Guys:

I ran across this image on the 'net and thought it interesting enough to re-post here. The caption reads "South Korean Air Force Officer with his Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub Nose Revolver (known as "CAL-38" in ROKAF) and Shooting Instructor from KAFAC in January 2018."



I was not previously aware of any official use by the Republic of Korea AF of the Model 10 in recent times. Anybody know if the South Koreans made any substantial purchases of Smith M10s in the 21st Century? I would have expected some polymer 9mm pistol to be in use in 2018 but applaud their choice of weapon here.

I don't see any holster evident in the photo.

Regards,
Charlie

__________________
Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Interesting photo, sir. Hard to tell, but looks like the revolver is empty and I would guess so especially since the photographer would be in danger otherwise. A little bit off-topic, but I was stationed in Seoul in the 88 to 92 time period. Korean cops (KNP’s - Korean National Police), at least the ones I saw, carried snubnosed K-frames around that time. Word on the street was that they were only issued three rounds of ammo when they picked up their revolvers. This was verified while I was there because one KNP used a revolver to kill his wife’s boyfriend. The investigation report mentioned that he stopped at such and such police station and signed out a revolver and three rounds of ammo to do it. During that time frame, many of them did not appear to be armed and I would say seeing a KNP with a revolver was more the exception than the rule.

In the Netflix show "Squid Game", the undercover Detective is armed with his Police model 10. In the series, the story says that it is only loaded with 4 live rounds. The first two are meant to be blanks. Apparently this is the normal load out for Seoul Police according to the film. But I'm sure South Korea Hollywood is just as accurate as the real Hollywood. I further read that the two blanks are used as Warning Shots for riots.

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When I served in the ROK (early 1970’s) I never saw a uniformed KNP with a firearm. IIRC the narcotics officers carried 1911’s. Don’t know what the ROKAF carried though.

These days I would expect them to carry something domestically produced, the ROK is way past the hand-me-down stage that used to be the norm.

I thought S Korean armed forces carried the Daewoo DP51, 9mm. I just bought my first one, unfired with box and papers. Interesting gun with a very unique trigger/hammer system.

Trooper Joe

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Don't know about today but the ROK soldiers in the RVN were some dedicated anti-communists, having grown up under the communist threat.
Sorry about the drift.

Photographers not in danger. He’s winking at them

Roger that!