Who has a 6 inch M15?
- Thread starter RogerC
- Start date
We need one of the gurus to give us the straight skinny, but I believe that M14's were intended to be target guns, and M15's combat guns.
Most M15's were produced in 4 inch service length.
Most M14's were 6 inches and some longer. I have a 8 3/8 inch M14.
Most M14's have Patridge front sights.
Most M15's have ramp front sights. like Model 19's.
When they quit making the M14 there were some long barreled M15's made , but not a whole bunch.
Then they re-introduced the M14 with a full inderlug barrel, and stopped making long barreled M15's.
I think....
Somebody help me out here!!!
Most M15's were produced in 4 inch service length.
Most M14's were 6 inches and some longer. I have a 8 3/8 inch M14.
Most M14's have Patridge front sights.
Most M15's have ramp front sights. like Model 19's.
When they quit making the M14 there were some long barreled M15's made , but not a whole bunch.
Then they re-introduced the M14 with a full inderlug barrel, and stopped making long barreled M15's.
I think....
Somebody help me out here!!!
Early 14 (short underlug) K-38
6 or 83/8" barrel, patridge front and Micrometer Target rear.
Also available as single action.
Later 14 (full lug) 6" barrel only one catalogued.
Model 15..38 Combat Masterpiece.(Not K-38) 2, 4, 6 or 83/8" barrels. Baughman quick draw front on plain ranp. Adjustable rear. Long barrel available from 86-99.
"Most" is a good term. In the Bangor Punta days I sometimes would order a gun with non catalogued front sight. No problem and no "custom shop" or "performance center" price tag.
Sam
6 or 83/8" barrel, patridge front and Micrometer Target rear.
Also available as single action.
Later 14 (full lug) 6" barrel only one catalogued.
Model 15..38 Combat Masterpiece.(Not K-38) 2, 4, 6 or 83/8" barrels. Baughman quick draw front on plain ranp. Adjustable rear. Long barrel available from 86-99.
"Most" is a good term. In the Bangor Punta days I sometimes would order a gun with non catalogued front sight. No problem and no "custom shop" or "performance center" price tag.
Sam
Roger,
I've got one, but I can't take of picture of it right now. It's over at www.cyinder-slide.com getting some minor improvements.
Fun gun!! I'm sure you're gonna like it...
Joe
I've got one, but I can't take of picture of it right now. It's over at www.cyinder-slide.com getting some minor improvements.
Fun gun!! I'm sure you're gonna like it...
Joe
Radicalcleric
New member
That's a M14 not a M15. The M15 was made only in 2" and 4" with a ramped front sight. The M14 was the same frame but available in 6" and 8 & 3/8 barrels. The only difference is the barrel and front sight (well, the M14 may have had a trigger-stop lacking in t he M15). If it is marked M15 then either the barrel has been changed, or the frame is mismarked. Happens quite a lot with S&Ws as the frames are the same on so many models they often stamped the wrong model number. It happened so often, in fact, that collectors will not pay extra for such a gun despite what some dealers will tell you.
SaxonPig,
It IS an M15.
I have the box and papers.
The serial number matches the box.
Box says M15....
Model No. 015
Ser # BHJ04xx
Product Code 100411
Spec Ord 1238
Barrel 6
Fin B
Stock SB
That's one of the reasons I snagged it. Not something I've seen.
I doubt it's anything "collectable", but out of the ordinary, maybe.
NIB too.
....but not for long
It IS an M15.
I have the box and papers.
The serial number matches the box.
Box says M15....
Model No. 015
Ser # BHJ04xx
Product Code 100411
Spec Ord 1238
Barrel 6
Fin B
Stock SB
That's one of the reasons I snagged it. Not something I've seen.
I doubt it's anything "collectable", but out of the ordinary, maybe.
NIB too.
....but not for long
Mike Irwin
Staff
I'm certain that the Model 15 was offered in 6", but I don't have my books here at work.
Matter of fact, I'm not so certain that there weren't several runs of 5" Model 15s made on special order.
Matter of fact, I'm not so certain that there weren't several runs of 5" Model 15s made on special order.
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
Interesting- - -
I had never known that S&W made a six-inch M15. Always understood that the M15 was just the K38 (M14) made with 4", and later 2", bbl, for ease in carry. It was cataloged as the Combat Masterpiece, and, of course, was only in .38 Special. When they shortened the barrel, they also made the rib atop the barrel narrower, to reduce weight for everyday holster use.
The saga of the Combat Magnum is well known--Just a M15 with longer cylinder and under-lugged barrel. They widened the top rib, too, presumably to reduce muzzle flip with the magnum loads.
