Between 1968 and 1969, S&W shipped 23 (known serial numbers) Model 29-2 revolvers, some frame only, to Aircraft Armaments INC, (AAI), in Cockeysville, MD for conversion to what was known as the Tunnel Gun. After a 3 month field test between July-Oct 1969 in Vietnam, it was renamed the Quiet Special Purpose Revolver (QSPR), after some minor mods were made to the weapon. The changes made were based on recommendations from soldiers from the 25th ID, the 23rd (Americal) ID, and the 1ST ID, who field tested 10 revolvers over those 3 months in the VC tunnels in their areas of operation. Read the Tunnels of CuChi to hear about the 25th ID (Tropic Lighting), mention of the Tunnel Gun. S299258 pictured here represents an example that never made it to conversion for unknown reasons. I am very fortunate to have acquired one of my grail 44 magnums, albeit the frame only, just the way it was shipped to AAI on 5/23/1969. There will be a full article presented to the SWCA Journal for publication consideration. With the help of Roy Jinks and members of the International Ammunition Association, as well as retired employees from AAI to include the now 65 year old gunsmith who built the original Tunnel Guns, I've been able to gather much provenance and information on these arguably rarest of the 44 magnum variations. This will all be detailed in the planned article. I had hoped to have a mock up of the Tunnel Gun available by this weeks SWCA meeting in Orlando, but it wasn't possible. It was just finished yesterday by my gunsmith, John Blauvelt in Wallkill, NY. Voted by Field and Stream Magazine, one of the Top 10 Gunsmiths in America, John can do anything with a firearm, literally, and he described this project as "very interesting and a one of a kind job". SWCA members stay tuned for the article in the Journal, hopefully in the not too far distant future. S&W forum members will get an abbreviated version soon as well. For now, enjoy the pics of what must have been one heck of a weapon, as the Army test reports back in 1969-72 certainly claimed it to be. Unfortunately, timing is critical with most everything, and it was with the TG/QSPR. By 1972 when the final Land Warfare Unit/AAI testing and evaluation had been completed and all defiencies, especially with the cartridge (which is the real story), had been corrected, Vietnam was drawing down so the need for a tunnel weapon was no more. This became the Model 29 that really never was.
Enjoy
Chuck

Invoice to AAI 5/23/1969 for two 44 Magnum frames
S299258 and S318575


Factory Letter S229258


Frame only as shipped to AAI 5/23/1969


Notice serial number only, no model # stamp in frame. crane has same assembly number as the frame which was not always the case after AAI gunsmiths cannibilzed the first 10 guns received.




Blauvelt Conversion to exact original specs but false/plugged barrel to meet BATF compliance:








The cylinder chamber walls are paper thin as were the originals due to reaming them out to.526. Notice the daylight seen through the stop notches, as were the originals.






The cartridge is the real story behind this revolver. The captive piston round was capable of containing the blast noise, flash, and other energy normally done by the weapon. In essence, the round is the weapon and the revolver is simply the carrier.








Tunnel Gun Holster built by Bucheimer, Frederick, MD


Custom Made TG Holster for display purposes.


Original TGs at Aberdeen, MD. gun on the left is coated in Teflon and is the QSPR version with lanyard loop requested by soldiers in the field, for a "dummy cord" as Army Rangers call them.







Tunnel Gun Specs


S299258



See this short clip of what I am pretty certain is one of the original test guns. It's about mid-way through.
http://www.history.com/videos/tunnel-rats-show-courage#tunnel-rats-show-courage

Just got the link to a new piece in Field and Stream. Looks like the Tunnel Gun is getting some attention again. Note the gun in the article is a photo shopped 5 screw N frame S&W. This has been the widely circulated photo of the TG/QSPR that looks great, but is not correct. All TGs/QSPRs were 29-2s and 3 screw revolvers.
Chuck
Tunnel Rat Pistol: The QSP Revolver | Field & Stream

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

"WOW" just doesn't sum it up.

VERY informative post - clears up a lot of things I was not aware of on these interesting guns. Thanks for posting!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Great story Chuck, thanks. John Blauvelt can hold his own with any in the profession.

Obviously the gun is a very rare piece. But the project seems ludicrous to me. All that expense and bother? I'd rather stick in some ear plugs and take a 1911 into a tunnel.

