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.

Attached Images

USAF pilot Capt. Clint Queen Vietnam 1966.jpg (37.7 KB, 12296 views)

AKAOV1MAN,
Great story and history. Thanks for posting.
Make sure all the heirs know the full stories.

We took in here at the gun shop a 4" HB S&W parkerized. Guy brought it back from Viet. He carried it on duty. He said quiet a few of his group had them Black cartridge belt holster gigs. He said he was told ? S&W found theold guns and rebarreled them in HB and did park on them and sent them to Viet. ?? al

What a wonderful story it is that you just shared. Two men on opposite sides in two horrible conflicts became and stayed friends. Wars are started by old men and fought by young men who often would rather not be fighting at all.

Yes, they were good for writing scripts.

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.

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

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John. SWCA #1586

I figure desk driver was the surveying officer... :-)

but I could certainly be mistaken. At least they didn't charge you for the helicopter......

rayb

22 years in the green machins

Though I no longer have the article, I know I read that the famed "tunnel rats" carried and used some S&W revolvers with the barrels cut down to almost nothing. It was nearly a cylinder with a nub of a barrel....Perhaps someone can fill this idea out.....Zebulon

The QSPR was an off the shelf S&W Model 29-2that was modified by AAI Corp.

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You do what you are.

I believe it was Gizamo that posted a picture of a snub nose .38 on a book that was used by a tunnel rat in days long gone by. There was also some documentation from the period in the picture.

Great picture and history presented, but somehow that thread went awry, and harsh words or something came about.

Maybe he will chime in again with the picture?

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!




t

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Old paratrooper in NC

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

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.

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 .

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

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.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

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

How'd you like that "Grease-Gun" ? I ave an uncle that served in Vietnam and he says it was a really reliable and worked under the harshest conditions.

It was totally a reliable and fun to shoot sub-machine gun. I never carried it in the field, it was meant more for crowd control at the rear base where, unless on bunker/tower/main gate post, all issued weapons were in the armory. Simple and effective.

Up until the late 80's The Engineer Company I was co-located with still issued the grease gun for their M-113 crew.

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.

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Dan Ortego ~

As a Security Police type in VN I carried a S&W M-15 and a M-16 on Base LE patrol at Tuy Hoa AB. Great weapon but we had lousy issue ammo. I always tried to get state side ammo when you could trade some out the flying types.

Attached Images

TuyHoa.jpg (10.0 KB, 190 views)

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 .

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

I think that that's a slightly different "organization" in different services. In the Navy, it is composed of folks with a LOT of TIS. Usually don't need help anyway, but it can be had.

When I was on a WesPac carrier, I believe that the ISSUE revolver was a 4" M&P, but pilots used to carry all kinds of stuff, from .25 autos to Ruger Super Blackhawk. I heard a story about a pilot who kept a .25 in his crotch, thus preventing its detection, and used it to gain access to a critical helicopter ride away from the scene of the crime. I have heard another (helicopter pilot) state that the .38 with tracers was once useful for announcing one's presence when ship drivers were negligently unaware of it. I don't fully understand that, but that's what was reported to me.

Wow this is a great thread.

Terrific thread. I am enjoying the anecdotes immensly.

I was at MCAS Yuma from 1972 to 1975.

Very rarely did we see any pilots armed. However one day a Navy pilot came in and filed a flight plan. He was wearing a WWII type tan shoulder holster with the standard government hardball in .38 Special in bullet loops.

I was told he was thus armed because he was off a carrier that was heading out to sea or had just come back.

I do not remember what kind of .38 he was carrying.

To all who posted here who served in Vietnam, I think you should be proud of your service regardless of the outcome of the war. That was one of the toughest wars this nation ever fought.

Thanks for your service.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

My Grandfather (Pappy)was in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge. He saw serious combat and even hand to hand fighting at times. He never told many stories to me, as I only asked when I was a kid. He did take lots of pictures but would only show me very few as most were of the dead and lot were of concetration camps that he liberated ( I did get a glimps of them). He did alot of communication work, tapping onto the wires along railroad tracks and using them as signal/telephone wires. One night him and his partner had to follow the train tracks to locate a break in the wire. Pappy had an M-1 carbine, a 1911 on his right hip and a 2" barreled S&W 38 in his left front pants pocket. They found the broken wire and while fixing it a German 20 man patrol walked up to them . Pappy and his partner saw them aproach and laid down by the tracks, there was no exit so they made a plan to capture them. When Pappy jumped up and spoke in german for them to surrender, they all dropped their guns. When Pappy turned to look for his partner he was gone, running back to camp! Pappy marched his prisoners back to camp and won a shiney new medal for his actions. He did bring back the S&W, a mint 1918 Luger and a 1903 springfield. He still has them all. Pappy is in very poor health now at 92. I will see him on Saturday. I will try to get some info on the Smith.

