Educate me on the K-38...

[daved20319]

Been looking at revolvers on GB, but all big bores. Stumbled over a nice looking model 15-4, currently at a silly low bid level, and started questioning my thought process. I don't really NEED a big bore, for my intended use, a .38 Special would be fine. A little confusion, the seller says it's a 1984 model, but form the tiny bit of research I've done so far, they went to the 15-5 in 1982. Side issue, though, what I'm really curious about is A) how do they shoot, and B) what's a reasonable value? From what I can see in the pics, it looks to be in excellent condition with very little, if any, finish wear. Any quirks that would warrant looking for something else? Thanks!

Dave

[Wayne Dobbs]

Been looking at revolvers on GB, but all big bores. Stumbled over a nice looking model 15-4, currently at a silly low bid level, and started questioning my thought process. I don't really NEED a big bore, for my intended use, a .38 Special would be fine. A little confusion, the seller says it's a 1984 model, but form the tiny bit of research I've done so far, they went to the 15-5 in 1982. Side issue, though, what I'm really curious about is A) how do they shoot, and B) what's a reasonable value? From what I can see in the pics, it looks to be in excellent condition with very little, if any, finish wear. Any quirks that would warrant looking for something else? Thanks!

Dave

So long as they're in decent mechanical shape, S&W Combat Masterpiece (the title for Model 15s) revolvers shoot astoundingly well. Of all the K-frame Smiths, the 15 is my favorite by far. I'd say that one in good appearance and mechanical shape is easily worth $500 and is likely higher than that. If the original box, papers and tools are there, then I'd put a 10-15% premium on it. The .38 Special is about the most useful revolver cartridge around for the average pistol shooter. It's accurate, easily reloaded, effective on medium game (two or four legged) and is a joy to own and shoot. I'd bid on that gun and try to get it.

[revchuck38]

My guess is that the seller bought it in '84 and that it was old stock. M15s are sweet - I have an M67, which is the stainless version.

"K-38" usually refers to the longer-barreled versions that came with 6" and 8-3/8" barrels. IIRC, the 4" version was known as the "K-38 Combat Masterpiece" before S&W gave them model numbers.

ETA: Wayne Dobbs beat me to it.

[revchuck38]

Double tap. :(

[jetfire]

If there was a good condition Combat Masterpiece in front of me for $500 I'd buy it so fast it would make your head spin. Those are wonderful guns, great shooters, and a piece of history at this point.

[Stephanie B]

I'll second as to the accuracy of Model 15s. My 15-3 is a fantastic gun.

[okie john]

Wayne nailed it.

If you're getting into Smiths, there are a couple of other things to know.

The first is that anything is possible with S&W. As far as dates of manufacture, features, dash numbers, etc., they routinely found bins of older parts and put them on frames that had been stamped with later model or dash numbers. You don't always see a clear delineation between one variant and the next like you do with pre- and post-64 Winchesters. Think of it more as an evolution where one variant morphs into the next and there are lots of "transitional" guns with both old and new features. I know a guy who collects fixed-sight K-frame 38s with three- and four-inch barrels. The part of his collection that I've seen contains several hundred different variations. He probably has that many more that I have not seen, and he acknowledges that he's nowhere near having all of them.

Then there's there's a nomenclature issue. S&W revolvers had names until 1957, at which point they got model numbers. Depending on when it was made and its barrel length, a K-frame 38 Special revolver with adjustable sights could have several different names/designations. Off the top of my head, I'd say Military & Police Target, K-38, Target Masterpiece, Combat Masterpiece, Model 14, and Model 15, but I probably missed a couple.

If you really want to go off the deep end, check out the Smith & Wesson forums.


Okie John

[willie]

Has it been said that the 4 inch Combat Masterpiece, Model 15, was the Air Force's general issue handgun for decades? These are fine revolvers but became less popular because many purchased the 4 inch Model 19 offered in .357 Mag.

[swampyank33]

I love my 15-4
51002
Mine is beat, but it shoots great.
VZ grips, orange nail polish on front sight.
I'm a hopeless K-frame addict. If you can swing it for $500, I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Stephanie B]

I love my 15-4
51002
Mine is beat, but it shoots great.
VZ grips, orange nail polish on front sight.
I'm a hopeless K-frame addict. If you can swing it for $500, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Do those VZ grips have enough clearance to run Comp-II speedloaders?

[Joe in PNG]

Got this pre-Model 15 a couple of years ago.
It was gathering dust in the back of a bottom case shelf, and only $450.
It's on my "if you could only have one K-Frame list"
51011

[JAH 3rd]

Here is a link for S&W K-38 info. Lots of pictures.


http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/136787-informal-pictorial-essay-k-38-masterpiece-model-14-variations.html

[SeriousStudent]

Do it! :)

I have a 2", a 4", and a 6" Model 15. They are all very nice and shoot very well.

I am currently cleaning the guts on the 2". It's polished beautifully inside from all those times it was used for dry practice.

