Air Force Combat Masterpiece

Tipoc,
Thank you very much for the info. My problem is that there is no visible serial number, either 1) above the "Model 15-4"on the yoke, or 2) on the butt. I've even taken off the grips in my attempt to locate any sort of number. The S/N should be of the type that "oldafsp" described in his reply to me last week: two or three digits, then the "K", then the remaining digits. The only number I can see (other than the "Model 15-4" on the yoke), is:

X7XX5 (opposite the yoke)

But I've never seen this type of S/N before where there is the letter 'X', then a number (7 in this case), two more Xs, and then the number 5...this made me think that this string of Xs and numbers is an assembly number or something.

Strange...

Thanks for whatever assistance you can lend.

The only other thing I can think of is that the S/N has been removed and the pistol reblued...but this is pure speculation and I'm by no means an expert. Welcome any advice you can lend or any leads I can follow.

Thanks so much!

bigsky5
 
I'm sorry--I posted this in the wrong section....I do have one final question.... Has anyone seen a USAF M-15 where instead of the "U.S.A.F." markings, there is simply a "U.S." instead?

Is this correct, or did I acquire a "fake" by mistake? Welcome your thoughts.
 
Yes, there are some Model 15s that have only U.S. rather than U.S.A.F. Some of those shipped to the Army, not the Air Force.

A bigger issue is the serial number on your gun, or, if I'm understanding you correctly, the lack of one. If it has been removed or obliterated you are holding what the ATF considers "illegal contraband." You may want to read this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ewman-obliterated-number-2.html#post137798277

Regards,
Kevin Williams
 
Could this be a "lunchbox gun" that late in the game? sure sounds like it.... I have heard stories that BATFE has relented with some of the lunchbox 1911s and allowed a "new" serial number to be stamped, but I am sure its not an easy process, and may not be looked as kindly on in 2014 as it was in times past.
 
US Marked (AF or Army?) M-15 Photos

All, My sincere thanks to all of you for your support and advice. My first situation is being resolved, so thanks. I thought since we all appreciate USAF- and US-marked Model 15s, that you would enjoy seeing some photos of a recent acquisition. I'm not bragging at all--I know fully how lucky I was to find this, after 25 years of searching.

As always, I'm always open to comments and thoughts and I will certainly let everyone know if I happen to run across a second one and provide those details to you all to give you an opportunity to acquire one too.

Best Wishes and thank you again for selflessly sharing your knowledge and advice.
 

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Geno67 said:
Gorgeous. You can tell the air farce didn't require the carriers of that particular piece to train much.
Click to expand...

I hope you aren't using a derogatory term for the Air Force in this post, as you would be offending a great many persons who have served/are serving in the USAF, including myself.
 
bigsky5 said:
All, My sincere thanks to all of you for your support and advice. My first situation is being resolved, so thanks. I thought since we all appreciate USAF- and US-marked Model 15s, that you would enjoy seeing some photos of a recent acquisition. I'm not bragging at all--I know fully how lucky I was to find this, after 25 years of searching.

As always, I'm always open to comments and thoughts and I will certainly let everyone know if I happen to run across a second one and provide those details to you all to give you an opportunity to acquire one too.

Best Wishes and thank you again for selflessly sharing your knowledge and advice.
Click to expand...

I'd like to add that serial number to my survey if you don't mind sharing it via PM.

Thanks,
Kevin Williams
 
Came across this PDF file regarding the old Lockbourne AFB, Ohio (the name was later changed to Rickenbacker AFB. It's right next to Columbus). About a third of way down are six or seven pictures of an air crew Pistol Qualification course, circa 1956. Details on the range and the firing line equipment.

(Side note: Kernel C's father was stationed here in 1961-1963, a RB-47 navigator, during which time Kernel C. was born in the Lockbourne AFB hospital).

Revolvers look like Combat Masterpieces or M&P's. Kinda hard to tell.

http://b-47.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lockbourne-AFB.pdf
 
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Yes, thank you! Would it be possible to post a link? The embedded PDF is cool but I'm hoping a link to it would not be so small.
 
