My first S&W: Combat Masterpiece 15-3 USAF

s52 · Jun 13, 2021

Greetings!

Just joined the forum and wanted to share my first S&W revolver.

Been patiently waiting almost 3 months for the letter to come in from S&W on my recently acquired 38 special.

Being an Air Force Pilot myself, I have been wanting one of these USAF contract 38's for quite some time.

These 38's were issued to USAF security police and USAF aircrews.

Heres a great picture of Col Robin Olds flying a sortie in Vietnam with one of these pistols strapped to his web belt.

My revolver:

According to the letter my .38 was delivered to Robins AFB, GA on July 25th 1969 as part of a 1250 pistol contract. Robins AFB was the procurement base at the time so likely the pistol went on from there to its eventual owner at some other base. The U.S.A.F. stamping on the lower part of the frame was done at the factory to mark it as part of the Air Force Contract.

The letter I received from the S&W historical foundation:

I have also procured a period correct web belt, holster (1968), and ammunition pouch (1965).

JayCeeNC · Jun 13, 2021

Spectacular gun, and even better with the period correct accessories!
And a spectacular way to introduce yourself to the Forum.
Thanks for sharing.

ordnanceguy · Jun 13, 2021

S52:

Welcome to the Forum.

That is a marvelous M15-3 you have there. They are scarce guns and especially so when found in the top condition displayed by your example.

Nice rig, too. It is noteworthy that the Air Force described the dump pouch and the holster as an "assembly". When purchased from Bucheimer and other contractors the holster and pouch were shipped together as a single unit. Thus, the term "assembly".

In the 1960s in AP/SP use the holster and dump pouch were most often seen mounted on a black leather belt with a supporting shoulder strap and silver colored metal fittings. There were also provisions for a cuff case, Motorola radio and night stick/baton. The belts were AF marked as well. The image below of three Air Police taken in 1967 illustrates the complete rig as used during that time frame.

Thanks for the post.

kwill1911 · Jun 13, 2021

Welcome to the forum! You have a terrific example. Thanks for posting clear pictures and the letter.

luvsmiths · Jun 13, 2021

Welcome to the forum. Congrats. Beautiful!!

Here are a few pictures of mine, shipped in '63...

Road Rat · Jun 13, 2021

Dang, was that revolver actually ever used???

Great condition.......... congratulations.

18robert · Jun 13, 2021

i was a.f. loadmaster in nam in 64. i rember seeing model 15's on a rack in the armory hootch. but us lowly enlisted were given victory models or .45's. very nice model 15 you have sir..

Truckman · Jun 13, 2021

s52 said:
Heres a great picture of Col Robin Olds flying a sortie in Vietnam with one of these pistols strapped to his web belt.

That makes me very happy that one of my heroes, Col. Olds (of whom I've written a great deal elsewhere), was known to have carried a Model 15 during his flights...As an old weapons release guy on F-4's in the 60's, it makes me feel I'm in good company since the Combat Masterpiece and the Model 15 is my favorite among my S&W revolvers...

...Ben

mattallamerican · Jun 13, 2021

thanks for the post this is why i come here i have a 15 all so

jdlii · Jun 13, 2021

Now all you need now is an F4 and a Wizo!

Congratulations on a very fine example of a USAF Mod. 15! Wear it in good health and thank you for your service!

The Mod. 15 and its cousins, are perhaps the definitive "can do anything" .38 special.

kwill1911 · Jun 13, 2021

S&WCA members that are interested in these revolvers may want to contact Mike Speers about getting this issue of the Journal. If you are not a member, please consider joining.

s52 · Jun 13, 2021

Thank you all for the compliments and warm welcome! Happy to be here and learn some more about these pistols. This is actually the first wheel gun in my collection. Most of my stuff is of WW2 vintage, lots of old Walthers, Hi Power, and some Lugers.

I wouldn't be surprised if this pistol has never been fired. I can only theorize its back-story but I think it may have been a Generals retirement pistol that he was allowed to purchase upon separation from the service. Likely spent a lot of time sitting in a desk drawer and not out in the field.

Can anyone explain these numbers stamped inside the swing arm of the cylinder. They do not match the S/N under the butt of the grip.

