kwill1911
Member
SEAL Team 2 member with an Model 39. Pistol is hidden, but you can see Bob's shoulder holster strap.
Any chance you have a picture that shows the Model 39?
S&W In VietNam ?
- Thread starter marine1970
- Start date
Any chance you have a picture that shows the Model 39?
ky wonder
US Veteran
there were more than a few that were captured in may 1970 at rock island east
everything from flintlocks to Mercedes's were captured
The 1st Cav hauled huge stores of enemy arms and equipment out of Cambodia. The Engineers had to build a road into "Rock Island East" to get trucks in to haul it away. It took nine days of convoys to move the material into South Vietnam. a display of some of the captured weapons at Phuoc Vinh
everything from flintlocks to Mercedes's were captured
The 1st Cav hauled huge stores of enemy arms and equipment out of Cambodia. The Engineers had to build a road into "Rock Island East" to get trucks in to haul it away. It took nine days of convoys to move the material into South Vietnam. a display of some of the captured weapons at Phuoc Vinh
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Those photos do bring back memories. I was a Tanker and the M3 and 1911 was my standard issue until I got stuck behind a desk.
BOMBTEC
US Veteran
Texas Star
US Veteran
Anyone interested in current OSI sidearms can see my post on that in the forum for guns from 1980-Present. There's an important announcement there about agents now being allowed personal guns.
The commanding general for OSI is also encouraging routine carry.
The commanding general for OSI is also encouraging routine carry.
Very interesting thread...
Sorry to come late to this thread.. but it brought back memories. I was an advisor (MACV) to the backwoods south vietnamese troops and often didn't know who was the bigger threat, the VC or my counterparts. I was in a remote area (think "apocalypse now"). I carried a Combat masterpiece mod 15 during that part of my tour and it served me very well, even saving my bacon at least once. I always slept with it in my hand. Got it off an Air force doctor who did remote medical civic action program trips to my district. He was a "boob man" and always wanted to go to the far out Montagnard villages and see the topless girls pounding rice. We had some tight times because of that fondness of his, and going so remote with little to no security. He wanted a 1911 so we traded (for the duration). I loved that gun. Shot some wild hogs with it. Slept (very lightly) with it every night. I had good intel on many of the VC cadre in my district, one of whom was the only barber in town. There was no power, except my generator. He used hand operated clippers. He knew I had a dossier on him, but of course always denied being VC. When it came time for him to shave around the edges & ears, I always took the 38 out of the shoulder holster and cocked it, laying my hand in my lap with it. He always laughed but was very careful and never even nicked me with that straight razor
.
Turning it back in after my tour was like a divorce. I Later found S&W was making it in stainless (mod 67) and bought one that I kept a long time and foolishly traded off. A few years back I got one from Germany in a shipment of guns that I imported. That one, with the German proofs, will be in my estate. definitely my favorite revolver.
Sorry to come late to this thread.. but it brought back memories. I was an advisor (MACV) to the backwoods south vietnamese troops and often didn't know who was the bigger threat, the VC or my counterparts. I was in a remote area (think "apocalypse now"). I carried a Combat masterpiece mod 15 during that part of my tour and it served me very well, even saving my bacon at least once. I always slept with it in my hand. Got it off an Air force doctor who did remote medical civic action program trips to my district. He was a "boob man" and always wanted to go to the far out Montagnard villages and see the topless girls pounding rice. We had some tight times because of that fondness of his, and going so remote with little to no security. He wanted a 1911 so we traded (for the duration). I loved that gun. Shot some wild hogs with it. Slept (very lightly) with it every night. I had good intel on many of the VC cadre in my district, one of whom was the only barber in town. There was no power, except my generator. He used hand operated clippers. He knew I had a dossier on him, but of course always denied being VC. When it came time for him to shave around the edges & ears, I always took the 38 out of the shoulder holster and cocked it, laying my hand in my lap with it. He always laughed but was very careful and never even nicked me with that straight razor
.Turning it back in after my tour was like a divorce. I Later found S&W was making it in stainless (mod 67) and bought one that I kept a long time and foolishly traded off. A few years back I got one from Germany in a shipment of guns that I imported. That one, with the German proofs, will be in my estate. definitely my favorite revolver.
Glad to see more stories has been added
Cory
Cory
Yep and I told him that, and told him that he'd never see me hit the floor. In both languages. He laughed because he knew that as well. It was a very nervous laugh.
