While cleaning my kitchen drawer .38 I started reflecting on the time I purchased the gun. Two young guys had a table at the RK show on Jonesboro Rd. in Atlanta, and had an M10-6 that they were presenting as the gun that a helicopter pilot carried in RVN. They did not know they were talking to a VN helicopter pilot until later. They were claiming the gun was LNIB, which was close. It was in the original box, with most of the stuff in the box still there, but there were some scuff marks on the right side of the muzzle. Otherwise it appeared to have been unfired, outside of the factory, with grips SN'ed to the gun and in, overall, great condition. The box even had the price label ($84.50) still on it, with the original owner's name and address hand written on the inside of the box top. A whole bunch of things went through my mind while I examined the gun, including the fact that it was just too nice to have been carried in Vietnam by a helicopter pilot. Another thing that popped into my mind was why any one would bring a .38 special to Vietnam when that's what you would likely be issued when you got there. I'm thinking a .357 would be more appropriate, or maybe a .44 magnum. The .357 would be the better choice because .38 special ammo was every where. Anything else would likely be smuggled in or mailed to you by a friend or family member.
The VHPA (Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association) has one of the world's best data bases on RVN helicopter pilots (all services, including Air America, etc.), as orders for VN (for the Army, at least) usually had 25-30 names on each set of orders, and they have a copy of every one who went there. Well, the guy's name is not in the directory, which means he probably was not a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Of course I didn't have a copy of the directory with me, but the gun was so nice, and the price was definitely right, so I bought it, even though I knew the story was bogus. Plus the gun was shipped at about the time I was in Vietnam. SN: D1440XX=1969-1970.
After the deal was done I told the sellers that I too was a helicopter pilot in RVN, and their faces both showed "Busted!".
When I finally got around to shooting it, POI was all over the target, but after about 30 rounds or so, the groups started tightening up. The more I shot it the more accurate it got. After a few hundred rounds, it's a real tack driver. Those numbers are approximate, but it did improve dramatically with use. The trigger pull on this thing is sooo good. S&W must have been really paying attention to QC on this -6.
This picture does not do the gun justice.
The VHPA (Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association) has one of the world's best data bases on RVN helicopter pilots (all services, including Air America, etc.), as orders for VN (for the Army, at least) usually had 25-30 names on each set of orders, and they have a copy of every one who went there. Well, the guy's name is not in the directory, which means he probably was not a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Of course I didn't have a copy of the directory with me, but the gun was so nice, and the price was definitely right, so I bought it, even though I knew the story was bogus. Plus the gun was shipped at about the time I was in Vietnam. SN: D1440XX=1969-1970.
After the deal was done I told the sellers that I too was a helicopter pilot in RVN, and their faces both showed "Busted!".
When I finally got around to shooting it, POI was all over the target, but after about 30 rounds or so, the groups started tightening up. The more I shot it the more accurate it got. After a few hundred rounds, it's a real tack driver. Those numbers are approximate, but it did improve dramatically with use. The trigger pull on this thing is sooo good. S&W must have been really paying attention to QC on this -6.
This picture does not do the gun justice.
Where most people would have walked away disgusted though, you turned it around into a good transaction and a good story. Nice gun and thanks for sharing.
