Cosmetically Challenged 15-3

[DaleCooper51]

I've had the urge to get a model 10 recently. I really wanted something to just knock around with, take fishing, etc. Last Saturday, I was just checking out some gunshops and I found a really ugly model 15-3. The bore was in great shape, it locked up nicely, and it had a super nice trigger. It looked like it spent many neglected years in a holster. It was pitted and rusty and only had about 60% of its finish left. The checkering on the grips was worn smooth and I just had to have it. It was marked at $179, which I thought was fair, but not a great deal for its condition. It took a few hours to clean off the years of dirt and crud built up on it, but I like it. Any help on the date of birth would be appreciated. Serial number is k920xxx. I took it to the Sunday and ran two boxes of shells through it. It was a bit cold to try for nice groups, so i was just shooting steel plates and having fun. It may be my ugliest revolver, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Cosmetically challenged? Ugly? Looks fine to me. For $179 it is beautiful.

 

[CSA 357]

yes sir looks pretty bad..........want your $179 back? they are great guns enjoy it ! csa

 

[pete f]

spend a few nights with the cold blue and see what happens. I have taken some bad ones and made them good over a few weeks.

 

[.41Dave]

your not-so-ugly 15 dates to 1969

 

[DaleCooper51]

Thanks for the replies guys and the date of birth .41 Dave. The soft lighting and new grips seemed to help with the photo, but when I saw it in the case there were years of dirt and rust on it. The other side is a bit worse with the bluing worn off most of the barrel and a large area of pitting on the side plate. It also might have been the fact that the guys around in the display case were all really pretty and expensive. It took a few hours of cleaning, but I like its experienced look. I bet its going to be a great shooter and will most likely just leave it as is. I wanted a knock about revolver and I think this is just about perfect. I saw the Birchwood-Casey cold blue kit in the store the other day and thought about it, but passed. I have heard mixed results about the cold bluing. Does anyone have experience with it?

Here's a picture of the other side. Excuse my photography skills, they are sadly lacking. Once again, thanks for the replies.

 

[Checkman]

I have a 94 year old M&P that was re-blued by a gunsmith. He did a great job and it's very sharp looking. I also have a Colt Official Police that had a cold blue job done by the previous owner. It's fine. While it may not be as glossy as my M&P has a nice even finish and it's protecting the steel. Plus it's not as costly as having a shop reblue.

 

[Old Fuff]

A perfect blue finish is nice, but it doesn't make the gun shoot any better. I have an old model 10 dating from the early 1960's that has a finish similar to your description, but perhaps a bit worse. That said, it shoots like a champ.

I occasionally think about getting it refinished, but so far all I've done is think. When you get right down to it, refinishing isn't really necessary. If it does get refinished it will probably be bead-blasted and Parkerized. I will have to go to some shop to get it blasted, but I can do the Parkerizing myself on a kitchen stove. All of this would be relatively inexpensive, and the Parkerized finish would be far superior to any cold blue - and would look like a World War Two Victory model, which I find attractive on a "working" gun.

 

[Dienekes]

Heck, my old Security Six work gun that went in for a factory overhaul and reblue in 1994 has less finish than that now. I have Model 10s with 50% finish, if that. All are good guns and excellent shooters.

At least yours has found a good home.

 

[SeanSw]

A 1969 S&W for $179? I wouldn't worry about the finish, or even about the haggling. I realize we're seeing the 'after' photos but the gun doesn't look compromised.

Are those the grips that came on the gun? I don't see any evidence of checkering but they look good as they are.

 

[DaleCooper51]

No those arent the grips that came with it. It had a pair of magnas with the checkering worn off. Magnas have never fit my hand well even with the Tyler Tgrip. Those are a pair of Ahrends smooth target grips that I had around.

I got to shoot it again this morning before work and it is a champ. Ive been spoiled by having stainless revolvers recently, but the beauty of this one is becoming apparent each and every time I shoot it. It looks much better than when I first picked it up. I think all I am going to do is shoot it as much as possible and keep it clean.

Ahrends Grips:
http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/index.htm

Where I ordered the grips:
http://www.topgunsupply.com/

 

[Rick479]

Just got rid of mine...

Just got rid of my 15-3... sweet shooting gun and I miss it, but wanted to use the funds for another project.

Yours looks very good for the price. I got $250 for mine but it was in 95%+ condition. I've used the cold blue brand you mentioned on some old single shot shotguns before and it does a reasonably good job... and as Checkman said, it's protecting the metal. You might consider it.

Good shooting!

 

[Black Knight]

Doesn't look bad. If the cold blue doesn't work you could always send it out and have it refinished. I have seen photos of a shop called Ford's, they seem to do a good job. You could also send it to S&W for a re-blue. The gun now looks fairly good.

 

[Checkman]

Smith would do a good job for you. And they know about S&W revolvers. Just stating the obvious.

 

[bakert]

You got one heckuva good buy. I have two older S&Ws, a model 10 and 17 with finishes that are worn much worse that your gun when they came to me. They're both still tight and in good shape otherwise and hit where you point 'em. Been shooting them like that for a lot of years and intend to keep on doing it. This pic being a bit dark doesn't really show a lot of the dings and worn bluing.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Birchwood-Casey blue kits work well enough. My son's $9 savage .22 rifle was left wet in the case for way too long. when he took it out the barrel had a lot of rust on it. I took the barrel off the stock and redid it with the Birchwood-Casey blue kit. I was very surprised how good it came. It looked even better than when it was new. I did put several coats on it though.

Just be sure to read the directions completely before you use the product and follow the directions exactly.

ALSO, the stuff really stinks, I mean really smelly!!!

 

[XavierBreath]

Weathered blue guns are beautiful guns. They allow you to go about your business without worrying over a gun's finish. My two favorites are revolvers with worn finishes. In fact, I recently missed out on a three and a half inch Model 27-2 that had little to no finish at all, but still retained the original grips. A friend spotted it first, and bought it for $265. I still kick myself, but I have first dibs if he decides to sell it. I doubt he will.

Here are my two favorites, both well worn.

S&W K-38


S&W Model 17-3