I think this is wishful thinking. S&W makes PRODUCTION revolvers. In 40 plus years I have never read a single piece of factory literature that that says something like "We take special care with this model of revolver and tune the action and trigger on this model to be smoother than all/any similar revolver in our product line".

It's a crap shoot some revolvers just turn out smoother than others.

My smoothest is a transition 4" HD. I've paid hundreds if not thousands of dollars to many of the top smiths and S&W over the years to tune duty guns. None have ever been as smooth or have as glass like break point is this old HD. I suspect it has to do with the zillions of times the trigger has been pulled.

I own a few pre 15 Combat Masterpieces and a few 15s but as a LEO the Model 19 always made more sense to me than the 15. That's just a personal thing.

RWT

 

[tipoc]

Did Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" style revolvers get special treatment like a better than average trigger job before they left the factory?

Nope.

tipoc

 

[pbslinger]

The upside is that when talking about action quality and accuracy of older S&W's, is that all models were at least very good. (newer S&W's may be the same, I just don't know)

I describe them as having better action/triggers, accuracy, and finish than they needed to have for their purpose.

 

[bnewc75]

I have a 15 and a few 10's I'd be hard pressed to say one trigger was better than the other two........ but I do string better groups with the 15

 

[duckloads]

I have 2, model 15's snub's that are a couple of years apart in age. Accuarcy is great on both. I'll have to say that the trigger on my 625-9 MG is so much better. It might be due to use.

The 45 Colt MG has been shot 2k-3k times. One of the 15's has been shot 50 times and the other one about 200 times. Perhaps the MG just got better with use.

My 460 XVR's trigger is so bad, I'm waiting on the shipping lable to send it back to S&W. It was bad when new and 2-300 rounds later it's just as bad. I guess I got off topic a bit.

 

[Srigs]

My Model 15-4 has the best trigger of any gun I own bar none in DA or SA.

My Model 66-1 much heavier but consistent.
My Model 60 is very heavy in DA.
My Model 686-4 2.5" has a great trigger but still not as good as the old Model 15.

 

[bronco45]

As long as you are talkin 15s' let's not forget his stainless brother: the 67

 

[texagun]

here is a question I have often wondered about. Did Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" style revolvers get special treatment like a better than average trigger job before they left the factory? Or are they pretty much just an average Model 10, but with adjustable rear sight?

I think they are just an average Model 10, but with adjustable rear sights. Roy Jinks doesn't make any statements to the contrary in his book, The History of Smith & Wesson.
They are both excellent guns and generally both have excellent identical triggers.

 

[greyhawk178]

I have a pre-15 which was poor cosmetically but great mechanically. I had it reblued and it is really nice now. Since it was/ is a woods gun, I wasn't too worried about the devalue of a reblue. Nice revolver.

 

[wheelert]

I have a model 15-3 that my Grandfather gave me before he passed away. I would not take anything for it due to this but was curious what its worth was.

 

[Zebulon]

Yes they are....the only Snubnosed revolver that shoots like a long barreled Traget gun....Here's another example....Zebulon

 

[Crazy K38]

I have a 15-2 and this gun has become one of my favorites quickly, I got it for doing a tattoo for a client that was pressed for cash but needed the ink, he was happy, i was thrilled, never really appreciated revolvers until this gun came along

 

[coffeebar]

Originally posted by Peter J.:
I have owned a bunch of S&W's for over 30 years, but here is a question I have often wondered about. Did Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" style revolvers get special treatment like a better than average trigger job before they left the factory? Or are they pretty much just an average Model 10, but with adjustable rear sight?

My only handgun is a 4'' 15-7 and i have not tried so many models to speak... but i think is a very good shooter with a light and crisp trigger, maybe better than some 686...and for me one of best looking smiths of all the times

Only problem with mine (made in 1996) is the round-butt design but gun come with uncle mike RB to SQ conversion so is not a big deal

 

[HAWKEYE10]

my model 15-4 is "special" to me. it is unfired but i have been thinking about changing that.

don

 

[Chubbo]

My old Mod.15, Made & bought in 1952. Has shortened S&W smooth target grips,th,tt,red rampfront sight,white outline rear,44oz.trigger pull. My first centerfire pistol. has had bushels of rounds run through it, and is as tight as new.
Chubbo

 

[Walter Rego]

In Roy Jinks' "History of Smith & Wesson", page 179 he discusses the introduction of the Combat Masterpiece Models in .22, .32 and .38 caliber. He states that in the 1950 catalog, the new Combat Masterpiece was described as a "short action, target grade holster gun for law enforcement officers". I have always taken the "target grade" statement as meaning that the revolver had the micrometer adjustable sights, and I believe the trigger stop. That being said, two of my S&W's that have the most perfectly timed actions, and almost imperceptible end play and rotational play when locked are a Model 15-3 from 1977 and Model 27-2
from 1972. However both are from the Bangor Punta era where there was some inconsistency in the quality of the guns. I also had a Model 19-4 from 1978 that hardly had any rounds through it but was timed poorly and a bit loose so I sent it back to S&W a couple years ago for one of their tune ups and it came back perfect, tight, and with the barrel set back for a tighter B/C gap as well. My opinion is that the Model 15's from about 1972 on are like many other models, luck of the draw regarding how well they are put together. No better or worse than a Model 10 from the same period. From post WWII to about 1970 or so, it would be uncommon for any S&W K or N frame not to be assembled, and polished & blued damn near perfectly.

 

[yugolovr]

Special you ask? Of course it is special it is stamped right on the barrel.

Sorry guys couldn't help it.