Market Check on USAF Model 15

[Frailer]

Ok I’ll bite. Why do you hate the term? Is it the term itself? Maybe a different term like bucket list gun? Seems like a useful term.

As someone who also has a strong dislike for the term, I’ll be happy to share my reasoning.

For *me* “grail” refers to a singular object that requires research, effort, and time to acquire. It also implies that actually finding this item is aspirational; it might not ever be found at all. For *me* anything that could be acquired without arduous effort by simply being willing to spend money does not qualify.

In current parlance “grail” is often used to refer to an item that the potential purchaser wants intensely. It has even been diluted to mean—for some—something they think is really “cool.”

All that said, I understand words mean different things to different people, so I’m not going to get my knickers in a bunch. Nevertheless, it’s not a term you’ll find me using.

 

[luvsmiths]

Ok I’ll bite. Why do you hate the term? Is it the term itself? Maybe a different term like bucket list gun? Seems like a useful term.

Word fits perfectly- I like it!


something that people want and are looking for but that is difficult to find or get:
"He has searched for his Grail of a happy family life and has finally found it".
"Climbing the mountain is considered to be one of the grails for ambitious mountaineers".

Other forms: grails
"A grail is some valuable thing you search for or pursue. A golfer's holy grail might be a hole in one".


Now--- Without further interruption, back to the regularly scheduled Smith and Wesson Model 15 USAF Grail gun thread.

 

[MelvinWalker]

As someone who also has a strong dislike for the term, I’ll be happy to share my reasoning.

For *me* “grail” refers to a singular object that requires research, effort, and time to acquire. It also implies that actually finding this item is aspirational; it might not ever be found at all. For *me* anything that could be acquired without arduous effort by simply being willing to spend money does not qualify.

In current parlance “grail” is often used to refer to an item that the potential purchaser wants intensely. It has even been diluted to mean—for some—something they think is really “cool.”

All that said, I understand words mean different things to different people, so I’m not going to get my knickers in a bunch. Nevertheless, it’s not a term you’ll find me using.

I tend to agree with this....Much of this comes from the actual amount of money we have to spend on a particular gun.

An example.....If I were a newlywed 25 year old, a "grail gun" might be something like this Model 15 USAF....But anyone with real money could hire an agent to find one and have it in two weeks.

A "holy grail" gun for almost anyone would be something like a Himmler owned PPK or a Pappy Boyington Victory Model, or somesuch. Those are simply unobtainable because there aren't enough around to satisfy collector wants and needs.

Everything else, if you have enough money you can find and buy it..

 

[CH4]

I tend to agree with this....Much of this comes from the actual amount of money we have to spend on a particular gun.

An example.....If I were a newlywed 25 year old, a "grail gun" might be something like this Model 15 USAF....But anyone with real money could hire an agent to find one and have it in two weeks.

A "holy grail gun”…

ARTHUR: Go and tell your master that we have been charged by God with a sacred quest. If he will give us food and shelter for the night, he can join us in our quest for the Holy Grail Gun.

FRENCH GUARD: Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he'll be very keen. Uh, he's already got one, you see.

 

[Bald1]

To me a grail gun is simply one that you’ve always wanted, but for some reason never obtained. Maybe it’s money, maybe it was hard to locate, whatever. I recently purchased a grail gun. A 3” 629 Classic Hunter. I always wanted one but could never bring myself to write that check. Of course I could have written the check. I just didn’t till recently. It was a retirement present to myself.

 

[Rev 19:11]

I don’t think I ever was issued a raggedy Model 15 - mine were always in pretty good shape. I will admit to being happy to get that NIB M9 though.

I fought a mostly losing battle with the armory to put Pachmayr Presentations on my issued M-15. I’d put ‘em on, they’d take ‘em off, saying only wooden S&W grips were authorized. I put some factory targets on mine and they just gave up.

I was doing the same.

 

[arjay]

Buy it unless you’re young and have years to wait for another..

 

[CH4]

I did as well. McClellan, Kunsan, George. I'd like one but not for $1,800.

Cool! I was at Clark. Since it was a TAC base, I attended ABGD at Camp Bullis. Fun times. Got to play with the good stuff other than the M15. The M9 was in the testing process.

 

[MajorD]

From what I can figure there were 2 ways primarily that USAF model 15’s made it to the civilian market:
1) at one time, officers could purchase an issue gun from the government. Long before the model 15 era, it was at any officer rank. By the 60,s it would I believe be limited to generals.
2) when the 15’s were declared obsolete or surplus, police agencies could acquire them for department use for free. Part of the deal was supposed to be they would be returned to the feds when they were no longer needed. However as was mentioned sometimes these guns changed hands in police service with multiple agencies involved, and the idea of returning to the feds got lost in the shuffle. Also let’s say a department had 300 15’s, 250 were regular commercial guns and 50 were old Air Force guns, and when they transitioned to new guns the old 15’s were sold as a lot, again ignoring the return to the feds requirement

Also as mentioned, sadly when these were declared obsolete ( with the mass transition to 9mm pistols) they were simply destroyed- cut up crushed or melted

 

[Dirtman]

Too cool....I have my Dad's Garand that he bought in 1968 that I'm going to sell and plus I am not overall enamored with M1 Garands, (plus no kids....let it go).

If my dad had been Air Police in Vietnam and I had his carry Smith, no WAY I'd get rid of it.

Nice, nice firearm you have there.

I wish I could have my old M1 Garand from my Army days. I bet it's still floating around somewhere.

 

[Seven High]

From what I remember of qualification with the USAF model 15s in the 60s, a few revolvers were used to qualify over and over. The ones actually issued to AP/SP airmen for use on post were not shot very much.