My strange love of the Combat Masterpiece

[Hizzie]

Unobtainium. ;-)

They really aren’t that expensive from Craig. It’s the 2-3 year wait that’s the problem. People pay up to 4x the cost for “right now” satisfaction from the secondary market.

[Pistol Pete 10]

It's odd. There are so many "better" options out there. I started my LE career in the post-revolver era. Sure, there were still a few gray-haired guys carrying Model 19's, Pythons, and some other odd stuff, but they were all about to retire. Revolvers in my era have all had 5 shots and were kept in a pocket or on a vest as a backup. The "gun guys" at my department all carried Model 25's in 45 Colt and other N frames or Colt Pythons. No one voluntarily, to my knowledge, carried the lowly 38 Special.

I've carried quite a few different guns in my career and have shot and handled a whole hell of a lot more. Yet there is one that has always felt perfect to me in every regard possible. I remember picking one up for the first time. It was an old late 1950's one with diamond Magna grips. It had a terrible department property engraving on the frame and had been used to shoot blanks for the past twenty years. Yet picking it up, holding it in my hand, and feeling the action, just something about it felt...well...perfect.

No matter what gun I come across, no matter how expensive or rare, one always will feel best in my hand and makes me feel armed. What is it? A Python? An N frame? A Performance Center 686? None of these.

The perfect gun in my hand is and always will be the Combat Masterpiece.

I can't explain it. I don't even own one at the moment. I could wear one today on duty with a couple speed loaders and the old FBI load today and feel completely armed. Every time I pick one up (and I've handled and shot plenty) I get a warm feeling. Perhaps I need to find a nice one to make my own.

It din't get no better than a model 15 or 19! There ain't really a lot of better choices than these two.

[Pistol Pete 10]

It's odd. There are so many "better" options out there. I started my LE career in the post-revolver era. Sure, there were still a few gray-haired guys carrying Model 19's, Pythons, and some other odd stuff, but they were all about to retire. Revolvers in my era have all had 5 shots and were kept in a pocket or on a vest as a backup. The "gun guys" at my department all carried Model 25's in 45 Colt and other N frames or Colt Pythons. No one voluntarily, to my knowledge, carried the lowly 38 Special.

I've carried quite a few different guns in my career and have shot and handled a whole hell of a lot more. Yet there is one that has always felt perfect to me in every regard possible. I remember picking one up for the first time. It was an old late 1950's one with diamond Magna grips. It had a terrible department property engraving on the frame and had been used to shoot blanks for the past twenty years. Yet picking it up, holding it in my hand, and feeling the action, just something about it felt...well...perfect.

No matter what gun I come across, no matter how expensive or rare, one always will feel best in my hand and makes me feel armed. What is it? A Python? An N frame? A Performance Center 686? None of these.

The perfect gun in my hand is and always will be the Combat Masterpiece.

I can't explain it. I don't even own one at the moment. I could wear one today on duty with a couple speed loaders and the old FBI load today and feel completely armed. Every time I pick one up (and I've handled and shot plenty) I get a warm feeling. Perhaps I need to find a nice one to make my own.

It don't get no better than a model 15 or 19! There ain't really a lot of better choices than these two. I guess a Commander pistol comes close to being as good but still #3.

[Dave T]

Guess I missed the K-frame gene when they were handing out preferences. When I had to first consider DA revolvers as a rookie in the academy most of my fellow class mates chose the M-19. Only one guy bought a Python but there were several of us who ended up with M-28s. I was in a mixed class (both PD and Sheriff's Dept) and all the PD guys were issued M-15s. On the range I was never impressed by them any more than I was by the M-19s my fellow deputies were carrying.

The only K-frame I owned for any length of time was a M-14 I used when I started shooting NRA PPC competition. After the first season I had a bull barrel and a Bo-Mar rib installed for the next season. After two years shooting the K-frame I decided to devote more of my time and energy to the new game of IPSC and eventually traded off the M-14 Bull gun.

I'm not knocking the M-15. I had a friend on the PD who fondly remembered his days carrying an issue M-15. Of course surviving his OIS with it probably endeared it to him considerable. (smile)

Dave

[theJanitor]

Without starting a new thread, can anyone determine the year this 19 was built?




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[TheNewbie]

Was there an advantage of the 15 over the 19?


I’m guessing price was one thing.

[feudist]

Was there an advantage of the 15 over the 19?


I’m guessing price was one thing.

The 15 was .38 spl.

[Inspector71]

This is my Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. My wife gave it to me for our first Christmas together. I had told her that they were my first issued sidearms in both the Air Force and my Department at the time. I put the Ahrends Grips on it. It's incredibly accurate and in great shape for it's age. I need to take it out of the safe and shoot it more often. I need to find a 2in. Model 15 to go with it.
Attachment 39911

Me too. USAF SP/LE (1979-82). Then, DOD Police (1983-89). Both times issued the model 15. Really liked the gun, but the “ball” ammo was iffy. It was a great penetrator round.

[Zeke38]

Having come of age as a policeman with the Model 15 maybe I can shed some light on the history of the 15/19 use for police work.

Most municipal agencies issued the 38 Special, the majority were Smith Model 10s or Colt Official Police. Progressive municipal agencies would issue the Model 15, especially west coast agencies. My first Model 15 was assigned to me by Uncle Sam in 1965. USAF.

County Sheriffs and Highway Patrol saw a lot of Smith 19s and 28s as agency issue. Colts were not popular in the west with a lot of agencies due to cost. Think Sig 200 series vs. Glock.

A lot of cops I knew had a few Smiths personally owned, K frames, N and J frames. Model 14s or AKA K-38. These were stock and used as competition guns.

I just purchased a Model15-3 LNIB and it is a sweetie. Easy to shoot, very accurate and easy to hit targets with.

An FBI agent showed up to one of our regional shoots in the 80s and shot the PPC with his issue Model 15 4". He shot a 582/600 that day on the old 50 yd PPC and took home the gold.

Love mine, hope this answers some questions.

[perlslacker]

The 2" Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" was my first issued firearm when I began my LE career in the early 80's. (The 5 shot model 36 was my off duty.)

This image I found online brings back decades old memories...

Attachment 22052

this photo gave me an erection

mods, don't @ me