I believe when I had the grips off a couple of months ago the serial number was stamped inside the right side as well.

Are they lot assembly numbers?

A few extra pictures I have:

len917 · Jun 13, 2021

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful piece. It's a shame to fire it but it was made to be fired and shown. I have a 15-3 and love it, fits like you were born with it. Enjoy it and take care of it.

Walter Rego · Jun 13, 2021

Very cool and it's nice that you were able to find the period correct accessories for it.
Interesting that the AF ordered those guns with the Target Trigger and Target Hammer options rather than the standard service types.

s52 · Jun 13, 2021

Walter Rego said:
Very cool and it's nice that you were able to find the period correct accessories for it.
Interesting that the AF ordered those guns with the Target Trigger and Target Hammer options rather than the standard service types.

From what I have read they were ordered with the adjustable sights, target trigger and hammer because Curtis Lemay (chief of staff of AF) wanted to be able to win the shooting competitions between the Army and Navy. The rules stated the services were to use their standard issue side arm and the model 15 was much more accurate than the 1911's carried by the other branches.

kwill1911 · Jun 13, 2021

That's not quite right. The Army and USMC shooters were using K-38 and Model 14 revolvers too. And the USAF shooters had to use .45 Auto pistols in that leg of the competition. The handguns used went through the gunsmith shop at Lackland and will be stamped AFPG for Air Force Premium Grade.

murphydog · Jun 13, 2021

"Thank you all for the compliments and warm welcome! Happy to be here and learn some more about these pistols. This is actually the first wheel gun in my collection. Most of my stuff is of WW2 vintage, lots of old Walthers, Hi Power, and some Lugers.

I wouldn't be surprised if this pistol has never been fired. I can only theorize its back-story but I think it may have been a Generals retirement pistol that he was allowed to purchase upon separation from the service. Likely spent a lot of time sitting in a desk drawer and not out in the field.

Can anyone explain these numbers stamped inside the swing arm of the cylinder. They do not match the S/N under the butt of the grip.

I believe when I had the grips off a couple of months ago the serial number was stamped inside the right side as well.

Are they lot assembly numbers?"

The five digit one is an assembly number, put on the major subassemblies (yoke and frame). You'll probably see it on the right lower grip frame with the stocks off. It has no significance outside the factory except to indicate the parts are original to the gun.

s52 · Jun 13, 2021

murphydog said:
s52 said:

Thank you all for the compliments and warm welcome! Happy to be here and learn some more about these pistols. This is actually the first wheel gun in my collection. Most of my stuff is of WW2 vintage, lots of old Walthers, Hi Power, and some Lugers.

I wouldn't be surprised if this pistol has never been fired. I can only theorize its back-story but I think it may have been a Generals retirement pistol that he was allowed to purchase upon separation from the service. Likely spent a lot of time sitting in a desk drawer and not out in the field.

Can anyone explain these numbers stamped inside the swing arm of the cylinder. They do not match the S/N under the butt of the grip.

I believe when I had the grips off a couple of months ago the serial number was stamped inside the right side as well.

Are they lot assembly numbers?

The five digit one is an assembly number, put on the major subassemblies (yoke and frame). You'll probably see it on the right lower grip frame with the stocks off. It has no significance outside the factory except to indicate the parts are original to the gun.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I will double check that next time I crack open the safe.

bananaman · Jun 14, 2021

Super nice gun & history! Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! Bob

charlie sherrill · Jun 19, 2021

The Mississippi Game and Fish Department received a bunch of these as military surplus from Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Ms. sometime back in the 70's. Until then they didn't carry sidearms. Now they carry whatever the other state agencies carry. All were marked USAF with a rack number added to them by MG&F. About 10-15 years ago about 50 of them showed up at an auction near here. They were very worn but still functional. Most of them sold for under $200.00, a few for under a hundred. All of them had the target hammer and trigger. I was doing the security gig at the auction and could not bid on them.

My first S&W: Combat Masterpiece 15-3 USAF

Member

US Veteran

SWCA Member

SWCA Member

Member

Attachments

US Veteran

US Veteran

US Veteran

Member

Member

SWCA Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member

Moderator

Member

Member

SWCA Member

Similar threads