I found it while snooping around:

The B-47 Stratojet Association | Preserving the legacy of the Boeing B-47 StratoJet Bomber

RB-47H cutaway (My dad is sitting right in the nose):
192987.jpg
 
Now that I can see larger pictures I can tell that the revolver laying on the table is a Victory Model. It has a lanyard loop, parkerized finish, fixed sights and smooth walnut stocks. You can almost read the SN. That's kind of surprising since most Victory Models went to the Navy.
 
AKAOV1MAN said:
After someone mentioned General LeMay, I remembered that he was a "gun guy" , unusual in very high ranking military officers of that(and this) time. I read that he was the original driving force behind the M16 when he was SAC commander, just before he became AF Chief of Staff. I had the privilege of meeting him in the early 60s at Ubon AFB where myself and some other Army aviators were flying Mohawks out of there. On the base, pursuant to orders from our Army CO we were always armed with a handgun. I was walking toward base OPS one day when the great man was visiting. I was an Army MSG as I was an enlisted pilot(enlisted at on my 17th birthday and was still under 18 when I graduated from flight school). I was 20 at the time and looked 14. The Army uniform was still the baggy green skin with white name/US Army tapes. The general was walking toward me with an abundance of other great men in attendance and a few AF Police. I saluted of course, and LeMay walked up to me and asked "exactly whose Air Force are you in son". I told him I was assigned to the Army contingent on the other side of the field, he noted my flight wings and asked "you fly those things?" pointing to a group of JOV1As down at the end of the flight line, I of course said "yes sir". He looked at my side arm (an M10 RB heavy barrel) in an AF holster on my web belt. He asked me "you know how to use that thing kid"? I again said "yes sir" slightly loudly(could not have THE USAF General Officer think an Army guy could not shoot). "Let me see that weapon" he said. Whereupon I did a proper administrative presentation (we did not call it that back then), dumped the ammo in my hand the way the AF instructor on the base had told us when we qualified periodically, and presented a just cleaned well oiled up M10 with personally owned grips. "Are these issue grips" the big guy asked, I told him that 'I issued them to myself sir, they help me shoot better". All this transpired while he held a really big cigar in one side of his mouth. He looked at my (brand new) shiny flight wings, he said, "you want to be an AF pilot see the personnel officer, we'll make you a real officer", said, "keep taking care of your sidearm son, you may need it someday" and they all stalked off. Trailing the group was an AF SP SGT I knew, I asked him if they were not worried about the General walking around a bomber being armed with a lit cigar, as it could blow up, the guy told me "it wouldn't dare". My first and last time standing on the same piece of real estate with one of the USAFs' greatest warriors. He was a really impressive guy IMHO, and given the number of other wearers of various numbers of stars following him at a very close distance (BN distance), he was either greatly respected or greatly feared. IN any case he built one hell of a AF.
Click to expand...



He was also an amateur radio operator AKA ham. He was responsible for USAF shifting from AM to SSB for communications. My dad attended the Nebraska State Amateur Radio Convention when General LeMay demonstrated SSB


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2
 
Saw one

Saw one(marked USAF) recently at our local Gander Mtn, priced at $2,000, looked in pretty good shape. In the display case for about a month, now gone.
I flew in B52s, only issued sidearm when flying over VN, remembering the snub Aircrewman version, holstered in the survival vest.
 
That Lockbourne stuff is a treat!

Having grown up on the east side of Columbus, (my grampa was a foreman when they built DCSC) and a military buff with an extra-special place in my heart for the aircraft, Lockbourne held such a huge mystique for me.

BTW Elvin Jones, one of the foremost jazz drummers of all time, was in the base band @ Lockbourne for a time.

On topic (kinda), I recently scored a 2" 15-3 w/ box and docs that appears to be from a prison system. Special serial#. Still researching.

Carry on, folks!
 
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