S&W Model 36 Airweight

[oldafsp]

Hopefully pics will appear so we can get a good look at this one.

The first Air Police School was at Tyndall AFB. Throughout my career in the AF I saw some strange weapons at various SP armories. Some were purchased locally for special duties at the descretion of the commander.

Even found two original Armalite AR-10's at one base. Evaluation weapons from the late 1950's that were still there.

 

[Rancher Will]

I do not want to cause a major event on this site. I have examined the little .38 again, carefully, there are no other markings, anywhere on the gun except what I have already described. I have not overlooked anything re-examining it. I tested with a magnet and the parts attracted to the magnet are the barrel and cylinder but not the frame.

I also searched the official S&W site, and other sites, and based on what I can see on those sites I believe that you on this site are no doubt correct. I believe now that it is a 6 shot model 12, or at least as close to a model 12 as I can find from looking at the photos and reading the descriptions. Mine is a square butt closely matching what I can find.

I do not know if it was new when issued to me. I received it the first time I went to the range to qualify when I was at Bolling Field. After firing there I signed the issuance papers in the office. It was clean, not in a container, and had no cosmoline when the range officer handed it to me the first time that saw it. It was new to me but that's all I know.

Thank you for your input. I am satisfied. I do not intend to sell it so I don't care what it is worth.

 

[kwill1911]

Rancher Will,

With all due respect, you are leaving the military handgun collectors frustrated. You had described what may be a heretofore unknown S&W revolver sold to the USAF and we would like to run it down and document the story if at all possible. It you would PM the serial number to me Roy Jinks has offered to research it and let us know what the story is. I know many folks are wary of sharing serial numbers but in all the years of collecting, sharing numbers and posting pictures of numbers, I don't think there is one documented case of anything bad happening. The number does not have to go any further than Roy.

Thanks for considering it.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

 

[kenny s]

ah the memories. In 'Nam, I carried a S+W .38 J 5 shot with the backstrap deeply marked...US AIR FORCE. I sold it to a friend for $75 when I got out of that "place". I had bought it for $50 and had an offer for $100, but I split it with a Slick driver friend. I packed that little Smith in my back for a year. Had it out a few times, but never fired it. Last month I saw a J .38 snubby for sale. $450 later I own an 'Old Friend' again. I pack it regularly. Ken Nam. '68 and 69

 

[zebcotia]

This is a very interesting mystery. I can't wait to see what the little gun turns out to be. This is the best part of collecting.

 

[ordnanceguy]

In reading this thread today I am reminded of the old story of the six blind men who are asked to describe the elephant standing in front of them. Each feels a different part of the elephant and describes the animal accordingly. Here, without a photo or a complete serial number we are all blind men fumbling around in the dark trying to identify a revolver which does not match up with the known characteristics of USAF S&W revolvers of the period. This is, I'm afraid, an impossible task with the information provided so far.

 

[Kensterfly]

Wonder whatever happened to this thread....

 

[kwill1911]

Me too! I guess it was just a drive by.

 

[mbliss57]

I read the entire thread. Although it seems like it was probably a pre model 12 there were alot of things that did not add up.Like no s/n on barrel flat or cylinder face...I think it may have been a troll.

 

[AWBAGWELL85]

Wow! I read the whole thing and was on the edge of my seat as it went on...only to realize the thread was 2 yrs old. Haha, kinda like watching the "Sixth Sense" years after everyone else has seen it.

 

[kaaskop49]

So while everybody was debating and agonizing about what was possibly an imaginary gun (no photos, no nuthin'), some one tiptoed in and stole the family silver...

 

[Duncan14]

This may be somewhat off point, but I was an OSI agent from 1967 to 1971 and we carried what was called at the time an "OSI Special." It was S&W, .38 cal., 5-shot revolver with a 2" barrel. Does anyone know what that was?

 

[Kensterfly]

This may be somewhat off point, but I was an OSI agent from 1967 to 1971 and we carried what was called at the time an "OSI Special." It was S&W, .38 cal., 5-shot revolver with a 2" barrel. Does anyone know what that was?

Mod 36 or 37? I have two M37 Airweights. Love 'em.

 

[Texas Star]

This may be somewhat off point, but I was an OSI agent from 1967 to 1971 and we carried what was called at the time an "OSI Special." It was S&W, .38 cal., 5-shot revolver with a 2" barrel. Does anyone know what that was?

Probably a slang term for a M-36 Chief Special. Do you know if the frame was steel or light alloy?

 

[Duncan14]

Duncan14

I believe the frame was steel. But this goes back 40+ years.