I was perusing the cases of a local shop and found a nice looking 38 special sitting there. The label said it was a pre-15 38 special and was priced at $250. I have no idea what the pre-15 means and a google search turned up nothing. The revolver is in good condition, a little wear, but still quite good. Would this be a good price for the revolver and might I be better served by saving my pennies and getting a brand new 357 magnum for about $100-150 more? Ruger GP-100's/SP-101's go for about $350-400 in another local shop.
Pre-15 Smith and Wesson in 38 Spec?
- Thread starter thebucket
- Start date
The actual name of the revolver is the "Combat Masterpiece". Later it was renamed the Model 15. This transformation took place in 1957 so the revolver you saw was made before 1957. It is a quality classic piece that many love. It is the short barreled version of S&W target grade revolver. If you want to shoot the .357mag cartridge then by all means by the Ruger, but in my opinion the Pre-15 is a much nicer revolver. If it's in very good to excellent condition it can bring much more than the asking price in some parts of the country.
Bucket,
Simply put, some S&W guns have 3, 4 or 5 screws on the frame.
Look at any pre-1957 S&W revolver. There are usually 5 screws visible on the gun;
#5 was the first to disappear, then #4 shortly thereafter, as I recall. Tamara may know what years these started disappearing.
In collecting, the 5 screw guns are the "oldest" and sought after because they were built by true craftsmen who cared about the quality of their work. Likewise 4-screw models still have much of the hand-fitted quality. Modern "3-screw" models are the by-product of more modern mass production techniques, including CNC machining. Many of the older guns were "Pinned & Recessed" (barrels pinned in place and cylinder's recessed to contain the heads of the cases). The pins disappeared first on 3-screw models circa 1980 and recessed cylinders shortly thereafter.
Simply put, some S&W guns have 3, 4 or 5 screws on the frame.
Look at any pre-1957 S&W revolver. There are usually 5 screws visible on the gun;
- Forward of the trigger, just about below the cylinder's vertical centerline.
- Just aft of the trigger.
- At the rear of the sideplate above the grip frame (often covered by the grips themselves).
- At the top rear of the sideplate, just below-right of the rear sight. These are usually very shallow screws.
- Bolt adjustment screw at the front of the trigger guard, angled up into the frame.
#5 was the first to disappear, then #4 shortly thereafter, as I recall. Tamara may know what years these started disappearing.
In collecting, the 5 screw guns are the "oldest" and sought after because they were built by true craftsmen who cared about the quality of their work. Likewise 4-screw models still have much of the hand-fitted quality. Modern "3-screw" models are the by-product of more modern mass production techniques, including CNC machining. Many of the older guns were "Pinned & Recessed" (barrels pinned in place and cylinder's recessed to contain the heads of the cases). The pins disappeared first on 3-screw models circa 1980 and recessed cylinders shortly thereafter.
Actually, the upper sideplate screw was the first to disappear, in 1955 or thereabouts, followed by the triggerguard screw in 1962.
To expand on this, only Magnums had recessed cylinders, although all the guns had pinned barrels. These two features disappeared about the time of the L-frame's debut, circa 1982. (Although transitional guns will be found, as parts were used up at the plant, such as my 65-2 which has a recessed cylinder, but not a pinned barrel...)
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Later it was renamed the Model 15."
Technically it was never renamed.
The company had been using the model numbers internally for many years before they started putting those numbers on the guns around 1957.
Even after they started stamping the model number on the gun, the company still kept, and used, the Combat Masterpiece name. Same with other guns that spanned the 1957 transition line.
In fact, S&W continued to assign names to new models of revolvers well AFTER 1957, a practice that continues to this day.
Technically it was never renamed.
The company had been using the model numbers internally for many years before they started putting those numbers on the guns around 1957.
Even after they started stamping the model number on the gun, the company still kept, and used, the Combat Masterpiece name. Same with other guns that spanned the 1957 transition line.
In fact, S&W continued to assign names to new models of revolvers well AFTER 1957, a practice that continues to this day.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"To expand on this, only Magnums had recessed cylinders,"
To further expand, only the magnums AND .22s rimfires had recessed cylinders.
To further expand, only the magnums AND .22s rimfires had recessed cylinders.