S&W Model 15 .38 Special
with 2” Barrel

There are few things I enjoy talking about more than old Smith & Wesson revolvers. And believe me, I enjoy talking about a lot of things. But put a good old Smith in my hands, and you’ve got my attention.

This time, it’s a Smith & Wesson Model 15 chambered in .38 Special. Nothing particularly unusual about that, right? Well, take a closer look. This one has a little 2-inch barrel.

Huh? I know.

These short-barreled Model 15s tend to fly under the radar, and I’ve never quite understood why. People are funny about revolvers. Show them a Model 15 with a 4-inch or 6-inch barrel, and they’ll nod approvingly. Show them the same gun with a 2-inch barrel, and suddenly they’re scratching their heads.

“Why would you want that?”

Well, I’m glad you asked.

What makes this particular Smith & Wesson so appealing is that you’re getting essentially a full-size revolver, just with a shorter barrel. The grip frame is still large enough to fit your hand comfortably, and that’s something you don’t always get with smaller revolvers.

There’s a lot to be said for a handgun that actually fits your hand. You can get a proper grip on this one, and that makes a real difference when you’re shooting it.

Then there’s the trigger. The double-action pull on this particular revolver is smooth as silk. And here’s the interesting part: I haven’t even worked on it yet. That’s right. No tinkering, no polishing, no special attention from me. It’s just a wonderfully smooth old Smith & Wesson doing what Smith & Wessons do best.

Another feature I particularly appreciate is the adjustable rear sight. Unlike the fixed sights found on many short-barreled revolvers, the Model 15 allows you to zero the gun for whatever load you prefer. And trust me, you’d be wise to take advantage of that feature because this little revolver can shoot like a laser.

To demonstrate what I mean, I set up a torso target at about eight yards. For ammunition, I brought along some Black Hills 148-grain hollow-base wadcutter .38 Special loads. These are among my favorite loads for an old .38 revolver. They’re pleasant to shoot, and I’ve always appreciated the accuracy you can get from a good wadcutter.

I loaded six rounds and decided to try a little experiment. Rather than simply shooting a group, I wanted to put the first round on the target and then see if I could put the remaining five shots into essentially the same hole. A perfectly reasonable goal, wouldn’t you say?

Things were going along rather nicely, too. The little Model 15 was doing exactly what I expected it to do, putting rounds right where I wanted them. And then came that last shot.

Oh, I pulled it. Really pulled it. You know how that goes. You’re shooting a nice group, everything is working beautifully, and suddenly your trigger finger develops a mind of its own. You know you’re about to yank the trigger, and your brain is telling you not to do it. But by then, it’s too late. I couldn’t help laughing at that terrible shot. The gun certainly wasn’t to blame. That was entirely my doing.

Still, the exercise demonstrated what I’d hoped it would. There’s nothing inherently inaccurate about a short-barreled revolver, and this particular Model 15 is a fine example of just how well one can shoot.

I believe this particular Model 15 dates to around the mid-1970s, and it’s a marvelous example of the revolvers Smith & Wesson produced during that era. The best part? These guns can still be found at fairly reasonable prices. I certainly didn’t pay a fortune for mine, and considering the quality of the revolver, I think it was money well spent.

So the next time you come across an old Smith & Wesson Model 15, particularly one wearing that unusual little 2-inch barrel, don’t dismiss it. Pick it up. See how it feels in your hand. Try that double-action trigger. You might discover there’s a lot more to appreciate than the short barrel initially suggests.

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