New (to me) model 15-3 {pics now hosted @ Photobucket }

[twilson66]

Picked it up at a gun show today...locks up "bank vault" tight..no movement at all.
Finish is near 100% (maybee this gun has been re-blued,how can you tell?)
Barrel is pinned but cylinder not recessed (is this correct?)
Stocks are magnas...look really nice except for 2 chips at the bottom.
I'd like to get a idea as to the age..the serial is 6k782xx
Will post pics this pm.
Thanks to all of your help in the Classified and 1857 to 1945 board.

 

[twilson66]

Picked it up at a gun show today...locks up "bank vault" tight..no movement at all.
Finish is near 100% (maybee this gun has been re-blued,how can you tell?)
Barrel is pinned but cylinder not recessed (is this correct?)
Stocks are magnas...look really nice except for 2 chips at the bottom.
I'd like to get a idea as to the age..the serial is 6k782xx
Will post pics this pm.
Thanks to all of your help in the Classified and 1857 to 1945 board.

 

[deanodog]

I bought a model 15-3 in almost new condition EXCEPT someone had improperly stored it and it had a few small pits. I bought it cheap and it is a very nice shooter and is very accurate. One of my favorite guns.

 

[devilfrog1911]

Based on the number, it looks like a '74 vintage. You are correct, BTW, that the 15-3 was pinned but not recessed. The pinned barrel was eliminated in '82 with the 15-5 series.

The M15s are by far my favorite 38. You'll love it.

Let's see some pics.

 

[photoman]

1975. Pinned barrel with no recess is correct as none of the non-magnum production K's got recessed cylinders.

I just bought a 1971 Model 15-3 yesterday. Look forward to shooting it.

 

[S42N8]

The rebluing thing can be tricky. Best way I've found is to look at the high-wear areas (muzzle, cylinder edges, frame edges) and compare to the rest of the gun. If they're all blued, no nicks and look the same color, you either found a nightstand gun or a reblue. Saw a Model 10 (pencil barrel) at the gun show today and it was gorgeous...great color, smooth rollmarks, pretty gun. Had to ask about it; a Ford's reblue. (Actually, a great testimonial for Ford's....)

 

[twilson66]

Thanks to all who replied...added pics a few min ago.
The finish is very even...may just be all origional.
I had heard of ppl saying there guns locked up "bank vault" tight, but never realized what they were talking about till I checked this one!
The balance of this gun is unreal, absolutly perfect. (I also now know what all the fuss was about when I heard ppl bragging on this weapon)
Thanks again

 

[steve a.]

As mentioned a few minutes ago in another thread, yep, I need one just like that one....

 

[texagun]

Beautiful gun! If that gun has been re-blued, I would be very surprised. If it has, someone has done an excellent job on it.

 

[Blackcloud2]

twilson66, I might have missed it in the posts, but have you actually fired the gun yet? If not, you're in for a pleasant outing! I've said this before, but for my taste, the K-frames seen to have the very smoothest of actions. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

 

[photoman]

<span class="ev_code_RED">FYI: Guys! I clicked on the above pictures hosted on Imageshack last night and my computer was attacked BAD! Multiple spyware programs and a possible virus were downloaded onto my primary computer and it is now completely inoperable. Just a friendly warning.</span>

 

[Blackcloud2]

Photoman, thanks for the heads-up! When I looked at it this morning, I had some strange things happen. I'm logging off now and do a complete scan.

 

[m657]

ANOTHER VIRUS alert: I clicked on "larger image" and got some kind of social romance connection...hard to click away from it, it kept coming back.

 

[twilson66]

I removed the photos due to the virus issue...sorry about that, I wasnt aware.

 

[Blackcloud2]

I'm back and nothing malicious was detected, but I could have shut it down on some of my defenses. I run more protection programs than is the norm (I'm in the business of keeping crap out of computers!) so it might have been deflected, but I did see something odd this morning. Viruses aside, twilson66, you're moving on a good and prosperous path with the Model 15!

 

[twilson66]

Thanks, I cant wait to shoot it. Guess that will have to wait till tomorrow. Like I stated before, Ive always heard that some guns lock up bank vault tight but utill I got this one I did'nt really know what that ment.I have examined it really closely now and I dont think its been re-blued. As a matter of fact I dont believe its been shot much at all (might well have been a nightstand gun as another postere stated)The only imperfection I have found is a slight hammer rub agaist the frame...it looks like its comming from a burr where the sideplate meets the frame. Im really stoked..I went to the gunshow yesturday looking for just this model, imagine my suprise when it was on the first table and the owner was in a trading mood!

 

[TiroFijo]

twilson66,

this is a beautiful gun, enjoy!