The hero generation is quickly leaving us. Now my nephews and kids are acting like I'm some sort of hero. I don't know if I can fill their shoes, it's a very tall order.

My little detachment had all kinds of guns, but all of the guys on roving patrol carried revolvers, Smiths if they could get them, for our "roll out" guns, or for the rats. No one would touch a 1911-lots of problems with them. Not many liked to depend on m-16's either. When I got in country, there were still m-14's, but after a couple months they took them away. I had qualified with both, but didn't like the 16 from jump street. In AIT we had to familiarize with the 1911, the 11-C's had to qualify with it-one guy out of a company bareley made a good enough score after a whole day on the range, and he had been shooting hand guns with his dad since age 8! The range NCO's were busy with locked up guns,and all kinds of other stuff. I was no pistilero, but I had been out by myself with a .22 rifle(WIN 1890) since I was seven, which was the way in my family, and I had a good sence about guns, and I didn't like the 1911's at all. Bad stuff happened around both of those guns. I had a 4 inch M-10 pencil that I got from a "civillian" for 60 bucks, if I remember it right, I slept with it. It was in beautiful shape, and came with a bunch of lead bullet loaded ammo that really went bang! If you all remember, the QC's and White Mice carried 38's, so maybe someone was loading for them(?) We were jeep borne, so we all had cross draw set ups of some kind. I finally bought a 1911 this year on its anniversary, after reading a couple of years ago that the last 1911's that the army bought were from 1943! Those were the newest ones, so some of the guys might have been handed one from a long time before that. The ones I saw rattled so bad that a decent VC mortor squad could braket you just from the noise! So I had an aversion to them, and couldn't figure what all the excitement was about with 1911's all these years (?) So I got educated, and now the .45ACP is one of my favorite rounds-both pistol and revolver. The jury is still out on anything that is a first cousin to an m-16-at least the ones that are "direct impingement" opperated. But I filled the slot with a much better gun, an AK-47. Charlie had that part right in my view, and it's nice to be on the sending end of one now. Some great posts and photos, welcome home guys. As for me, I wouldn't be here, and wouldn't want to be, if not for the Lord. Flapjack.

Shake Pappy's hand and give him a hug for me. Please say thank you as well.

I got a call yesterday that Pappy might not make it through the night. I left work and went and saw him one last time. He died this morning. Going through his Army records and found that he had won 3 bronze stars ( nobody knew)plus several more medals that we didnt know about. He had a very large 60X120 building with guns hidden throughout. I did find a mint 4" pencil barrel 38 Smith loaded and ready for action. I will start a new thread/post when I locate all his guns and get some pics.

Amazing story. Thanks for sharing it with us. My best to your Pappy.

In 66 I was with the 8th Cav in Bong Song north of Qui Nhon. We were sweeping villages one day when we got a call that some "little people" were inbound. The little people turned out to be a platoon of VN National Police Field Force. (NPFF) They were a paramilitary group that we compared to the SS. They appearantly did not answer to anyone and were very brutal when interrogating villagers. Anyhow, they were all armed with 6" Model 10s and carbines. After committing a couple of reprisal murders in a village and brutally beating too many detainees, we called for a big bird and got them out of our AO before we could trade them out of any Smiths.

My squad leader brought a blued 39 over with him. After he got killed, it was discovered that a firearm could not be sent with his other belongings. When last seen, the battalion SgtMaj was carrying it. Our Ops sgt carried a model 10 that he swore that he stole from an avation battalion. Our battalion commander carried an M-1 Garand that he swore with a straight face that he had carried in WWII. He loved to shoot it at ground targets from his CharlieCharlie huey. Sometimes I would fly port door gunner/forward observer. He always scared the **** out of his air crew and staff officers when he started shooting his M-1. Despite his claims, no one ever wittnesed his shooting having any effect.

Our chopper crews all carried M-10s. This was the 1st Cav and there were thousands of air crew members. Everyone refused to carry the clapped out 1911s that we had.

While on light duty for a couple of months, I was at Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon. All the zoomies(air farce types) including air force aircrews were carrying M-15. Some also had AR-15s. While there I 'acquired' a Karl Gustav(some call the Swedish Ks) from a spook. It was fun to shoot and had a very "cool" quotient. I made up a hand recept so it looked like I was carrying an issued weapon to keep the zoomie security police off my back when I came in and out the front gate. It would up getting chrome plated and screwed to a placqe that I gave to my Division commander who presented to the CO of the zoomie hospital where I was termporarily assigned. It was inscribed "with appreciation from the officers and men of the 1st Cav for outstanding services rendered" Wonder there that sucker is now?

