I am fond of the Model 15 as that was my first issued gun a 4” the USAF issues from 62-92 (we started transitioning to M9’s around 1988)
I might be off in my years (so S&W historians bo blasphemy intended)
When the USAF started buying Mode 15’s they also purchased some 2” adjustable sights that were what S&W dubbed Model 56 2” heavy barrel adjustable sights.
I never saw any of these in the wild but know they are very sought after as most were destroyed.
Not sure when or why but the model 56 was discontinued and they them offered the model 15 with a 2” barrel. Most of our Model 15’s were the dash 2 and 3 of I remember right. Which should have put them in early 60’s production
The USAF at some point went to Mode 12 I. Small numbers along with Model 15’s for aircrew. They even came up with a very light 38 ball round called the M41. Lots of folks complained about that round but the regular plus p before plus p was a thing wore out the model 12’s. By the time I got in we ran 130 grain PGU Ball and it was pretty hot. We chrono’d it around 1075 fps from our 4” but that’s a whole other topic.
