my Viet Nam Veteran Combat Masterpiece Model 15-2

I was working part-time in a gunshop back around '90-'91 and the build-up and outbreak of the Gulf war. I'm also close to a large Navy , Army and Air Force reserve base and many reserve pilots who got activated , bought their own pistols to take over. Mostly smaller size Glocks and Sigs in 9mm to fit in their LPA/survival vest instead of the issued .38 revolver.

The rules for pilots/officers were either different , or overlooked.
Click to expand...


The last part is correct, it was either overlooked or they simply got away with it. The sad part is some of those officers that got away with it probably punished some enlisted soldier for doing the same. I do know for a fact that there was a general order about personally owned firearms during Desert Storm; they were illegal, all personnel to include officers fell under the same regulation and local law (SOFA) whether they chose to obey it or not. After Desert Storm was over, I witnessed a court martial for a senior NCO that violated this order; he was punished severely.
 
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welcome, thank you for the service to our country, and glad you never had to use that 15 in anger. seems lots of guys have similar stories about civi guns and combat theaters. my grand dad carried a s&w m&p 4" with him through italy, and most of europe. he was a front line mess cook, and only had one war story to tell. it involved jumping behind a stove to avoid a grenade and firing 2 shots from that pistol that got the thrower(german infantry). he also carried an issued .45 but forgot to put his on holster that morn. he carried that s&w in his front pocket, holster-less. glad he had it. it gave me many years with my beloved old grand-pop.
 
Welcome home. Thank you. Words are minor when deeds prevail. You have walked the walk. You have added another dimension to view when I see returning vets greeted with cheers and tears at DFW airport by the local USO and family members and community friends.
 
Welcome home brother.

You will many of us from all branches here who served. I carried a 15 both of my tours there. It never let me down.

Enjoy the forum.
:)
 
Welcome home. My brother carried an issued S&W Model 15 and a personally-owned Charter Arms Undercover during Vietnam on EC-130s/EC-135s. He was only carrying the Charter the first time his crew had to "get out and walk." After that, he carried both revolvers and a CAR-15 on board.

Take that ol' girl to the range, and give her a workout.

ECS
Captain, Armor
US Army (Retired)
 
DSC00855.jpg


I hope this worked, I've never tried an attachment on this forum before.

In any case this obviously isn't a Smith but it is what I carried as an Infantryman in VN. I don't remembar being angy but it was fired a lot more than it should have been because our rifles were so unreliable.

I didn't ask permission to take it and there were no enforcers where I was, so no problem.
 
Rifleman harris said:
View attachment 69216


I hope this worked, I've never tried an attachment on this forum before.

In any case this obviously isn't a Smith but it is what I carried as an Infantryman in VN. I don't remembar being angy but it was fired a lot more than it should have been because our rifles were so unreliable.

I didn't ask permission to take it and there were no enforcers where I was, so no problem.
Click to expand...

It worked, Rifleman, and it doesn't have to be a S&W to be posted here and appreciated. I believe a three-screw Ruger that has seen service in a combat zone with the owner is welcome here any time. I have read several accounts of Ruger BHs being carried by American servicemen in Vietnam. I very recently had a conversation with a Force Recon Marine about the lack of reliability of the rifles when he was there in '68 and '69. What a shame.

Thank you, Sir, for your service.
 
RiflemanHarris,
Is that a 6 1/2" Superblackhawk? Hard to tell in pics sometimes, but it looks a little short of the standard 7 1/2" barrel. If so, you have a pretty scarce gun, made the more desireable by the combat experience.
 
You have a darn good eye, it is a 6 1/2 inch bbl. I bought it in Baton Rouge where I was visiting before I left. I knew it was unusual after I ordered a Lawrence holster, that I still have, which when I received it, had been made for a 7 1/2 because he thought there was no such thing as a 6 1/2.

For the first six weeks or so, before the holster arrived, I carried it stuck in the front of my pants which is not bad once you become accustomed to it. Makes you real careful about not having an a/d.

It doesn't have much value to anyone but me, it got pretty beat up. I'm always amused when I read about someone who wants a weapon that was used in combat because most of them are beat to hell in short order.
 
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Welcome to the Forum from another Kodak Killer.
RF-4C64-1034atrest.jpg
 
We had an instructor at my F-4 training who was shot down on his first tour. Said the .38 was a *** to reload when being chased through rice paddies. I decided a wanted to carry a semi auto. About all that were commonly available at the time (1972) were 1911s and Browning Hi-Powers. I opted for the Browning. How things have changed! When I left Houston for Travis AFB, I called the airlines and asked how to transport it. They said to just put in my luggage so stuck it in one of the (unlockable) pockets of my B4 bag. When I got to Travis, they just said the same. When I got to Ubon, they freaked out. I just stuck it in my locker. Before every mission, we went to the gun room where they issued us our assigned S&W M15. I carried it in the shoulder holster of our survival vest and carried my Browning in the regular hip holster that was supposed to be for the revolver. Never really cared for revolvers but have multiple semi autos, several being M&Ps (9 Pro, 40 Pro, 40C, and three M&P ARs). There is that strong nostalgia factor though, so have been looking for a M15 for a while. Met a guy at NRA convention who has a couple. Scheduled to meet him this Friday to make the sale.
 
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your service. Being in a medical group, I only got to shoot at the range twice in my 20 year career, once in 1991 when I failed to qualify and the second when I did qualify (I shot expert my second time- whoopie) a few months later. It was with a model 15. I was stationed in Hawaii during Desert Storm. Geneva Convention didn't allow me to carry a weapon unless my clinic was being over run by enemy hula dancers.
 
Rhino1,

I pulled security at Ubon TOC, inside and out, in '66-67. Most crew carried the M15 but a few carried the 1911 and I do remember one BHP. No one seemed too concerned.
 
harris--How were you able to get 44mag ammo for your SBH over there ??
 
Thanks for your service. I also carried a personal firearm in Viet Nam. I had a 2" Model 19 that I carried in a shoulder holster under my flak jacket. Then one day our Company came into the rear for R&R and we were basically strip searched. All personal weapons were taken, tagged and it was promised that we could have them back when we rotated home. I never saw it again. Rumor was that some crooked supply sergeant sold them on the black market for booze.
 
Bought my M-15-2 in 1962 from San Clemente ( CA) Camera and Gun for $82.
At Camp Pendleton in those days, we used to be able to get a box of ammo/day from the Battalion Armory and check out an empty range at lunch. Shot a bunch of issued WW Mid-range Match 148 gr wadcutter thru that revolver.
Carried that M-15-2 on deployments to Cuba, Okinawa, Phillipines, VietNam.
Still have it and it is still the best shooting revolver i own.
 
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