my model 15's came home!

[Cotis]

I loaned two model 15's to a good friend in October 2023, they came home last weekend! I have had the 15-3 for a few years, the 15-6 heavy barrel I picked up from my LGS shortly before I loaned it to my friend. I am ashamed to say I have never shot the 15-6, which will change soon.

I read a lot of posts about model 15's, but it seems to be always about ones up to -4s. Never anything about -6s especially. Why is that? I also have never encountered grips like the factory ones on my -6. They are very "square", I am not a huge fan. I do like the heavy barrel, the case colored hammer and trigger, no lock. Why don't these get any love?

 

[bobsguns]

My guess about no-love is maybe there weren't as many built as Model 14s?

No clue about production numbers, FWIW.

 

[JP@AK]

I also have never encountered grips like the factory ones on my -6. They are very "square", I am not a huge fan.

The stocks on your 15-6 are what would have been standard on all Model 15 units except for the 2" variant. The stocks that are now on your 15-3 are not original. They are of the PC type and those were only shipped on the Model 15 if it had the 2" barrel. The PC Magna stocks were originally introduced for the fixed sight guns (i.e., Model 10, etc.). On K target frame guns, only the 2" Model 15 got them and, in the N frame category, they came on the Models 58 and 520.

 

[SLT223]

Please send this picture to Altamont. I think they need to see what proper width looks like…

Nice 15’s. I like how you got a shooter and a high condition example. This principle, more or less, sums up my accumulation issue.

 

[Baxter6551]

You can loan those two beautiful model 15s to me next. I’ll only borrow them for a year I promise. Two beauties for sure.

 

[CALREB]

I got one years ago to pair up with my 17-6. Both are great shooters and makes a nice set.

 

[chief38]

I have three M15's & Combat Masterpiece's and they were, are and will always be my all time favorite target shooting center fire revolver. I'll take them anytime over my M19's, M586, etc. for accuracy, smoothness and handling in a competition. IMHO, the vintage M15 (and earlier Combat Masterpiece) could actually be S&W's highest achievement. Although I deem them too large and heavy for EDC, they would serve excellently as a SD, HD, and general purpose revolver to pretty much anyone who prefers them over Semi Auto's.

If I miss with one of them it's my fault not the gun's. I won't even say how many rounds I have put through them because I have simply lost count. One of them is dedicated to 148 grain wadcutters. Another is dedicated to 158 grain RNL and the older Masterpiece is shot once in a while for fun. Suffice it to say each one has tens and tens of thousands of rounds through it. To my astonishment I have never worn one out and do not even remember having a spring or internal part break!

I've used them for PPC matches, bullseye, informal competitions and weekly target practice. Just GREAT revolvers!!

 

[Zoner]

Mine's a pristine 15-3 with 4" barrel. I like mine with the PC Magnas and a Pachmyar grip adapter.

 

[Cotis]

The stocks on your 15-6 are what would have been standard on all Model 15 units except for the 2" variant. The stocks that are now on your 15-3 are not original. They are of the PC type and those were only shipped on the Model 15 if it had the 2" barrel. The PC Magna stocks were originally introduced for the fixed sight guns (i.e., Model 10, etc.). On K target frame guns, only the 2" Model 15 got them and, in the N frame category, they came on the Models 58 and 520.

JP@AK,
Thank you for the information on the grips. You are 100% correct (as if there was any doubt ) that the grips on the 15-3 are not original. The gentleman who sold it to me was from Nashville, TN and had a small table at a Memphis gun show (it used to be at the Agricenter building and was a great show before the county banned the use of the building for gun shows). He told me that he bought the grips separately to get it "somewhat original" as the revolver had beat up rubber grips on it when he purchased it. It was the only gun at the entire show that I had an interest in and the seller didn't want to go home with it so it worked out well for both of us.

The bluing loss was present on the right side frame plate when I purchased it. Not sure what caused it, something splattered on it. I know blood will do that, will soda also?

The 15-6 had the rear sight blade cranked almost all the way to the right when I received it. I need to shoot it to see why the rear sight was in that position, I hope it was simply a mistake. The barrel doesn't look over or under turned. It shows almost no signs of being fired, I believe it was someone's night stand gun. It along with a model 37 2" had just been traded in to my local gun shop, the manager offered me a great deal if I purchased both so how could I turn that down?!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought my 4" 15-2 from my pastor. He wanted a Deer rifle. He sold it cheap because it wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn. I paid $150 about 18 or 19 years ago. When I got it home, I gave it a good cleaning and threw the 130 grain FMJ by PMC non +P ammo in the junk box. The front sight had big globs of glow in the dark paint in it. It took a few hours to get that removed! With 146 grain full WC ammo it was clover leafing at 10 yards. Just terrible accuracy!

I have a 15 Snubby also but I don't remember the dash number. It shoots better than I can.

My brother had a 14 6" and sold it for squat without offering it to me. That cost him a little extra when he wanted a 37 (dash unknown) I had sitting around.

Ivan

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I loaned two model 15's to a good friend in October 2023, they came home last weekend! I have had the 15-3 for a few years, the 15-6 heavy barrel I picked up from my LGS shortly before I loaned it to my friend. I am ashamed to say I have never shot the 15-6, which will change soon.

I read a lot of posts about model 15's, but it seems to be always about ones up to -4s. Never anything about -6s especially. Why is that?

Why don't these get any love?

The 15-6 were produced after 1988 and by then most Law Enforcement agencies had jumped on the 9mm Bandwagon or was moving that way.

Another thing was when the 686 came out in 1981 that was what most cops wanted.