[Joe in PNG]

One of my great regrets was passing up a 2" Model 15 a couple of years back.

[Trooper224]

K-38s in their various forms are awesome wheel guns. A lot of cops did righteous work with them for a very long time. If it's in serviceable condition snap it up.

My model 14 is one of my all time favorite guns and I had to pass on a 15 not long ago and that was hard. My neighbor has a snub, nickel plated 15 he refuses to sell me. I'm patiently waiting with a case of toilet paper as trading material

[Duelist]

51026

This 15-4 is one of my favorite guns.

[BN]

51028

The Model 15 was my first centerfire DA revolver. I've had it a long time and it has been tinkered with. ;)

[Salamander]

Do it, they're sweet shooters.

Here's my 15-4, with a 1980 serial number, wearing a set of Ahrends that I put on in place of the rubber it came to me with.

51034

[Half Moon]

Might as well bandwagon :-)

Really good revolvers!

This one was bought trying to find something the wife could shoot after hand surgery wrecked her recoil tolerance. Which was a failed experiment. Step-Son though has thoroughly made this one his own. Once he's old enough we'll take care of the legal niceties (not that he knows that... shhhh).

1951 Combat Masterpiece:

[Duelist]

Might as well bandwagon :-)

Really good revolvers!

This one was bought trying to find something the wife could shoot after hand surgery wrecked her recoil tolerance. Which was a failed experiment. Step-Son though has thoroughly made this one his own. Once he's old enough we'll take care of the legal niceties (not that he knows that... shhhh).

1951 Combat Masterpiece:

My mouse fart load:105gr RNL over 2.5 gr Bullseye. Tolerable for a box+ out of an Airweight J, or all day out of a steel one, out of an S&W M15 it recoils a little bit more than a 40gr HV .22LR does out of an M18. Just saying. It’s quite a bit less than a 130gr FMJ. Like, my wife won’t shoot any gun that kicks as hard as a Kframe shooting 130gr FMJ, but she’ll shoot an Airweight J a few times with that mouse fart load. If her hands were a bit larger, she’d probably take over my M15 because of that load.

[Wayne Dobbs]

51028

The Model 15 was my first centerfire DA revolver. I've had it a long time and it has been tinkered with. ;)

Bill,

Who did that Patridge sight on the Model 15? Looks very useful!

[BN]

Bill,

Who did that Patridge sight on the Model 15? Looks very useful!

I had a local guy cut a Novak dovetail and fit a 1911 sight. Works great. :)

51096

[LtDave]

The Model 15 was a very popular duty gun in SoCal, with both LAPD and LASD issuing them. My suburban SoCal PD issued me one as well.

[HeavyDuty]

The Model 15 was a very popular duty gun in SoCal, with both LAPD and LASD issuing them. My suburban SoCal PD issued me one as well.

Whenever I think 4” 15, I think LAPD. Some day...

[Jim Watson]

I had a local guy cut a Novak dovetail and fit a 1911 sight. Works great?]

I have a M68 with a. fiber optic front sight in a dovetail like that.

[SeriousStudent]

The Model 15 was a very popular duty gun in SoCal, with both LAPD and LASD issuing them. My suburban SoCal PD issued me one as well.

My 4" Model 15 was a California Department of Prisons issue gun, that was assigned to a prison hospital, near as Darryl and I could figure out.

The next time you wander eastward, we'll take a duffle bag full of revolvers to the range. :)

[03RN]

Do those VZ grips have enough clearance to run Comp-II speedloaders?

Yes

[SCCY Marshal]

Got this pre-Model 15 a couple of years ago...It's on my "if you could only have one K-Frame list"
51011

Are those molded plastic Fitz brand grips?

[Lost River]

https://i.imgur.com/a0fh1xl.jpg

I don't have any great pics of my Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. However it is absolutely one of my favorite revolvers to hunt small game with as well as punch paper. It is also the gun that continues to serve its role in the home for the bride as a defense gun, as she is not interested in shooting at all.

Once every couple of years it goes out on a Jack Safari. It was a very cold and cloudy day winter when these pics were taken with my phone, so the pic quality is not great, but it was certainly a grand time with the fun little gun, and wadcutters do a fantastic jog on the big desert jacks.


https://i.imgur.com/CyReUZm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sqOoBl4.jpg

Another one from a later hunt with a powder coated cast hollow point:

https://i.imgur.com/nbsMf7I.jpg

[19852+]

My first handgun was the M15's fraternal twin, the M18 .22 and I still have it. Dad helped me get it back '79-'80

[Joe in PNG]

Are those molded plastic Fitz brand grips?

Probably. I don't have them with me, so I can't officially check.

[jetfire]

If you're interesting in some more Model 15/Combat Masterpiece history, here's an article I did in Recoil about the Combat Masterpiece and the USAF (https://www.recoilweb.com/the-end-of-an-era-158268.html)