New to me, USAF Model 15-2 *Holster & Dump Pouch photos added*

[richcory]

I have to first thank forum member troy69az for selling this gem to me a short while back.

I couldn't be happier with this retired Airman. Her trigger pull on both double & single action is the stuff dreams are made of. The grips are numbered to the gun and the Factory Letter authenticates it's the real deal. I went thru the internals last night and cleaned out 40+ years of grease and cleaned up the grips a bit also.

I remember seeing the arming procedures on the wall by the clearing barrels for several years after I cross trained in early 2001 and for several years after that. I would often comment that I wish us aircrew could carry it instead of the M9. The aircrew guys that I know carried them always spoke highly of them & the 2" barrel ones. They were both much easier to conceal on the jet. Enough of my rambling, I just wanted to show it off.

Cory

 

[richcory]

I forgot to also send a big thank you to Mr. Roy Jinks and his team for the factory letter.

 

[BOMBTEC]

USAF MOD 15-2

As a retired USAF Security Police MSGT. I wasn't aware that any of the U.S.A.F. marked MOD 15's were surplussed. I was under the impression that the were all destroyed. I carried one from '68-71 and then again from '80 till they were replaced by the M9. And yes it is and excellent hand gun. This is the first one I have seen out of USAF control. I don't know if the actions were tuned by S&W or just usage gets the actions so smooth. You are very lucky to have found this USAF marked S&W. I have looked for one for years. Enjoy!

 

[Absalom]

As a retired USAF Security Police MSGT. I wasn't aware that any of the U.S.A.F. marked MOD 15's were surplussed. I was under the impression that the were all destroyed. I carried one from '68-71 and then again from '80 till they were replaced by the M9. And yes it is and excellent hand gun. This is the first one I have seen out of USAF control. I don't know if the actions were tuned by S&W or just usage gets the actions so smooth. You are very lucky to have found this USAF marked S&W. I have looked for one for years. Enjoy!

If you use this forum's search function to search for "USAF marked Model 15" or somesuch term, you'll find quite a few threads where these have been discussed. They are uncommon and very sought-after by some collectors, but not unseen and even pop up on auction sites on occasion.

 

[murphydog]

As a retired USAF Security Police MSGT. I wasn't aware that any of the U.S.A.F. marked MOD 15's were surplussed. I was under the impression that the were all destroyed. I carried one from '68-71 and then again from '80 till they were replaced by the M9. And yes it is and excellent hand gun. This is the first one I have seen out of USAF control. I don't know if the actions were tuned by S&W or just usage gets the actions so smooth. You are very lucky to have found this USAF marked S&W. I have looked for one for years. Enjoy!

At least some US/USAF stamped model 15s were sold/transferred to law enforcement agencies; some were probably given as retirement gifts or "disappeared without a trace". It is also possible large numbers are still stockpiled somewhere by the military; unlike 1911s, M13s, etc. I have not seen torched or cut-up pieces of these having been sold for scrap.

 

[DocB]

Back in the day (1980's) many of my students at Robins AFB would tell me they carried these guns loaded with shot shells. That way if a shot had to be fired while the aircraft was in flight, it would not penetrate any part of the plane. These guns were commonly seen on base since we had SAC wings with lots of bombers and the appropriate "big" ordinance to go with them.

 

[Watchdog]

I couldn't be happier with this retired Airman...I just wanted to show it off.
Cory

Congratulations on a great gun. I'd looked at one of those not long ago, but the price put it out of my reach. That gun will last you a long long time.

 

[F224]

Most General Officers were presented with their issued sidearms upon separation from active service (Generals never really retire in the normal sense of the word). I know of two Army and one USAF General who kept their S&W revolvers that way. This may have been one of those, but more likely is a Government to law enforcement agency surplus firearm.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Congrats on a great find. Very nicely presented with your wings, unit patches (I have one of those squadron patches somewhere in my collection), and ribbon rack. Kudos.

Edited to add -- just noticed you qualified expert with the long gun and the handgun!

Bob

 

[kwill1911]

Most General Officers were presented with their issued sidearms upon separation from active service (Generals never really retire in the normal sense of the word). I know of two Army and one USAF General who kept their S&W revolvers that way. This may have been one of those, but more likely is a Government to law enforcement agency surplus firearm.

