I met a guy who says he has a S&W auto that was issued by the CIA. Anyone know anything about what guns the CIA was using?

Actually yes! It was the S&W M39 modified by inventor Paris Theodore and subsequently sold to the public under the name of ASP. I know because I ordered and owned one in the early 80's, but no, I was not an agent. I also purchased his clever storage box, designed as a book and entitled 'Unseen in the Best Places'. You can search ‘paris theodore’ or 'ASP' for more. His contributions were not well circulated until after his death. He was a true visionary, and faithfully served the US Government in the shadows of history. Heck, even the touching tribute on his website is clever. Click, hold and drag the magnifying glass.

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Dan Ortego ~

According to James Bond in Live and Let Die, standard CIA issue was a "custom 3 inch Smith & Wesson 38 with corrugated stock." That is just about as accurate as everything else I have read here.

Believed I mentioned I handled one of the orginal Hush Puppy's with SEAL Team 2 in Scotland back in the late 80s. Do remember it also have a chamber plug for diving. During the 1st Gulf War 91' was issued this M9 with suppressor. You can see the slide lock on this one. Still only issued M882 standard 124gr ball however. Got reissued the same pistol in 03' when I went back to Iraq again but left the suppressor at Campbell.







CD

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De Oppresso Liber

Knew a guy who was a C-123 loadmaster in SVN. He carried a Model 39 and a Randall. He always had trouble getting the Army troopers to hurry up with the off load at remote locations. They were all trying to buy his 39 and Randall.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I worked in Northern Iraq, 2004-2008. I got to know several gentleman who did not wear uniforms, but carried suppressed M4's and Sig 228's and mostly worked at night.

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MSG US Army

I don't have time it is deer season here.
But search for MK IV and Hush Puppy.
Sorry did not see page 2 when I posted.

Knew about the sterile HPs and Swedish Ks. Special Forces buddy who had used them told me about them.
Once I got my hands on a couple of 459s which were State Dept. Embassy security personal contract overrun. How can I be so sure? Talked to Roy Jenks on the landline. Hard to believe that the only time I actually talked to Roy was concerning autos!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

DustyJacket,

Go back to the top of this page for the Knights Suppressor/ Beretta M9 (post #51).


CD

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De Oppresso Liber

When I was growing up in the 1970's, the gent who lived across the street from me was a retired FCC inspector. Prior to that (during WWII), he was a radio operator in the OSS. He carried a .38 S&W revolver. He never mentioned anything about the CIA, but I wonder if his FCC gig was a cover ; ) He gave me his 1944 Survival on Land and Sea manual. I'll always treasure that manual, as well as his corny insights and attempts to teach me Morse Code.

Thanks Dusty and Combat Diver (both for your service and for giving a new purpose to my spare Model 39 slide).

I don’t know about the CIA but this side of the pond Mi6 employs “Intelligence Officers” and “Field Agents” who run “Assets” who are often specialists assigned to particular operations. Even a Lock Smith could be on the books. Henry Paul, the Chauffeur of the Mercedes carrying Dodi and Diana in Paris the night they were killed (Assassinated) was an Mi6 Asset. He was the Head of Security and the Consierge at the Paris Ritz. He was being paid by British Intelligence to “Spy” on any Person or Persons of Interest using the Hotel or its facilities. Any decent Intelligence Agency will have permanent assets in all the top hotels all around the world. They are there to report on the comings and going’s of Foreign Diplomats, Politicians, High Profile Businessmen, Organised Crime Figures, Royalty, Celebrities, Terrorists and even enemy spies. There’s also a couple of very shady and secretive units of the SAS called “The Increment” and “The Clinic.” These highly skilled and experienced special forces units are the guys that carry out “Black Ops” such as assassinations, and other deniable missions. The SAS are professionals and use whatever weapons and equipment they require for the task at hand. So if a pocket knife or a paintball gun loaded with marbles is the most suitable tool then that’s what they will be issued. If the equipment needs to be untraceable then that’s not out of the capabilities of the Secret Intelligence Services of most countries. That’s not to say that they don’t have their favourite weapons. Intelligence Officers and Field Agents are a bit like Organ Grinders and their Assets are more like the Performing Monkeys.
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are known as “the 5 Eyes Alliance.” It is illegal for most intelligence agencies like the CIA or Mi6 to spy on their own citizens. They get around this by getting a secret service agency from a friendly foreign country to spy on their own citizens for them. There are agencies like the FBI or Mi5 who can investigate their citizens and have jurisdiction in their own country but they are limited by the laws of the land. Unlike foreign agents and agencies who are operating covertly and are not subject to the same restrictions by their governments.