The Model 60 in Vietnam

[153]

Since the Stainless Chief appeared in ‘65, some examples must have made it into southeast Asia.

Are there any forum members with recollections or stories of the acquisition/use of this revolver during the Vietnam war ...

 

[max]

I was at HHQ of the 18th MP BDE. There was a briefing for the CG every morning at 7. One of the officers who attended was in charge of the CID group. He carried one in a holster under his fatigue shirt.

 

[Texas Star]

Author Leroy Thompson had one. He was an Air Police officer; commanded Combat Air Police units, I think. Jungle ambushes of enemy near USAF bases, etc.

If he sees this, he may comment further.

About then, CIA agent Harry Archer had one in S. American jungles, training with USAID elements. It held up in humid conditions a LOT better than his nickled M-19! Killed tapir, jaguar, brocket deer. He did use hot handloads.

We corresponded, but he also wrote about his guns in, Gunfacts.

Archer is deceased, but led an adventurous life. He designed the Chute Knife for knifemaker R. W. Loveless.

 

[JayCeeNC]

In Thailand, 1974-1975, I lived in an off-base hooch area.
The Papasan who owned the compound had been a political figure earlier in his life.
He had a Model 60 and a Remington Model 870.
We fired both one afternoon--I let him win.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I remember a few helicopter pilots in Vietnam with privately owned firearms, one of which was a Model 60.

Privately owned weapons were generally forbidden. There were exceptions, primarily officers and special forces personnel, and written orders were required to allow the possession of anything other than issued weapons. Most of us arrived in Vietnam as replacements, and our baggage was closely searched before leaving the US and before getting on the plane to come home. Many officers and senior NCO's had specific assignments and orders, which may have included an authorization for privately owned firearms.

 

[Mrnurse]

I carried a 2 inch Mdl 10 on my Uncle Sam Trips to El-Salvador in the 1980's ..POW's were forbidden by AF Regs but no one enforced this stupid policy for higher Risk flights.

 

[white cloud]

When my father was deployed in Vietnam, one of his NCO buddies carried a Model 60.

 

[UncleEd]

At a gun show, a S&W rep told me that
the Model 60 had primary status for
overseas use in Nam, other places.

 

[153]

I had heard the stories that overseas bound military had priority over civilian sales, but how would G.I’s order a revolver? Direct from S&W or via the PX?

 

[Old cop]

I heard, through the rumor mill, that you could request a personal weapon if you were at least an E-5 when I was there in ‘66. As a Navy Corpsman assigned to a Marine rifle company I had a gov’t 1911.