Some years ago, a friend who ran a security guard company in Dallas area bought several K-38 4" guns. I at first thought they were cut back target guns, but, no, on close examination, these were factory barrels, wide rib and all. About the only thing we could figure, was that this was part of a run for competetion in "Police Service Revolver" matches, where standard-length guns had to be used. Extra barrel weight would help . . . .
I didn't know this "cross dressing" also went the other direction.
Learn something new every day.
Best,
Johnny
I had never known that S&W made a six-inch M15. Always understood that the M15 was just the K38 (M14) made with 4", and later 2", bbl, for ease in carry. It was cataloged as the Combat Masterpiece, and, of course, was only in .38 Special. When they shortened the barrel, they also made the rib atop the barrel narrower, to reduce weight for everyday holster use.
The saga of the Combat Magnum is well known--Just a M15 with longer cylinder and under-lugged barrel. They widened the top rib, too, presumably to reduce muzzle flip with the magnum loads.
Some years ago, a friend who ran a security guard company in Dallas area bought several K-38 4" guns. I at first thought they were cut back target guns, but, no, on close examination, these were factory barrels, wide rib and all. About the only thing we could figure, was that this was part of a run for competetion in "Police Service Revolver" matches, where standard-length guns had to be used. Extra barrel weight would help . . . .
I didn't know this "cross dressing" also went the other direction.
Learn something new every day.Best,
Johnny
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
Additional - - -
Back in the glory days of PPC matches, it was popular to trick out a six-inch M19 for competetion--Often with a big-ole Bomar rib screwed to the top. Natrually, everyone shot the 148 gr. wadcutter loads.
There was a time when some people were interpretng the PPC rules about "revolvers chambering the .38 Special service cartridge" to mean "chambering ONLY" the .38 Special, and excluding those which would handle .357 mag. I could see how some shooters, in preparation for this strict interpretation, wanted a six-inch version of their duty revolver, and so began asking for a longer M15. I suppose this would be, as opposed to the K38/M14, which was classified as a target gun.
The above is pure conjecture, with no documentary evidence in support thereof.
Best,
Johnny
Back in the glory days of PPC matches, it was popular to trick out a six-inch M19 for competetion--Often with a big-ole Bomar rib screwed to the top. Natrually, everyone shot the 148 gr. wadcutter loads.
There was a time when some people were interpretng the PPC rules about "revolvers chambering the .38 Special service cartridge" to mean "chambering ONLY" the .38 Special, and excluding those which would handle .357 mag. I could see how some shooters, in preparation for this strict interpretation, wanted a six-inch version of their duty revolver, and so began asking for a longer M15. I suppose this would be, as opposed to the K38/M14, which was classified as a target gun.
The above is pure conjecture, with no documentary evidence in support thereof.
Best,
Johnny
Mike Irwin
Staff
Brain fart...
Radicalcleric
New member
Alright, now I understand what happened...
In 1981 S&W discontinued or radically altered most of its product line. I did not care for the changes so from that point on I ignored new S&Ws and only bought old ones.
Up until 1981 ALL M15s had 2" or 4" barrels and ramped front sights and ALL M14s had 6" or 8" barrels and patridge front sights. In 1981 the old style M14 was discontinued and replaced by the version with the full barrel "underlug." In 1986 6" and 8" barrels were made available on the M15.
On the matter of the trigger stop, where I was uncertain whether the M15 incorporated this feature, it did. At least my example, made in 1977, has it.
So there it is. The confusion was simply a matter of perspective. The M15 was made with longer barrels but not until after I stopped paying attention.
You'll forgive me if I continue to think of these guns the way I remember them even if it's not exactly the way they are.
In 1981 S&W discontinued or radically altered most of its product line. I did not care for the changes so from that point on I ignored new S&Ws and only bought old ones.
Up until 1981 ALL M15s had 2" or 4" barrels and ramped front sights and ALL M14s had 6" or 8" barrels and patridge front sights. In 1981 the old style M14 was discontinued and replaced by the version with the full barrel "underlug." In 1986 6" and 8" barrels were made available on the M15.
On the matter of the trigger stop, where I was uncertain whether the M15 incorporated this feature, it did. At least my example, made in 1977, has it.
So there it is. The confusion was simply a matter of perspective. The M15 was made with longer barrels but not until after I stopped paying attention.
You'll forgive me if I continue to think of these guns the way I remember them even if it's not exactly the way they are.
Last edited:
Radicalcleric
New member
1881, 1981, whatever you need to feel good about yourself.