Smith 15-3 Unfired from Factory?

[Quiet Man]

I have this little 15-3 4" bbl revolver in nickel finish. Picked up from an estate sale. Still has original numbered box and instructions. I can find no signs of wear or use. After taking a longer look I see evidence of every other cartridge hole in the cylinder have powder burns on the face of the barrel side. Inside the cylinder all holes are clean. I know Smith did 3 shot factory testing before shipping and it seems they did load and fire every other charging hole in the cylinder. Based on the condition of the revolver, and because it still resides in its original box, I may be the first to fire it outside the factory? ... If I decide to do so. It would come in handy as a signal mirror. 1970 vintage..

 

[skippysanchez]

Nice. Any turn rings on the cylinder?

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[Inusuit]

Sweet gun. 15s are my favorite revolver. Was my first centerfire handgun. I now have a couple including blued one in the box. Not as nice as yours.

 

[WardenRoss]

Pure green with envy!

 

[mchom]

WOW! Such a cool find. Like stepping back to the 70's for a bit... Congratulations

 

[Retired W4]

Yep, signal mirror.

Beautiful revolver. I recently found it's younger sibling (-4) in like condition. Enjoy.

 

[Gdogman]

Very nice looking gun. I have a thing for NICKEL!!!

Thanks for sharing

 

[stansdds]

Congratulations! You do appear to have come into possession of a new, in the box, factory nickel plated, 4 inch barrel Model 15-3. Yours does not have a diamond around the stock screw hole, so yours is not 1967 (first year production for the 15-3), but would have been produced somewhere in the 1968 to 1977 time frame.

I know the temptation to shoot it is great, but it is NIB and is only NIB so long as it remains unfired, in new condition, and with its box and documents. Even though Model 15's are not always considered big collector items, those that are NIB are worth more than those that have been used or those that no longer have their original box and docs. Keep that in mind before shooting that Model 15-3.

 

[Model19man]

Looks nice. If it were mine I would have to take it to the range. No new guns are going to be at my estate sale.

 

[Rpg]

Over the years I've had two nickel Smiths in similar condition.

The first was long ago, before I learned what little I know about Smiths. I set about cleaning the carbon deposit on every other chamber mouth, thus removing the best evidence that it had only been fired at the factory. I also dry fired it enough to begin creating the ring we all recognize on Smith cylinders. I successfully created a used gun from a pristine NIB example. I sold it eventually.

The second (a Detroit PD 10-4) I encountered more recently. By then, I knew better than to remove the carbon deposits or cycle the action and create the cylinder ring. I couldn't justify shooting it (I had plenty of guns to shoot) so I sold it too.

 

[JP@AK]

Yours does not have a diamond around the stock screw hole, so yours is not 1967 (first year production for the 15-3)

First, the OP indicated that his revolver dates to approximately 1970, so the point is actually moot.

That said, the management order to eliminate the diamond on K frame regular Magna stocks was issued on January 11, 1966 (earlier on the PC Magna). Hence, it is entirely possible that a 1967 K frame revolver could have non-diamond stocks.

 

[sophie]

Congratulations on finding that Model 15-3 in nickel. Front of the cylinder sure looks like factory test fired only. What a beauty.

 

[Engineer1911]

It is a beautiful revolver. Are there collectors willing to pay the "premium" for NIB & unfired to offset the angst of not shooting the gun yourself?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I have this little 15-3 4" bbl revolver in nickel finish. Picked up from an estate sale.

1970 vintage..

Great find. Original owner was likely a collector.

Model 15s are great revolvers.

 

[Miracle Man]

So very SWEET! I don't know if I'd shoot something like that or not?

Congratulations

 

[TJm15.38]

That's a beautiful handgun. I love the model 15.

 

[H Richard]

I know I would have difficulty not shooting it. Even though I have others to shoot. The 15 of that vintage is one of the best guns S&W ever made in my opinion. You know they made a "good one" look at the period over which they continued to make them. 1967-1977.

 

[Alice The Cat]

The model 15 is my absolute favorite revolver. A blued 2" like H Richard's is next on my overall wish list but I love the nickel.

Pictured with Culina purple hearts and Bigmtnmans grips.