Thank you for sharing this rare bit of history.
I've had John Blauvelt do several custom guns in addition to his duty action job on all my carry Smiths.

IIRC, Guns & Ammo magazine did an article that featured these revolvers, back in the day.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

thank you for posting this I learned something today.

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God save the SOUTH

Very interesting, thanks!

SP, actually the loudness of the 1911 and .38 cal revolvers normally used for tunnel warfare was a major reason the Army went looking for something else. In the dark, the flash and the bang were so disruptive, it was almost impossible to operate with any degree of success/surprise in a tunnel a little over 3 feet in height floor to ceiling. The TG/QSPR barely had the report of a .22 with no flash!
Chuck

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Rangers LTW!

MG, yes, G&A had a short piece in it's "Ordnance Department" called "The Silenced QSPR Revolver" by Konrad F. Schreier,Jr. in the October, 1974 issue, which in one page actually does a better job of describing the Tunnel Gun than a lot of the other references.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

SaxonPig, no offense,but maybe you've never crawled in to a VC tunnel? The last thing I want to do is plug both my ears so I can't hear. That is about like putting sunglasses on before you enter.Dulling, dimming or disabling any of your senses going in is a pretty quick way to a body bag. Nick

29-1,

Thank you for taking the time to post this information. A very informative and interesting post.

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Ken

Chuck ... This is the type of informational post that makes the forum such a wonderful & enjoyable resource. Many thanks for the effort and best of luck with the project.

One of the best gun posts I have ever read read. Thank you very much.

Simply amazing journey, how is it that it came into your possession?

What a journey and thanks for the background detail, obviously you have a part of history and a serious S&W addiction.

Very interesting story about a highly specialized gun.

Perhaps it's just me, but I feel a little uncomfortable about a gun with a plugged barrel that is functional in every other way. I understand that the solid barrel was required for BATFE compliance, but that firing pin would be gone (or shortened) if it was mine.

Buck

Great Report Chuck. The extra fine detail in the presentation is noted and appreciated.... Thanks for putting it up...

How about a little more info about the Replica TG Holster.... Is anyone going to commercialize this design?

I could see it having other, less martial applications... as in maybe for one of these little monsters.....



Afterall, they are cousins to the TG.



Drew

Buck, if there were any live ammo still available I might be concerned. Just the spent rounds are next to impossible to find much less a live one. It's going to West Point eventually anyway for the Museum's Vietnam era section complete with a Tunnel Rat mannequin dressed for combat in the tunnels.
Chuck

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Rangers LTW!

Drew, those 44s of your's would be a perfect fit in this holster actually. Frontier Gun Leather in Cathedral, CA stitched it up for me as a special order. I provided them with the only 2 known photos of an original holster and they did a pretty nice job I think, even with the ammo pouches. There are no known original TG holsters that I know of. If you contact these folks they are great to work with. Not cheap but very reasonable for a one off holster I believe.
Chuck

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Rangers LTW!

Well I guess you could call it an addiction, more like a way of life actually after all these years, close to 40 now.

I was waiting for someone to ask how it came to me. I found it on GB being sold as a 29-2. It had an unmarked cylinder and barrel with smooth target stocks. Having an S serial # made me take a chance on it being a late S series 29-2 as that is my interest these days. I always request a letter on any S&W I acquire and what a nice surprise I got when the letter came back. You just never know what you really have until you get a letter.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Fascinating post! You included so much more about the TG than I had learned from the scant other sources that it's almost like learning the whole thing for the first time.

Just unbelievably cool that you found one on Gunbroker!

Thanks for taking the time to put this post together.

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David Wilson

Outstanding presentation. The Tunnel Rats were a different breed of cats. Keep shootin'

An amazing post, I cant believe men actually volunteered to do this.

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Fidelis Ad Mortem

Now I know where S&W got the idea for the Governor, it wasn't from Taurus.

Just kidding! Thanks for the post, this is exactly why I visit this forum.

Chuck, interestingly the holster rig shown as worn by the gutzy troop with the TG pretty clearly at 1:02 of Gunny's clip looks to be a Brauer Brothers shoulder rig.... complete with undyed leather and elastic straps... Or given that brief glimpse, it's also possible that this holster is a Heiser No. 22....