On several trips back over to VN from entension leaves, I would buy $50 Miroku snub nose .38s and sell them to straps(REMFs) for several multiples of what I paid for them. I once bought a grease gun for a carton of Kool Filter Kings from an ARVN. After playing with it for several months and shooting it some, I came to the realization that I got screwed on that deal. I sold it to a seabee for a case of steaks.

Smiths in VN? All over the place and everything else that you could think of. We found Springfields, Enfields, and Mausers in caves. Sure wish they could talk. We once rolled over the body of a VC paymaster and found a french MAT submachine gun. ARVNs still had Thompsons of which a lot of wound up in the hands of GIs who traded them for something.

Things have sure changed in the army. If you got caught now with a weapon that you were not issued, you could go to jail. Some units are even that chicken about knives and sunglasses.

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

My best friend (now a retired physician) was an Army Flight Surgeon at Ban Me Thuot (up in the Central Highlands). He was also a helicopter pilot. He was issued a S&W .38 Special but didn't remember if it was a Model 10 or a Model 15....probably a M-10 since he was Army. He said he also carried a Colt .45 Auto on missions, plus two (2) M-16's. I asked him why he carried 2 M-16's and he said they were having so much trouble with them at that time, he checked out an extra one from the armory whenever he went on a mission.

Hello

I'm not certain if I should be posting in this topic, seeing as I was in the Service a bit later (1989-1993).

Anyway, here is a photo of my 1966/1967 era made Model 10-5. So revolvers similar to mine were issued to Aircrew?

This is one of my only two S&W Revolvers, and I have used this photo already like 26 times, sorry about that LOL.
Thank you
Mark

Hello again

This might be of a bit of interest. This is from a manual I have from my time in the Service in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The manual was printed in 1986.

Notice that the drawing of the revolver is of a WWII Era M&P with the commercial grips. Not exactly from a Vietnam era manual, but I thought it was a bit interesting.

Thanks
Mark

Keepp posting that picture, it is wonderful weapon. You have every right to be proud of it.

In 1989 I was piloting UH-1Hs and carrying an issued 10-5 that looked just like that one, lanyard loop and all. I carried mine in a nylon holster that was sewn on to my survival vest. I didn't think much of the Model 10 at the time. I wanted one of those "new" Beretta 92s that held 15 rounds of 9mm in one mag. I was issued one (beretta) in 1990. I was totally unimpressed! To this day, I would not give you $100 for a 92. I would give a lot more for my old 10-5.

Thanks for the shots of the SOGs .

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

Hi Marine1970,

My dad flew F-100 Super Sabres out of Phan Rang in 1966-1967. He flew over 400 missions and was shot down once. He carried a Smith and Wesson Model 15 "Combat Masterpiece" in a custom gunbelt he had made to wear with his G-suit before he left for Vietanm. He really liked his revolver. I've tried to find him a Model 15 for some time, now without success; so, I purchased a Model-67 (stainless version of the Model-15). He really likes it. My dad has several thousand photos from his tour, but he cannot find one with him wearing his revolver!

Best wishes,
Rushbeau

I saved this from the forum a few years back. Don't know the history.

That's interesting, a 1917 in Viet Nam.

All sorts of guns turn up in war zones. A friend of mine was clearing a bunker in 'Nam and found an 1861 British Enfield muzzleloading carbine, complete with sword bayonet. Someone stole it from him before he was able to ship it back home.

While I was in Kosovo, a Nazi marked MP40 was confiscated, and a number of early Mausers, including a few sporters, turned up.

In Afghanistan, there were lots of SMLEs, P14s and P17s, as well as Martini-Henrys, Sniders, and 1853, 1858 and 1861 Enfields.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

173rd airborn, tunnel rat, small SKYSOLDIER CLEARING A TUNNEL,

I WAS GLAD I WAS A BIG FRAMED TALL GUY, these guys had kahones of steel to go in these tunnels

the 173rd airborne was one of the first if not the first unit in Vietnam, serving from late 1964/early1965 until late 1972

I was with them in country during 70/71 and back again in 72 when we rotated back to the states and the unit was deactivated and two battalions of the 503rd were rolled into the 101st, as there last airborne battalion

I stayed at ft. Campbell until my ETS, was one of the NCO's that was on the 101st airborne divisions Expert infantry badge testing cadre as well as an instructor in the airmobile school

on my first tour as a pfc , General Abrams MACV commander was using the 173rd as a rapid response unit in support as needed since the 173rd was recouping from a heavy battle losses before I arrived

and I got in on a small part of the Cambodian action, where a cav hunter killer team had found rock island east, and the subsequent action to clear the stock piles that were found in the area

I have a 20 gauge b model fox that was found in that stock pile ,that had everything from muzzle loaders to artillery pieces and trucks,

the little fox was broken down put in my back pack and humped out