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

[oysterer]

absolutely cool, great pics, a great set and this made my day

 

[Retired W4]

That thing is beautiful!! Adding the picture of Col. Olds was a nice touch. He was a hell of a pilot.

 

[kwill1911]

I am considering purchasing a 15-3 serial number K6519xx. The serial number range shows 1965 manufacture range. Is there a way to tell if this one is legitimate by the serial number?

Is it marked U.S.A.F. on top of the finish?

 

[rednichols]

Very nice. Easy to tell if it's been fired: the bluing w/b blasted off the face of the cylinder, 'round each chamber. I've no such pic but there are plenty on this forum who would have such and could post for you .

The rarest of all the Combat Masterpieces w/b FBI's Hank Sloan and his .357 Magnum version delivered for his birthday late in '54. I've not ever seen it, just the S&W documentation describing it.

This revolver of Hank's was part of S&W's "Combat Magnum" program that began in 1949 to take advantage of a new process to S&W called 'induction hardening' and so was well underway before Bill Jordan laid claim to suggesting it at the end of '54.

Big promoters of same were the Van Ordens of Evaluators Ltd in 1950s VA. The owners of their revolvers are members of this forum and have shown off their holdings here.

 

[Critch]

What a nice find. Us lowly AMMO troops generally carried our Model 10s or 15s with the same rig you have...The Skycops had some really nice leather rigs.

 

[vinn]

good show ! good pic's

 

[HamHands]

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).

Robin Olds is/was one of the very best pilots God ever made! He was a master of the F4 Phantom and prop planes of WW2...

 

[Truckman]

Robin Olds is/was one of the very best pilots God ever made! He was a master of the F4 Phantom and prop planes of WW2...

Amen to that!...I only hope his daughter Christina Olds (co-author of the Colonel's autobiography, "Fighter Pilot") was successful in paying off his accumulated debts after his death...It was a daunting task for her to take on, but she has the same intestinal fortitude as her father......Ben

 

[max]

A very nice Smith. I had been in the Army for 1 week when your revolver shipped.

 

[crazyphil]

Here is my Combat Masterpiece. Model 67 No Dash. Wearing Uncle Mike's
Craig Spegel designed combat stocks by Butler Creek. It was bead blasted
to get the finish.

 

[rjmfarms]

Like you I am an Air Force veteran who appreciated his S&W 15-3 so much I also had to find one. Fortunately, I did about a year ago complete with standard issue swinging holster. I cheated on ordering the letter by contacting Don Mundell at the Historical Foundation to confirm the .38 was actual issue. It was issued to late to have been worn by me as I guarded the base perimeter with my K-9 partner.

 

[roundels]

Yes he was. I met him at a lecture years ago and shaking his hand was like trying to grab a rough hewn 2x4. He was the fighter pilot's fighter pilot.

 

[gunbarrel]

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.

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

My revolver:







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

Now you need a Jet Pilot Knife to go with the rig!

 

[gunbarrel]

Rifleman Q&A: Where Did the USAF Combat Masterpieces Go? | American Rifleman | Official Journal Of The NRA

 

[gunbarrel]

The USAF Is Finally Ditching The Last Of Its Cold War Revolvers For New Semi-Auto Pistols

 

[Model1567]

Congrats on your latest grab S52!
That looks like a really sweet little wheel gun.

 

[dpast32]

WELCOME To The Forum ! And secondly, THANK YOU for showing off your extremely interesting & awesome, 'confirmed' USAF RVN era Revolver !! In all my years of collecting & related pursuits, I've not come across very many of these particular USAF Models, so you are indeed very fortunate. Now, you'll need to pick up an USGI Box of RVN era .38 Special ammunition, the 130 grain FMC issue Ball.Although some very similar Loads are currently available, they tend to slightly different than the USAF Loads, in which the 130 gr. Ball projectile was seated quite deep in the case, enough so to be immediately noticeable when viewing it against a standard .38 All. Loading of the era. I used to recall the U.S. Military Nomenclature for that Load, but it's slipped my mind at the moment. A quick search on the Web will provide you with the data. Congratulations on your acquisition of a beautiful U.S. Martial Revolver.

Best, dpast32

 

[bgrafsr]

What a nice find. Us lowly AMMO troops generally carried our Model 10s or 15s with the same rig you have...The Skycops had some really nice leather rigs.

I had my leather rig redone with Corfam when in the Phillipines. Spit shine with no work on my part. Shoes were done also.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Now, you'll need to pick up an USGI Box of RVN era .38 Special ammunition, the 130 grain FMC issue Ball..... I used to recall the U.S. Military Nomenclature for that Load, but it's slipped my mind at the moment.

That VN era .38 Special ammunition would have been the M41 Ball ammo as seen below.



Regards,
Charlie

 

[7shooter]

Model 15’s are nearly perfect revolvers. I had a very nice one which I gave to my son when he graduated from law school.