OK, do I need a S&W M15? Tell me why.

To trade(Or, not to trade?)Ruger RST4 for S&W M14-3(K-38)?

Sir William:

Yikes! I errored in my above posting;

I should have said that the S&W M14-3 that I'm looking at, is a K-38(.38 Special)and not a K-22! I mistakenly said it was an M17-3(.22 cal.)K-22! What is your advice now about trading my Ruger RST4 for this S&W M14-3? Please comment again? Thanks!
 
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Uh, oh, well that is a different kettle of fish! I see K38s rarely. When they come on the market, they are snapped up. Forget asking for any knd of negotiating room. The last one I saw was a shooter and it went for more than $400.00. A nice condition K38 without modifications should be considered a collectible. I can only give a generic reply but, I would not be surprised to find out that K38 would be worth twice what your Ruger is. In the future, the K38s are just going to be found in estate auctions. The K38 values are one reason I am getting this M15. I haven't found a decent K38 at a price I can justify. I would take that trade if the package was complete enough. The usual, box, papers and after I got it , I would get a Jinks letter. Some "K38s" were lunchbox sneaks. Jinks won't letter them.
 
Forget asking for any knd of negotiating room. The last one I saw was a shooter and it went for more than $400.00. A nice condition K38 without modifications should be considered a collectible. I can only give a generic reply but, I would not be surprised to find out that K38 would be worth twice what your Ruger is.
Click to expand...

We sold a cherry early '70s-vintage K-38, complete with box & docs, at the last shop I worked at for $385. It didn't last long at that price... Oddly, the person who bought it did not purchase the identical (down to the condition and year-of-manufacture) K-22 right next to it.
 
The Model 15's most often seen are old police/security guns that have been traded in and their condition ranges from very good to beat to s**t. I picked up a used M15 for $250 that showed only minor holster wear and it was an excellent shooter.

The K-38 (model 14) is essentially a 6" barreled M15 with a partridge front sight instead of the Baughman ramp front sight. Most of these were purchased by target shooters and pampered in collections.

The Model 15 was offered in 4" and 2" barrel lengths while the M14 was offered in 6" and 8 3/8" versions. An old gun digest I have, (c)1968, lists the price of the Model 15 at $97.50 and the Model 14 at 107.50!! :eek:
 
RST4 for M14-3(To trade or not?)?

1)Well, although the S&W M14-3 in question, is nice(98%)there is no box or papers with it!

2)I still need help in deciding to trade my 100% Ruger RST4(1 of 5,000).22 pistol(Complete with all boxes and papers!)directly accross, for the M14-3? Please comment some more, regarding this "Potential")trade?

3)I did hear sombody report to me, that there were too many K-38's(M14's!)out there, to consider them to be regarded much of a "Collectible"(And, this is furthur "Confusing" me, on this issue!)? Please comment on this again, also?

4)Yikes! Decisions? Decisions????
 
Do you NEED a Model 15? No. Would you ENJOY one? Probably.

I got lucky a few months ago on a 1970s Model 14. Maybe 85% blue and a great shooter off an auction site for $165. Four years a go I snagged a police trade-in M15 in 95% for $185 at a gunshow from a dealer who had about 100 of them he bought from the sheriff's office. They were in use for only 3-5 years before dumped for autos so most looked real good.
 
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