Amazing job on the research, and great info!
History like this is why I keep coming to the Forum and reading the Journals.

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John

Awesome post!

--Neill

Very informative post, thanks.

CD

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De Oppresso Liber

Amazing post Chuck.
I can't wait to see more on this historical project. And to think you actually found it on GB! Wow...it proves there is still hope for the rest of us to find unusual and rare guns.
Thanks,
Craig...

CD, first thank you for your service. I have some clips of modern day tunnel rats in Afghanistan. I'll try and find them and post. Except for about 40 years passing little has changed technique/weapon wise. Stay safe.

Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

This is a fascinating story. These special guns and rare guns are fantastic to see and read about, but I always found that the best story is in the people who possessed and used them. You provide both.

Thanks for posting. I had no idea...

GB - Now that's funny. But an S as you noted would be worth the effort anyway. "Nice Surprise" - seems like an understatement - you just won the S&W Lottery.

Chuck ... You've inspired me to re-read my tattered paperback copy of "The Tunnels of Cu Chi" ... Thank you once again.

Quite an article, thank you.
Why does the barrel have to be plugged? Just 'cause they say so or is it because it is too quiet?

Hi Mike, good question. The original TG barrels were smooth bore and those are illegal to own unless the gun has been declared a C&R by the BATF and it has not been because all but three have not surfaced and there have been none in private hands so there has been no application to the BATF to have this gun declared a C&R. I may actually start that process if it looks like it might be a possibility. Another reason is because the gun would be classified the same as a sawed off shotgun which is also illegal. If I had had my gunsmith simply rifle the barrel then it would have been ok left unplugged, but I wanted to keep as close to the original design as possible. It will never be fired because there is no available ammunition and I only plan to put it on display so having a plugged/inop barrel is no real concern.
Regards
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

This is another reason I enjoy this forum so much. You could not see these kinds of things anywhere else. Very interesting information. The way in which you came into this piece is fantastic. It is as if you won a lottery. Like getting a gun lettered to Wyatt Earp. Thanks for sharing.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

It dont happen often. But this is realy an revolver I havent seen yet.
Thanks for the information.

Chuck, outstanding post. I will be adding my "like" as well to add this one to the notable thread index. This may be obvious but this has to be the only gun I have ever seen that expected the cartridge to essentially contain it's own pressure. Interesting idea. Maybe we'll see this one in Boise next summer.

Chuck ... Wouldn't it be possible to have this pistol classified as AOW, similar to short-barreled shotguns born with pistol grips, thereby making it entirely legal to own by BATF standards, but with only a required $5 tax stamp?

how interesting! you have done some great research! thanks for the info!!!

Don't know. I'll have to check on this. It'd be convenient if I could do this.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Great thread!!

I have a friend that was a tunnel rat, not by choice. He is about 5'4" at most. He wont talk about it my other than he had a flash light and a 1911 and it was AWFUL. He wont go into small spaces even today.

Very informative. It's easy to forget what some men have done for our country...

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Centennial Every Day

PM44, from one Texan to another, amen brother.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Very nice job Chuck. You dont post enough, because I always enjoy your presentations.

PS S315946 shipped July 1969

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE

Curtis, thanks for the serial number. The late 60's guns seem to have shipped in some simblance of order. Yeah, I know I don't post enough but try to make up for it in quality.
Chuck

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Rangers LTW!

Drew, I've replayed the clip slow-mo a few times now and it very well could be either actually, but I'm leaning toward Heiser. By the way, the video clip is probably as rare as the gun. History.com won
t sell any of their clips and I'm afraid this one will go away some day. I wish I had a way to find out who the TR was in the clip holding what I believe to be one of the 10 test guns that went to Vietnam for scarcely 90 days in the Summer/Fall of 1969. After they came home, though one didn't as it was lost in a tunnel after being dropped hence the request for a lanyard loop, none ever returned to Vietnam and the program was shut down. In the article I plan to pull out several Army test reports on the TG. They tell a whole different side to the story. The gun wasn't only tested in the tunnels, it was also used in a few ambushes above ground and the results were surprising. More later
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

A great post and research Chuck. You really do your home work.
Thank you.