Yes, a staff member often had some special grips made, or an inscription done or something similar but the General still had to pay for the gun if he wanted to keep it. Or, he could return it to service, and many did.

 

[lamarw]

My understanding is when a Colonel makes general officer status he is issued a handgun specifically serial numbered to him/her. The serial numbers I have seen start with GO. Upon retirement, they can either turn-in his/her sidearm or purchase it for a specific price. It then becomes his/her handgun and the firearm leaves Government service.

The taxpayer must be reimbursed for their property. Not sure how long this procedure has been military policy.

 

[kwill1911]

My understanding is when a Colonel makes general officer status he is issued a handgun specifically serial numbered to him/her. The serial numbers I have seen start with GO. Upon retirement, they can either turn-in his/her sidearm or purchase it for a specific price. It then becomes his/her handgun and the firearm leaves Government service.

The taxpayer must be reimbursed for their property. Not sure how long this procedure has been military policy.

Since the Beretta M9 became the standard issue pistol, Army Generals do get one with a special serial number prefixed with "GO." The Air Force issued standard M9s (no GO number) but they go through the gunsmith shop at Lackland to get polished up before they are issued. The Army has been issuing special pistols to its GOs since 1943.

Sorry, OP, for derailing your thread. Yours is a great revolver. Congratulations.

 

[richcory]

No worries kwill1911, all good stories.

Most of my research pointed to most of these being destroyed by the AF, but some were sold/transferred to local PD or other agency's.

I used some CLP on the grips to get the green gunk out of the S&W medallions & that made a big difference. The wood shined up nicely after that also. I had a gunsmith friend of mine look at it a couple weeks ago & he said it has the factory springs inside. I just know it's smoother than any other factory setup I own.

 

[The Old MSgt]

Congratulations on the Model 15.

 

[Larry64]

Nice. I carried one for four years (SP). They never looked that good. I had the cylinder fall out of one on the range. They were beat. The Air Force got their money out of them.

 

[hsguy]

Another one that survived in decent shape that also shipped to the same AF base.

 

[Harkrader]

Richcory:
A terrific nostalgia piece.
I was issued them in Vietnam, but after spending the night at an Army firebase where we were treated to a demonstration of NVA artillery, I got a 1911 from an Army captain and carried that ever after.

I got a Model 15-2 "Combat Masterpiece" that Mr Jenks confirmed by letter was delivered to the USAF, and I further confirmed it was issued in Vietnam.
I just like seeing that "U.S.A.F." on the side. I remember them as being in rougher shape.

 

[richcory]

Great stories.

One of my favorite things about this revolver was taking it to a gunsmith friend of mine who is a retired Flight Engineer. He was on gunships in Vietnam and I thought he would enjoy seeing it. He said he carried a 1911 by choice as others have stated they did. I just realized that I forgot to post photos of the USAF holster & ammo dump pouch that came as part of the deal. I will try to do that tomorrow.

Cory

 

[CapnMic]

I was in SAC as a Security Police Shift Commander .. carried the Model 15 daily .... my model 15 had the target trigger and hammer and was parkerized .. an off-green color to it ..didn't look anything like cerekote .. still have my armory card/serial number somewhere .. have gone to some 30 different guns after the model 15, but there is something about that gun that just feels "right" ...

.. shot true and seemed to be a natural extension of putting it on target

definitely one of my all time favorite handguns.

 

[galena]

OK, add me to the Green-with-Envy list. I would love to have an AF marked M-15. The first times I was issued one was as a Butter Bar Lt, additional duty as a Pay Master when we paid in cash. Later in OSI I carried one, either a 4" or a 2" (I don't know if the 2"er was a M-15 or one of the allusive M-56s, wasn't sophisticated enough to look in those days.) I sure hated to give them up when OSI went to the 3" M-36s. Apparently, there were some that got into legitimate civilian circulation. I do know that some were issued/given to foreign police departments/agencies over the years, the PI Constabulary being one. Some entered civilian circles via the back door, I investigated several cases of missing M-15s, all the missing ones were entered into the NCIC. I have never been lucky enough to find one I could afford but will keep looking. Great revolver.