I posted this in Harley Nolans forum and didn't get an answer. I thought I'd move it here and see if anybody knows as I'm really curious.
A friend was showing me a gun his father left him. Its a K-frame S&W .38 spl with adj. sights and a four inch heavy barrel that was bought in 1968. For all intents and purposes, its the Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. The gun is in excellent condition having maybe 200 rounds put through it in its whole life.
Here's the thing, the gun is marked Model 14. The books I have say that the only difference between the 14 and 15 is the barrel length. 14s should have six inch barrels and 15s should have four inch barrels. He has the original box and sales reciept which confirm that this is indeed a Model 14 with a four inch barrel.
So, the question is, does the fact that the factory marked this gun wrong add any to its value? Does it give it any special collector's value? Or is it just a fine old revolver that he can just shoot and enjoy?
A friend was showing me a gun his father left him. Its a K-frame S&W .38 spl with adj. sights and a four inch heavy barrel that was bought in 1968. For all intents and purposes, its the Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. The gun is in excellent condition having maybe 200 rounds put through it in its whole life.
Here's the thing, the gun is marked Model 14. The books I have say that the only difference between the 14 and 15 is the barrel length. 14s should have six inch barrels and 15s should have four inch barrels. He has the original box and sales reciept which confirm that this is indeed a Model 14 with a four inch barrel.
So, the question is, does the fact that the factory marked this gun wrong add any to its value? Does it give it any special collector's value? Or is it just a fine old revolver that he can just shoot and enjoy?