S&W M-15-4(Nickel(Snubbie)NIB Condition(Without box & papers!)?

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boa2

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S&W M-15-4 nickel(Snubbie)NIB condition(Without box & papers!)questions as follows:

1)Were very many of these nickel m-15-4's(Snubbie's!)made? This gun dates to 1973?

2)Do these M15-4(Snubbie's)bring much(If any?)of a premium(Over a blued 15-4 snubbie?)?

3)What would be the going selling price(On average?)for an M15-4 nickel(Snubbie)?

4)Are these M15-4(Snubbie's)just a good shooter type gun(Or are these collectible?)?

5)Opinions please?
 
Almost all M15s are shooters. Accurate, smooth actions and a refined 38 Special. I have not seen a nickel snub M15 myself. No box, papers or cleaning kit makes it incomplete as a collectible. I would probably consider it myself. I wouldn't give over $350.00 for it myself. It is a neat little 6 shot K frame 38 Special. I have a 2" M10 for my snub 38 Special. I just don't see adjustable sights being a bonus on snub revolvers. If you want it, go for it. I would pass it by.
 
Boa,

This wouldn't happen to be a nice little specimen from last weekend's Cow Palace gun show (SF Bay Area) would it? Or a dealer in the NorCal area who was there? Gun show price as I recall was $400 and I hesitated at that.

Typically the nickle guns cost only about $15 to $20 more when new but historically fetched higher prices if the finish was in good shape. Why? Because too often the nickle deteriorates -- spots, chips, cracks & peeling. Look at any old single action circa 1888 that used to be nickle plated. Thus, a nickle gun in excellent condition was shot very little and cared for like fine jewelry.

I usually avoid nickle guns for the problems associated with their finishes as noted above. I think it's easier to care for a blued gun. Nickle on a carry gun will be very visible if your coat/cover gapes; it will reflect light at night/darkness perhaps when you least want it. For what it's worth, they're dandy as a BBQ gun, for a ceremonial event or as a presentation piece for someone.
 
S&W M-15-4 nickel(Snubbie)NIB condition(Without box & papers!)questions as follows:
1)Were very many of these nickel m-15-4's(Snubbie's!)made? This gun dates to 1973?
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The 15-4 is a 1977 gun. The change was in the gas ring. Supica, "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson".

2)Do these M15-4(Snubbie's)bring much(If any?)of a premium(Over a blued 15-4 snubbie?)?
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Supica does not list a premium. He usually does if it is merited.

3)What would be the going selling price(On average?)for an M15-4 nickel(Snubbie)?
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Excellent Condition is $275, VG is $200, Good is $165. Supica, et al.
It's not NIB unless it has a box. The snubbie configuration would cause me to consider an extra $20 or so because I like snubbies. The nickel would negate that extra $20 because it is incongruous with a concealed carry gun such as a snubby. If the nickel is looking bad, it would actually subtract more than the snubbie barrel would add, at least for me.

4)Are these M15-4(Snubbie's)just a good shooter type gun(Or are these collectible?)?
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If you are going for collectibility in a Model 15, look towards a K38 Combat Masterpiece. 5 Screws. Like this one, but better condition.
SmithWessonK38.jpg

This one was a deal for me because the finish wear made it into a shooter. For me, a shooter is a 4-6 inch barrel, with the 4 inch leaning more towards general purpose. Snubbies are carry guns.

5)Opinions please?
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This could be a fun gun, but to me, the snubbie barrel and nickel finish work against each other. One screams carry gun, the other BBQ gun. The only way to reconcile the two is to make it into a pimp gun. Pimp guns can be fun, but they aren't my cup of tea. For that reason, I would probably pass, but if the price was a steal, I could likely be convinced.
 
K-38 with four-inch barrel?

XavierBreath:

1)I know where there is a K38(5-screw)in the original "Gold" box! It has been fired a little-but it looks to be in nice shape! The Gun Shop wants $525 for this revolver! Would this gun, still be considered to be much of a collectible gun(Since being lightly shot?)? It has the original diamond grips! No papers in the box though!

2)How was the bluing done on these older K38's? This one has a bluing that's not as "Bright" as some of the S&W blue guns that I've seen? Were these K38's blued with a slightly less bright bluing(More subdued, like a Service type revolver?)or were these guns, done with both types of bluing as they originally came from the S&W factory?
 
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Boa,
All I can do is list Supica's prices for a K38. He lists a NIB K38 Combat Masterpiece, blue or nickel, NIB (with box :p and unfired) at $375. Supica is considered the authority on used S&W pricing, so I would say the price on that example is at least $150 to high (but in line with some on the K38 asking prices I've seen).

One thing I have learned swapping S&W wheelguns is that the regional prices can vary considerably. A K38 that won't go for $200 in one area commands $400 in another. There is also currently a slow and steady trend to the prices going up across the board. I attribute this to the new S&W wheelguns just being ugly and shooters seeing the value in a used S&W. To get a feel for regional pricing, you really have to do the pawn shop and gun show tour for a while. What I did was get a small bound journal that I record the particulars of various finds in. It is a great resource now. I still record prices rather than buy right away (most of the time :D ), and it allows me to recall what I saw a year or two ago accurately. Looking at it, I can say that the K38 above was on a pawn shop shelf priced at $250. I took it home for $179.

I have one old gun dealer, Cowboy Bob, who loves his Colt SAA guns and lives in the sticks. He's got some great engraved Colts. He thinks S&W "ain't worth spit". He's a great example of regional pricing. I love going to his place.
 
Oh, I wanted to add, in gun collecting, for a long time there has been the chase for the most mint example of a particular piece. To me that is insanity. It's a quick way to the poorhouse. What is the purpose of having a gun you can't shoot? It's like having a motorcycle you can't ride, a lake you can't fish, or a box of fried chicken you can't eat. Collecting guns like that is a never ending rat race.

I consider myself to be a shooter who accumulates a lot of guns. I'm no collector. If you get a "collectible" gun I advise you to get one you will shoot. When I bought a M27 that was practically NIB to pass on to my son at a later date, I took it to the range and punched holes with it. I put some nice wood Hogues on it. (In fact, that K38 has a nice wood Hogue Monogrip on it now.) I have a Nagant that I haven't shot, but if I find Nagant ammo, it's going in the range bag. Guns are for shooting. I recently bought a Colt Police Positive that just may have a significant historical background, as in belonging to a notable/notorious person. I'm waiting on a Colt letter to verify and begin the tracking process that would prove the history of this revolver. Know what? I've shot it, and I will shoot it some more whether it's attributable or not.

Buy your guns for pleasure, not investment. Look at price lists to make sure you don't get shafted, not with an eye to a future sale. In the end, you will be a lot happier.

The 5 screw K38 Combat Masterpiece is a "collectible" gun in that it is a very nice, shootable gun that will never be made again. It's bluing is more subdued than the highly polished "flowing like oil" bluing on a M27. As a wonderful shootable all purpose accurate revolver, it's my favorite. It's DA trigger pull is only matched by the old M&Ps. I'm glad I found a good deal on one that I never feel guilty about shooting. It would be tough to not shoot a K38!
 
The few nickeled M15 2 inchers I have seen have all been M15-3. I think I once saw somewhere that is the only early version that came in nickel. I know you don't see them often so they may venture over in the collectors corner.
Good condition I would price them at $300 to $375 with no box or extras.
 
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