S&W In VietNam ?

I would love to see some of your Revolvers that were used or just carried during the War! SEMPER FI

I've seen marines using pencil barrel model 10s in the movies.

Standard issue for Army aviators were 4 inch standard (pencil) barrel Model 10s. As late as 1984 when I got out we still had a wide representation of them. Not exactly Viet Nam, but the same TO&E.
All the way from a few post WWII transitions and 5 screw no models to then current production. As I recall, the most common being 10-4 and 10-5, most did have diamond Magnas though. I am curious to know what became of these, most were fired about 50 rounds or less per year, cleaned and carried alot.
I think I still have an impression of one in a M4(?) holster in the ribs under my left arm. When they came out of the arms room, they stayed on your body 24/7.

My issued weapon was a M10 RB with the heavy barrel, There were several different wheelguns in the arms room; the above mentioned pencil barrels, a couple of Colt 38s, even a couple of Colt Detective Specials. I took my HB with me when my unit was colocated with the USAF at Ubon in Thailand. There the AF guys had M15s, some of which had 2 inch barrels. The armorer there did an action job on my M10 HB that is still the best I have ever had. I was a kid then and foolishly turned it in when I processed out of country, when I think of how many ways I could have "lost" it, I get sick even today. I am sure someone with more experience than I had now owns that gun.
All of the guns were pretty much off the shelf blue models. Looked like the Army just went to a gun shop and bought them. There were a couple of older revolvers that seemed to be parked. Some were marked US property or some such, but many were not.
I still have the Colt M1908 in .380 that my Dad carried through WWI and WWII. He bought it in 1913 when as a very young merchant marine officer he knew he was going to be called up(he was Canadian). He bought the gun in Boston, MA. Just went into a gun shop and bought the gun and 200 rounds of ammo and walked out with the stuff, try that today in MA!
He carried that gun all through the war on a Royal Canadian Navy Cruiser which was assigned to the African theater. He carried it ashore with a boarding party to attack a German Light Cruiser up some river in German West Africa, got into a fight with a German officer who tried to use his sword-really, brought a sword to a gunfight. Dad blocked a swing with the gun then shot the German and took him prisoner back to his ship. They became friends and corresponded between wars while each served a merchant marine officers. Come WWII and Dad got called up again (he had become a US citizen and joined the USNR), and packed the same gun, along with a Colt snub .38 special he acquired in 1930 all during WWII. Never used it except for shooting off the deck of the carrier he was assigned to. I inherited the guns when Dad passed away in the 70s. Both were somewhat the worse for the wear so I sent them to Colt to be refinshed, however dad had made me promise never to repair the gash on the trigger guard of the .380 which the German sword had inflicted. Still got them both. After WWII Dad and the German officer met again, still as merchant marine officers. In 1960 the German came to the US to visit Dad, and in 1964 when I was assigned to Frankfurt as an Army pilot I stayed with him and his family for a while. He passed away in 1982.
Every now and them I take out the guns and clean them, oil them up and put them away. For a while I even carried either of them as an off duty weapon, they both shot well, and carried nicely. I am saving them for my grandchildren via their parents, although not too soon I hope.

Nice story and great history on those guns. You have something to really be proud of.

Hard to say what kind of revolver this is, but it's probably a S&W and I thought the Forum would enjoy the photo. This is USAF pilot Capt. Clint Queen in Viet Nam in 1966 with his revolver.

The USAF issued mostly S&W 4" Model 15's to pilots. They could also carry personal weapons. Looks like Clint's gun is his personal gun, judging by the holster and belt.

gunbarrel said:

Hard to say what kind of revolver this is, but it's probably a S&W and I thought the Forum would enjoy the photo. This is USAF pilot Capt. Clint Queen in Viet Nam in 1966 with his revolver.

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Great pic, thanks for posting it! I inlarged the pic and the revolver is definitely a S&W RB K frame with diamond grips.

