It happened again.

T

txpossum

New member
It seems like most of my guns are bought when I'm looking for something totally different than what I'm wind up buying. It happened again a couple of weeks ago.

Reading the local facebook gun trading pages, I found a guy who was advertising three guns for sale: a Ruger Mk I made in 1951 (one of the VERY early ones) with 2 mags; a Ruger 10/22 with three 25 round mags; and I Remington Model 11 made in 1922. Plus an extra stock and short barrel for the 10/22. All for . . . $625. Okay, I have a Mk I and a 10/22, but . . . how could I resist a Mk I made in 1951?. I messaged the guy, and thought we had a deal; then he never would finalize on when and where to meet. I got a message from someone else who was having a similar experience with the seller. So, I gave it up,

But was bummed.

So, a couple of days later I stopped by my local gun store to see if I could find anything interesting. After browsing for a few minutes the owner said, "Did you see the Model 15 I took in trade". Um, no, I hadn't seen that yet. He pulled it out, and it was a Smith 15-4, the Combat Masterpiece, the successor to the K-38. The last model with the pinned barrel. And in pristine condition. It looked like it had never been shot. The price: $450.00, which, by todays prices, is not outrageous.

But . . . I was really looking for something that would add some different capability to my collection, and I already have several .38 and/or .357 revolvers. So . . . I went home to think about it.

And later that evening thought: ARE YOU NUTS! A MODEL 15 in excellent condition for under $500 dollars in these prince-inflated times!

So, early next morning I went back to the gun store, and put $300.00 down on it till next payday. (The other $300 of the $600 I had set back for a new gun got snagged by my wife). Picked it up last Friday, but wound up being snagged by something else also (see post in Shotgun sub forum).

So . . . as usual, when I am looking for one thing, I wind up buying something completely different.
 
I've never gone in search of a model 15, but I think at this point I have 4 or 5 of them...one is actually a K-38 and not a model 15. There is just something about them. Take one of the most versatile work horses of a gun - the S&W M&P (model 10) and put a set of adjustable sights one it and you really have a winner!
 
Years and years and, yes, even more years ago, when I shot Bullseye competition a K-38 was my centerfire gun, and some time after I stopped Bullseye I stupidly let my competition guns get bought or traded away. I was young and stupid. But I've always regreted selling the K-38, and wanted another one, but never came across the right deal at the right time.

I ( like many others) really like the older K-frame Smiths.
 
That's a good price, The nice ones are getting rarer. I paid not too much under that for a factory refinished 15-3 in nickel, and I would have paid a little more not to have that star on the back of the cylinder.

There are a few times I've been in the same boat. One time I went in to a pawnshop to see about an elk rifle. Well, they had an m70 stainless in .300 winmag with a vx3 4-12x on it that I picked up..but on the way out I saw an old ww2 ppk that I had to put on layaway...then when I was in to pick up the ppk the pawnshop turned down a sig 556 for $1k so I bought that from the guy in the parking lot. This was when they were just out so they were way over msrp at the time.
Another time I was in my LGS picking up a model 10 I had ordered in and they had a 95% 2 1/2" 1967 .38 Colt diamondback in on consignment for $375. I left with two guns that day.

I've decided to never turn down a gun if I can afford if its something I really want, or a smoking good deal, because it probably won't be there if I change my mind. I've had a few get away like that.
 
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I've missed out on good deals twice at the same store in the past couple of years. About six months ago I found a sporterized 30-40 Kraig that had one of the smoothest actions I've ever felt, and that deep, almost midnight blue bluing that you don't see much any more. It was less that $300. Next time I went back it was gone (of course). Then, about a year or so ago, I walked in and there, sitting on the counter, was a Winchester Model 88 in .308 in very nice condition. I thought it was a little expensive ($800), but thought it over and went back the next day, and it had already been sold.
 
I'm kind of surprised that it was still there

I now live in a rural area of SW Pennsylvania, and vintage Smiths aren't as sought after as, say, a new deer rifle.
 
Ah, OK. That makes sense.

I grew up in the Harrisburg area, but have been in Virginia for going on 30 years. S&Ws move pretty quickly down here. :)
 
Model 15 is under appreciated

Probably because of it being considered the less powerful kid brother to the Model 19.
It is my favorite double action revolver.
 
Probably because of it being considered the less powerful kid brother to the Model 19.
It is my favorite double action revolver.

I also have a Model 19, and of course, it is an excellent handgun. While I appreciate the versatility that being able to fire .357 ammo as well as .38 Special ammo gives, for most purposes I don't need the extra oomph of the .357. Even with regard to self defense, in the last few years I have come around to the view that, generally speaking, I think that something like a .38 Special +P is a better all around self defense round than a .357.

Before you .357 fans jump on me, let me say that I believe a .357 magnum is the best all around handgun around.
 
Ah, OK. That makes sense.

I grew up in the Harrisburg area, but have been in Virginia for going on 30 years. S&Ws move pretty quickly

It would have gone fairly quickly, I think. I lost out on a very nice Winchester Model 88 and a sporterized 30-40 Kraig that had an action like butter and one of the best blue jobs I've seen an a long time because I hesitated.
 
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