S & W K-38 Combat Masterpiece Revolver Model no. 15 and accessories.... Value ?

14daMoney

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Thinking of parting ways with my old service weapon. Not sure what the value of the gun, and accessories might be, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Prefer to sell as a package deal, but might consider separating if the offers are right...
Thanks in advance....
 

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Thinking of parting ways with my old service weapon. Not sure what the value of the gun, and accessories might be, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Prefer to sell as a package deal, but might consider separating if the offers are right...
Thanks in advance....
Ok, I'll give it a go. It's just my opinion....The revolver is early 70's. It shows the marks and scars of honest work. It's a shooter with the box (a bonus). I assume the box serial number is the same as the gun. Now, the M15-3 did not come standard with a red ramp front site but could have been ordered with one from the factory. Your M15 has a red ramp front site and the box shows RR for red ramp front site but in a different color than the rest of the ink. So, I have a couple of thoughts before I say a price.
You mention it was your duty gun. To me that means Law Enforcement of some sort. Was your duty weapon ordered by your employer and shipped to them? If so, they could have requested the target trigger, target hammer, and red ramp from the factory. Combine the factory ordered options and the shipment to a LE agency and the price drives up as there are many collectors who chase duty guns. Now, if you bought the gun yourself at a gun store then had the armorer add the front red ramp site, its cool, but not near as cool as factory done.
If ordered from the factory and shipped to LE agency the gun would sell for $600-$900 around here, more with factory letter for provenance and more for a collector who really wants that particular LEA gun.
If it was a store bought gun, then tastefully had the site altered, it should easily see $500, give or take a hundred. Its a shooter after all.
The holster and leather duty belt stuff is not my forte but I believe you could add $50-100. The well used target stocks, maybe $25-$45. The pachmayrs maybe another $25.
If it was your duty weapon and all your duty gear, in my opinion, it should stay together.
Others may chime in with price estimates as well. Just giving you my opinion from what I see locally. If I saw this locally, I would try to acquire it.
Hank
 
I think that you will regret selling your duty weapon. It will have more sentimental value to you or your family than it will to any other person. I really like the complete package. I agree with Hank on his value assessment.
 
Agree that if is your service weapon, keep it.

As for value. Around me if it was a LE gun delivered to a Le agency, $1000. Because of the box and accessories. If it was from a gun shop, $750.
 
Ok, I'll give it a go. It's just my opinion....The revolver is early 70's. It shows the marks and scars of honest work. It's a shooter with the box (a bonus). I assume the box serial number is the same as the gun. Now, the M15-3 did not come standard with a red ramp front site but could have been ordered with one from the factory. Your M15 has a red ramp front site and the box shows RR for red ramp front site but in a different color than the rest of the ink. So, I have a couple of thoughts before I say a price.
You mention it was your duty gun. To me that means Law Enforcement of some sort. Was your duty weapon ordered by your employer and shipped to them? If so, they could have requested the target trigger, target hammer, and red ramp from the factory. Combine the factory ordered options and the shipment to a LE agency and the price drives up as there are many collectors who chase duty guns. Now, if you bought the gun yourself at a gun store then had the armorer add the front red ramp site, its cool, but not near as cool as factory done.
If ordered from the factory and shipped to LE agency the gun would sell for $600-$900 around here, more with factory letter for provenance and more for a collector who really wants that particular LEA gun.
If it was a store bought gun, then tastefully had the site altered, it should easily see $500, give or take a hundred. Its a shooter after all.
The holster and leather duty belt stuff is not my forte but I believe you could add $50-100. The well used target stocks, maybe $25-$45. The pachmayrs maybe another $25.
If it was your duty weapon and all your duty gear, in my opinion, it should stay together.
Others may chime in with price estimates as well. Just giving you my opinion from what I see locally. If I saw this locally, I would try to acquire it.
Hank
I bought the gun in 1971 "as is" brand new from a gun dealer shop, box serial number matches' weapon. Used it originally working in security, then during my first few years in LE. I only swapped out the original grips for the larger ones, then to the Pachmayr's when they became available, much better in all weather conditions. I practiced with it a lot, and it will drive tacks.

??? ".....Your M15 has a red ramp front site and the box shows RR for red ramp front site but in a different color than the rest of the ink." Not sure what you mean by the rest of the ink...? The box seems to show several different ink colors and hand writing styles....

Oh ya, this one is a virgin, it never shot anyone..... 😱
 
I bought the gun in 1971 "as is" brand new from a gun dealer shop, box serial number matches' weapon. Used it originally working in security, then during my first few years in LE. I only swapped out the original grips for the larger ones, then to the Pachmayr's when they became available, much better in all weather conditions. I practiced with it a lot, and it will drive tacks.

??? ".....Your M15 has a red ramp front site and the box shows RR for red ramp front site but in a different color than the rest of the ink." Not sure what you mean by the rest of the ink...? The box seems to show several different ink colors and hand writing styles....

Oh ya, this one is a virgin, it never shot anyone..... 😱
I was pointing out the different color ink just to show that it was added at a different time than the rest of the label. For example, the store you bought it from may have ordered the red ramp so S&W may have pulled the gun from inventory, installed the red ramp and then indicated RR in ink at that time. The point being, the RR was not standard. Some PDs ordered yellow ramps on their sites. Its just different seeing that front site on a M15.
Hank
 
I was pointing out the different color ink just to show that it was added at a different time than the rest of the label. For example, the store you bought it from may have ordered the red ramp so S&W may have pulled the gun from inventory, installed the red ramp and then indicated RR in ink at that time. The point being, the RR was not standard. Some PDs ordered yellow ramps on their sites. Its just different seeing that front site on a M15.
Hank
Ok, I never worked in a gun shop or at S & W so I'm pleading ignorance . . . . Thanks for all your info!
 
Very nice 15! If I saw that package for sale locally I'd pay up to $1k if it talked to me. Must be why I have so many 15s aka Combat Masterpieces. Especially with the full target packages. First revolver I ever shot and still my favorite. :)
 
My opinion is based on working gun shows & gun shops full or part-time for over 30 years. I know how to sell guns & to trade guns.

While a nice gun, it doesn't really bring anything exceptional to the table. Not that that's a bad thing, those are exactly the kind of guns *I* like to buy. In the South, that gun would probably sell for $650-700 retail. The police accessories bring nothing to the deal for the average buyer. We civilians don't collect police gear, we don't want to pay for it either. We just want the gun & box.

So pricing the gun higher due to the gear will eliminate a good % of the potential buyers, IMO. Few would be willing to pay the extra scratch for the gear & then sell it off in the hope of whittling down the purchase price. For the average Joe-Bob? Entirely not worth it, IMO.

The Southern price I quoted would be a bit higher than found in the NE, NW, etc. The South seems to appreciate good, used Smith revolvers more.

Put it on Gun Broker & let 'er roll!
 

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