Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980
o

Notices

S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-03-2010, 12:24 AM
Poland Poland is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N. CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default Viet Nam 38 HB

Took in a Parkerized 38 in 4" heavy barrel. He said he carried it during tour of Nam. Came with black holster belt and ammo in rings. I asked: What he knew of revolver. He said: S&W took a lot of older guns, added a HB and parkerized them for Nam. Later I saw a Gun Digest Collectors Guide 2009 with picture of gun exactly like ours,, EXCEPT it had regular barrel.
Any one know what is correct..al
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-03-2010, 02:36 AM
whitecoyote's Avatar
whitecoyote whitecoyote is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: MI
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 29
Liked 1,013 Times in 231 Posts
Smile

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 02-03-2010, 10:44 PM
Scary Gary Scary Gary is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Aloha Oregon
Posts: 235
Likes: 5
Liked 34 Times in 19 Posts
Default

I wan't to see this too .
I think we had Mod. 10's with the heavy barrel in the NAVY .
I carried a 1911-A1 and realy didn't pay any attention to the wheel gun's that the other guy's chose to carrie .
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-04-2010, 05:31 PM
Poland Poland is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N. CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default

Sorry on "Pic's" This ole man of 81 don't have a camera
Check: Gun DigestThe Magazine presents COLLECTOR'S GUIDE 2009 PAGE 30. BEST i CAN DO
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-24-2012, 01:28 PM
Poland Poland is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N. CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default Nam S&W 38.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poland View Post
Took in a Parkerized 38 in 4" heavy barrel. He said he carried it during tour of Nam. Came with black holster belt and ammo in rings. I asked: What he knew of revolver. He said: S&W took a lot of older guns, added a HB and parkerized them for Nam. Later I saw a Gun Digest Collectors Guide 2009 with picture of gun exactly like ours,, EXCEPT it had regular barrel.
Any one know what is correct..al
I have exact same rig. Same story. Now we have 2 so makes story real? Mine was brought home by vet who did not need it anymore.Serial is C9152xx
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-24-2012, 08:58 PM
gunfish gunfish is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 437
Likes: 297
Liked 325 Times in 119 Posts
Default

Unless the guy has documents to back up the story....it's just a story.
__________________
Dennis
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-24-2012, 09:41 PM
Retired W4's Avatar
Retired W4 Retired W4 is offline
US Veteran
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta area
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 15,779
Liked 19,355 Times in 4,351 Posts
Default

I think if S&W modified Model 10's for the government there would be records of that. Secondly, I seriously doubt that a military armourer would have made that modification without getting some attention. Even in RVN there was a little document called the MTOE, and while there were plenty of different things done to weapons there, I don't think the action mentioned was sanctioned. As someone who carried a .38 special S&W in RVN, along with most of my other helicopter pilot buddies, I know how the Army works (after a 32 year association) when it comes to those things. I'm not saying it did not happen....but nice story.

Other skeptical WO1's who carried .38 special S&W's in RVN.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Tom Hal etc.jpg (89.8 KB, 245 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #8  
Old 08-24-2012, 10:47 PM
KEN L's Avatar
KEN L KEN L is offline
SWCA Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: N GA
Posts: 4,466
Likes: 204
Liked 3,613 Times in 1,498 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poland View Post
I have exact same rig. Same story. Now we have 2 so makes story real? Mine was brought home by vet who did not need it anymore.Serial is C9152xx
Okay, so let's see pics of yours!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-25-2012, 02:33 AM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,362
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
Default

I'm not sure the heavy barrel fits frames not machined for them. I've never seen such a gun, but haven't seen everything S&W.

Apart from Victory Models, I've never seen a Parkerized finish on an S&W .38 that wasn't refinished by military armorers. The Combat Masterpieces that we had in the USAF were originally normal blue. I think some were refinished in Parkerized.

I'm not sure if the Army didn't buy some HB M-10's, along with std. barrels. I know they had some rnd. butt normal bbl. M-10's, too. The most likely answer is that either the Army or S&W refinished some HB M-10's.

Do these guns have any US stampings on them?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-25-2012, 11:25 AM
BE Mike's Avatar
BE Mike BE Mike is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,575
Likes: 2,235
Liked 3,476 Times in 1,475 Posts
Default

I saw Victory model .38 SPL revolvers that were parkerized that were issued to the troops in 1968. I got a brand new in the box S&W model 10 round butt, 4" pencil barrel. It wasn't stamped "Property of the U.S. Government". I never saw a heavy barrel carried by air crews. Stories are stories. Documentation is everything.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-25-2012, 12:30 PM
Sebago Son's Avatar
Sebago Son Sebago Son is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sebago Lake, Maine, USA
Posts: 5,435
Likes: 6,726
Liked 6,724 Times in 1,862 Posts
Default

Nice story, but untrue. The barrel rib widths on the heavies will not match the frame grind. You can go the other way by adding a tapered "light" barrel to a frame prepped for a heavy, but it looks rather odd.

I recently saw a re-parked victory that the seller swore was refinished at the factory. He even claimed he had the S&W receipt that clearly said "Re-Parkerized". Normally I ignore idiots, but this guy was pushy, in my face and obnoxious. He stated that if I "really knew my Smiths" that I would know that his was correct. When he produced the photocopied 'factory invoice' for refinishing, dated in the 80's, it was a clear cut forgery. You should have seen the look on his face when I pointed out that "revolver" was spelled incorrectly and that S&W didn't have phosphate finishing capabilities in the 1980's.

Buy the gun, not the story.... There are alot of BS artists out there trying to talk up their guns.