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zogger
Member
Great story!
Yes, they were good for writing scripts.
Just stumbled upon this rejuvenated thread and I'm def glad that I did.
While he didn't serve in Vietnam, my grandfather served in the Army Europe in WWII. I recall a story he told about acquiring a S&W "Victory" (essentially a 4" Mod 10) sometime in the Spring of 1945 near the end of the war. He was an officer and was walking thru base camp in Belgium (wherever that happened to be) and came across a barrel full of weapons likely from KIA or wounded soldiers and noticed this S&W on the top and decided to take it as a sidearm as he preferred the balance and weight of it to the Colt 1911 he was issued. He even had a German POW fashion some custom grips with his initials "RLM" engraved on them. He carried that S&W until he was sent home in 1946 and it lived in his nightstand until he passed it on to my father in the late-1990s. Three years ago my father passed it along to me and it sits in one of my safes with other "safe queens" that are taken out and oiled (and sometimes fired) once or twice a year, custom grips and all.
Got S&W letter on it back in Dec 2014 and as per Jinks it was part of a batch of Victory Models sent to Naval Strategic Sevice at Norfolk, Va Aug 22, 1944. That S&W is a favorite heirloom of mine and while not a Vietnam story, I figured it was appropriate.
While he didn't serve in Vietnam, my grandfather served in the Army Europe in WWII. I recall a story he told about acquiring a S&W "Victory" (essentially a 4" Mod 10) sometime in the Spring of 1945 near the end of the war. He was an officer and was walking thru base camp in Belgium (wherever that happened to be) and came across a barrel full of weapons likely from KIA or wounded soldiers and noticed this S&W on the top and decided to take it as a sidearm as he preferred the balance and weight of it to the Colt 1911 he was issued. He even had a German POW fashion some custom grips with his initials "RLM" engraved on them. He carried that S&W until he was sent home in 1946 and it lived in his nightstand until he passed it on to my father in the late-1990s. Three years ago my father passed it along to me and it sits in one of my safes with other "safe queens" that are taken out and oiled (and sometimes fired) once or twice a year, custom grips and all.
Got S&W letter on it back in Dec 2014 and as per Jinks it was part of a batch of Victory Models sent to Naval Strategic Sevice at Norfolk, Va Aug 22, 1944. That S&W is a favorite heirloom of mine and while not a Vietnam story, I figured it was appropriate.
Bakebfr480
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I read somewhere where Col. Charlie Askins carried a model 29 44 magnum. Also, read his account of killing a Viet Cong with the same revolver.
Yes- would've been an early pre-29 .44. I may be mistaken but IIRC he claims that he was the first to "field test" the gun on a human target in his autobiography in 1955-56 while stationed in SE Asia...needless to say it appears to have worked just fine.
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UncleEd
Member
Yes, Askins relished in blowing people's head off from ambush.
It was one of his most glorious kills.
He dearly loved his blood and guts image he
painted for himself.
It was one of his most glorious kills.
He dearly loved his blood and guts image he
painted for himself.
The ammunition was actually modified, it had a captive piston that ejected the slug from a very heavy cartridge so no gas was vented, hence, silenced ammo!
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THE PILGRIM
Member
My Buddy John was shot down and landed in a swampy area in NVN near the Gulf of Token.
He called for help on his radio and Search and Rescue Folks come to his aid.
They determined where he was and told him not to move.
Later tonight the Navy will arrive and extract you.
Later that night he heard sounds and said the urge to move was almost overwhelming.
The sounds got louder and then a head poked through the brush.
It was a Black Guy! Not sure if if was the Seal posted.
They got into a nearby inflatable, then out to a powerboat.
He called for help on his radio and Search and Rescue Folks come to his aid.
They determined where he was and told him not to move.
Later tonight the Navy will arrive and extract you.
Later that night he heard sounds and said the urge to move was almost overwhelming.
The sounds got louder and then a head poked through the brush.
It was a Black Guy! Not sure if if was the Seal posted.
They got into a nearby inflatable, then out to a powerboat.
kwill1911
Member
No offense but neither of these statements is quite correct. S&W shipped frames with no barrels, cylinders, grips or sights to AAI. The ammo was captive piston driven but it was loaded with hardened shot, not a slug.
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