Second tour in Viet Nam as a chopper pilot, I carried M-10. First tour I was issued a Rand 45. Was "required" to wear issued personal weapon with WWII style hip holster. Needless to say, flying 12 - 14 - 16 hours a day the web gear with weapon was hung on the sliding seat armor. Got hit really bad doing LRRP resupplies. Me, peter pilot, gunner spent 3 days doing E&E. Crew chief wasn't so lucky. Had to respnd to report of survey. Lost 45 in crash and still had to pay $47.00 because I wasn't wearing it. Go figure. Wish I could buy 45s for 47 bucks now days.

AKAOV1MAN,
Great history for your pistols. They are heirlooms to pass on from generation to generation.

Here is a 15-2 that seller bought from a Vietnam era veteran.

1970-71

Only pic I have for posting is this. I bought the S&W for twenty bucks from a chopper pilot (1970). I used to trade them .45acp ammo for the .38 they were issued. I could get all the .45 ammo I wanted but could not be issued a sidearm (11B, Spec4). I upgraded later as you can see. Short, last month in country, workin for the SP. Oh the greasegun cost me the princly sum of $45.00.

I got my 10 year old boy a S&W Mod. 15 this summer when he got out of school . It's an early 1950's and it look's like it had never been fired . It has three small spots where the bluing is gone . I gave it to him in an after market Navy air crew shoulder holster with the 13 round canvas cartridge holder . I know that my boy's Smith is not military issue but he got and still does get good history lesson's about the air crews that carried then in Vietnam . He just loves that 15 .

Not the same one -

I didn't have a personal (privately owned) sidearm but, I was issued a S&W Model 10-5, as a helicopter crewmember. I sadly, had to give it back after 10 1/2 months and 700 hrs. of flight time.
Fortunately, I never needed the Smith's services but, I sure shot the heck out of the country side with her.
I found this M10-5 (Circa 1966/67) a while ago and picked her up.

Bruce

Milt does WOPA mean anything to you ? I was an Army Aviator in Viet Nam . I also was issued a Rand .45 while I wanted for someone to sovenir to me a S&W .38 , I beleve it was a 10 but in those days , it was a Smith and that seemed like being given a Cadillac by the motor pool . But if the Army will give a beezillion dollar Cobra to my 20 year old , can't grow a mustache yet behind , who knows what they will issue .

rimfired said:

Only pic I have for posting is this. I bought the S&W for twenty bucks from a chopper pilot (1970). I used to trade them .45acp ammo for the .38 they were issued. I could get all the .45 ammo I wanted but could not be issued a sidearm (11B, Spec4). I upgraded later as you can see. Short, last month in country, workin for the SP. Oh the greasegun cost me the princly sum of $45.00.

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This world is getting smaller or something . 196 th LIB and 23rd InDiv (Americal) Sounds like like what one of my Blue Ghost old pals would just before an IG and we had too manty weapons . Welcome home , live long , shoot straight .

I've posted pics of this S&W model 10-5 before, I bought it locally and was able to trace it's former owners. The revolver was brought back by "Jim", a US Army Captain who served with MACV in 1972.

The S&W was previously carried in 1966 by a friend of his, "Jay" who served in the 1st Airborne Brigade, 1st Cav Div, and Co. C., 5th Special Forces Group. Jay was wounded in the 1st battle of Lang Vei in May of 1967. He returned to RVN later in 1967 and served with Company B, 5th SFG until 1968. Jay returned again in 1971 served with MACV until 1972. Also, shown here is a photo that Jay sent me of 2 of his knives, one is a 5th SFG RVN Presentation Model and the other his regular issue knife along with his beret.

A special thanks to these two fellows and all our other service members.

Back from 'Nam

I was an armorer for an agency in San Francisco and the Chief, a retired Army LtCol brought in his handguns to be cleaned as he hadn't done it in years..he had a model 12 with a 4" barrel and I asked where he got it..told me he took it off a a dead VietCong..it was in so-so shape but was an old 5 screw..it must have been there when the French tired to tame that place..bet there were all kinds of stuff brought back have not seen the light of day in a long time..all5x

digi-shots,

IMHO, both of the knives shown are SF "presentation" knives. Some did have the brass fittings, rather than steel.

BTW, I carried a 1911A1 or a Browning HP, depending upon the situation, rather than an S&W.

A picture of my knife.

Thanks for the shots of the SOGs .