Today I took my new-to-me Model 10-5 3" (my new carry gun) to the range for it's first tryout. Range report is at this link if you are interested

New to me 10-5 3"

While there I met a really nice fellow shooter trying out one of his new guns (just a plastic Sig--nothing cool). He was in the USAF for 20 years. He saw my revolver and started asking me questions about it, so I let him try it out. Afterwards he had a huge smile on his face and said, "man, that brings back memories". He proceeded to tell me that while he was in the Air Force his issue gun was a parkerized Combat Commander (he described it as a parkerized 4" six shot K frame with adjustable sights). Would I love to get my hands on one of those! I had heard rumors that some of the military's revolvers were parkerized, but I had never heard any confirmation of it. It's fun to experience a real life history lesson involving the guns we collect.

Blessings, and have a great weekend,

Paul Moore

Good story. These guns are all about history. Fascinating stuff.

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Hi:
Isn't a "Combat Commander" a Colt .45acp Pistol?

Right... the proper name would be "Combat Masterpiece." I don't remember seeing where any left the factory parked, but my memory could be off on that, and there were a lot of things done by military armories post-factory. I wouldn't mind having one of those myownself!

Froggie

I'm getting words mixed up in my old age. I meant Combat Masterpiece. As far as parkerized...I wonder if it was an old enough gun that it had the matte finish like a Model 28, and to him it just looked parkerized.

paul

The S&W M-15 was the standard issue handgun in the Air Force for a long time. I saw some that looked brand new and saw others that looked like they had been drug behind a truck for several miles. I can't quote a source but I have been told that some M-15 were refinished over time. I have seen a couple parked. Great gun.

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Keep Shootin' and check 6

I've seen a couple of parked examples as well, at gun shows. Can't say if they were original or if they had been refinished in park at some time in their lives. I sorta like 'em though.

My Combat Masterpiece was made in 1971 (M15-3) and is unfired, but I'd really like to have an older one--a K-38 or a no dash--something with diamond grips. Since it's unfired, I won't shoot it. Ideally, I'd love to have an older one that is in excellent condition but not perfect, so I could take it to the range. In my experience, 4" S&W revolvers shoot really well. They have a nice feel and balance, and it's a long enough barrel to give sufficient distance between the front and rear sights for good accuracy.

Paul

Never having seen one, a parkerized revolver sounds...well, pretty ugly. Is it nicer looking than it sounds?

Paul

My Dad's issued gun as a deputy with the LA County Sheriff's Office back in the late '60s / early '70s was a four-inch Combat Masterpiece. He later carried a personally-owned Model 36 when in a plainclothes role. He still speaks glowingly of the Model 15. I have his leather duty gear for it.

But I like it

Not a USAF, just one that spent too much time in the tacklebox of Dad's boat

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here's a 19-5, black parked.


About 20 tears ago, I was doin' a job in Appleton, WI. I attended a show in Fon du Lac. An old guy had several nice Smith's on his table with the fantastic military parkerizing on them. All were new, never issued. I SWEAR, one was a 1955 Target Model in 45acp with a 5" BARREL.
I wanted that gun BAD. The guy had $900 bucks on the tag. I laid out $1000 bucks + a signed in ink copy of my buddy's FFL, told him to ship it to his shop. He said "no". I laid out $500 bucks more, & he still said "no". He did not want to deal with the inter-state thing. He musta' been about 75 or so then. I never wanted to reach across a table & beat some "knowitall" dealer so bad in my life. I left there steamin' mad. I've never gone back to that show since. I was afraid I would see the guy again & lose control. I was 35 then, half his age. I'm more mellow today, realizing there's no use in arguing with 'em. I just spend my money elsewhere.

The way I understand it, a lot of the Smith's sent to the military got the great green park jobs, no matter what model they were.


Ned

From 1986 to 1989 I was a Missile Combat Crew member at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. All 15 Launch Control Centers had a pair of Smith and Wesson Model 15's that were parkerized. When a new two-man crew came in to relieve you they would take custody of the two sidearms until they were relieved 24 hours later. I never saw anyone maintain those guns in the three years I was there. They did seem to hold up well. Maybe that was due to the parkerized finish or maybe because they were 60 feet underground and never exposed to weather.

Arkhog, the person who shared the story with me that this thread is about was a USAF missle crewman in SD.

Paul Moore

I carried an S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece in the Air Force as a Security Policeman (Law Enforcement Specialist) from 1975 to 1979. Magnificent pistol.
In Panama, I recall seeing perhaps two or three parkerized models. I think they were there by happenstance, nothing to do with the high humidity and rain we endured.
I carried a 15-2 with a superb action. One night, on a back gate with no one around, I removed the sideplate. It was nicely polished on all contact points inside. I suspect it had been issued at some point to an officer, or someone who knew about handguns had it slicked up.
I made expert with that revolver, because it was glass-smooth.
Almost cried when I had to leave it in Panama, upon my discharge. I never again came across such a smooth action -- and I've seen plenty of K-frame S&Ws through the years.
Yep, the parkerized versions are out there but not common.
I understand that all the USAF revolvers were crushed a few years after the Beretta 9mm was adopted. Makes me sick. All those finely made revolvers turned into iron junk!
In the Wish List of this site I posted -- long ago -- the wish that Smith & Wesson would issue Model 15 USAF commemoratives, with the old USAF roundel on the frame. Perhaps a Security Police badge engraved as well.
I'd buy two: one to shoot and one to reign as queen in my safe.
The Model 15 is a magnificent pistol. I recently bought one, made in 1977, to cure my homesickness for a good, K-frame .38.
I'd love to see Smith & Wesson issue a commemorative, to honor all those in Air Force blue who served this nation so faithfully for decades.

That's good to hear. Ellsworth AFB was an operational missile base for about 30 years. The missile wing is no longer there. In three decades those parkerized M15's were handled by an untold number of people.

I was a unit armorer in the Army in the '80s. Part of my kit were cans of spray on park. Intended for touch ups, I suspect a bored/over-eager AF armorer could park a whole pistol. Like any finishing job - prep is everything.