Drew
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #12  
Old 08-25-2012, 01:56 PM
DWFAN's Avatar
DWFAN DWFAN is offline
US Veteran
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Connecticut Yankee
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 744
Liked 3,575 Times in 789 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin Gardens View Post
Every gun that wasn't in the Civil War went to Viet Nam.

Regards.

Bob
Just about.
DW
__________________
"NUTS"
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 08-25-2012, 04:40 PM
THE PILGRIM's Avatar
THE PILGRIM THE PILGRIM is online now
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Posts: 13,846
Likes: 8,067
Liked 25,339 Times in 8,518 Posts
Default MAGNUM IN SEA

I do know of a Model 19 that flew on over 300 combat missions in SEA. Reason I am so sure is I took it over and I brought it back!
Been trying to remember if some of our K-38s were parkerized. Seems like some of them were. Here it is my blue Model 19 hanging with his nickel buddy.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg MODEL 19s.jpg (79.7 KB, 135 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #14  
Old 08-25-2012, 10:24 PM
Retired W4's Avatar
Retired W4 Retired W4 is offline
US Veteran
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta area
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 15,779
Liked 19,355 Times in 4,351 Posts
Default

Thank you for your service PILGRIM, and welcome home. I think the difference between what was smuggled into SAE and what was issued may be what the OP is talking about, or at the very least, what I'm talking about. I would like to have been issued a CAR-15, but I brought no weapons into RVN, and a M-19 would have been better than the .38 special my unit issued me.

BTW, how did you get it home?
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #15  
Old 08-26-2012, 09:35 AM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
Banned
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,610 Times in 884 Posts
Default

It's been said that 'tunnel rats' prefered the S&W .38 to the .45 because of the blast in the confines of a tunnel. I have no doubt that .38 wheelguns that may have been issued to airfield , ramp & hanger guards might have made it into combat by hook or crook (trade & theft). Could have even have been purchased stateside and taking over , and passed on thru a unit when members left.

Then again , I was offered a "GI .45 automatic" that someone swore was carried in Korea or 'Nam , by their father. In the brown US flap holster was a Llama with 1975 proofmarks.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 08-26-2012, 10:06 AM
digi-shots's Avatar
digi-shots digi-shots is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 1,586
Liked 4,084 Times in 595 Posts
Default

Here's a standard barrel 10-5 I picked up a few years ago. The backstrap is fairly worn but you can make out the "U.S. PROPERTY" stamping. There's also a "P" proof mark on the left side of the frame near the trigger guard.

It came to me with return "papers" and the in-country made watter buffalo hide holster rig as seen in the photo. The fellow that brought it back in 1972 was a Captain in the US ARMY, MACV in Qui Nhon. It was previously carried by another Army Captain who was with the 1st Air Brigade, 101st AB, 1st Cav, 5th Special Forces and also MACV.

This blued model 10-5 letters to the U.S. Army base in Boston. It was part of a U.S. Government contract order shipped on August 28, 1963.

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Last edited by digi-shots; 08-26-2012 at 06:45 PM. Reason: spelling
Reply With Quote
The Following 8 Users Like Post:
  #17  
Old 08-26-2012, 04:58 PM
CH47gunner's Avatar
CH47gunner CH47gunner is offline
US Veteran
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Santa Cruz, CA.
Posts: 705
Likes: 453
Liked 758 Times in 215 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by digi-shots View Post
Here's a standard barrel 10-5 I picked up a few years ago. The backstrap is fairly worn but you can make out the "U.S. PROPERTY" stamping. There's also a "P" proof mark on the left side of the frame near the trigger guard.

It came to me with return "papers" and the in-country made watter buffalo hide holster rig as seen in the photo. The fellow that brought it back in 1972 was a Captain in the US ARMY, MACV in Qui Nhon. It was previously carried by another Army Captain who was with the 1st Air Brigade, 101st Cav, 5th Special Forces and also MACV.

This blued model 10-5 letters to the U.S. Army base in Boston. It was part of a U.S. Government contract order shipped on August 28, 1963.

This is exactly the rig I wore as a CH47 Crewmember - we were given a choice between the M10 or a 1911. Most chose the .38 as the .45's had a dark reputation. Besides, the revolvers were just cooler especially when we purchased the gunfighter rig at the local VN store.

Bruce
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #18  
Old 08-26-2012, 05:32 PM
dcopper dcopper is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Jessieville, Arkansas
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 556
Liked 675 Times in 355 Posts
Default SEA S&W Returns

Welcome home BROTHERS, you and your Model 10's!!! Fellow Viet Vet!
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-26-2012, 05:37 PM
moosedog moosedog is online now
SWCA Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 7,851
Likes: 11,782
Liked 13,762 Times in 3,346 Posts
Default

What a great post and nice piece of history.
Thank you fellows for your service.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-26-2012, 10:57 PM
phubai8 phubai8 is offline
Member
Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB Viet Nam 38 HB  
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MS
Posts: 119
Likes: 10
Liked 26 Times in 14 Posts
Default

As noted, documentation is everything. Digi-shots, thanks for a great post.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
1911, parkerized

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
OV-1 in Viet Nam Coldshooter The Lounge 9 02-19-2015 05:40 PM
What S&W revolvers were used in Viet Nam? P&R Fan S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 57 05-18-2014 04:01 PM
Viet-Nam Sergeant Viet-Nam Sergeant New Members Introduction 15 01-31-2013 07:41 PM
Viet Nam vet disclaimer? Len The Lounge 26 03-21-2012 06:20 PM
Viet Nam Vets 7shooter The Lounge 24 12-24-2009 07:26 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:56 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)