NASA Bodyguard form 1962!

[.455_Hunter]

My Dad did some critical engineering work on the Atlas out at General Dynamics in San Diego in the '58 - '62 time frame. The whole team was really rather shocked that all of the Mercury astronauts made it home safety given the track record of the boosters.

Great mementos from that era!

 

[mpc]

Wonder if it shoots in space?

 

[kraynky]

Typically, I don't get too excited about government agency marked guns. But this one...WOW! I love it! And, it's a Bodyguard, my all-time favorite J frame. Congratulations on a wonderful acquisition.

AMEN! The Bodyguard is my favorite as well. I would really suck as a "Collector", because I'd be shooting and carrying that beauty! (Of course I'm sure I couldn't afford it anyways)

Absolutely Gorgeous Handgun! Congratulations!!! And thanks for sharing them.

 

[br25004x4]

Wow. That's truly special. I was 10 when S&W shipped that piece to NASA -- definitely a memorable and exciting time in the space race. I remember watching all the NASA launches on our first b&w tv.

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing it.

I was 10 when they shipped it to NASA too!

 

[S&WIowegan]

Back in the last half of the 1960s, I lived in Maryland and worked with a young man whose father was Director of Security for NASA at that time. I met him on one occasion. He was a former FBI agent who had transferred to NASA. Your gun is in such apparent pristine condition I doubt it was carried daily by an armed guard. It was probably issued to a senior person, perhaps the Director of Security. Such a person would probably have been able to keep his gun when he retired.

 

[blockislander]

Senior NASA Member's gun

That is an interesting point. It probably was a senior's person's gun.

 

[ken158]

Did you get any period correct ammo with it?

 

[shouldazagged]

What a treasure. Need I ask if you've shot it?

 

[Old TexMex]

'62 the year we launched Telstar!
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D6DmtPQv7V8[/ame]

 

[Old TexMex]

The badge, being from Marshall Space Center also is interesting. That's where Werner Von Braum and some of the other Nazi scientists and engineers worked. They came to the U.S. in operation paperclip.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

WOW. Ya'll share the BEST stuff here!! Yup I remember the B&W TV's at school showing the lunar landing and the Huntley - Brinkley nightly news regarding Viet Nam. I was addicted to the stuff. My uncle Ricky was in the CB's and mom sent him baked goods and he sent me momentos that have long disappeared with multi state moves.

The USA was so proud and wonderful in those days of old. The 60's were the days beginning the change for today. Some good...mostly not so much. Hmmm...

 

[colkid]

Beautiful gun, great history.

 

[dpast32]

WOW, That's an AWESOME Find !!

Many THANKS for sharing this with us, it's truly a unique piece. I too love US Govt., Federal L/E issue handguns, along with a few longarms if they fit into the overall mix. Although they do prove a very interesting research progect, they don't appear on the market much anymore. I still lament not grabbing a few of the 1980's era Model 686/CS, as mfg'd on contract for US Customs Agents & Officers. The last unusual M-49's I recall, were the MI State Police, 2 Tone, & a Saudi Arabian contract piece, complete w/ Saudi crest on it's side-plate. YOUR example though is an extremely rare, perhaps 1 of just a very few still available. BTW, as for the holster, I used to come across these all the time when browsing through the used holster bin at my local L/E supply & gun shop. I still use one with my alloy M-642 "LS" when I feel that gun's appropriate for what I'll be doing or going. THANKS again for sharing.

Best, dpast32

 

[H P Bushrod]

Nice! Thanks for sharing the pics and info on that historic piece.

 

[rwsmith]

So were the astronauts....

My Dad did some critical engineering work on the Atlas out at General Dynamics in San Diego in the '58 - '62 time frame. The whole team was really rather shocked that all of the Mercury astronauts made it home safety given the track record of the boosters.

Great mementos from that era!

They were as surprised as anybody. They knew the reputation of the Atlas.

Though the Redstone wasn't enough to get anybody into orbit, it was a safe, reliable rocket.

 

[rwsmith]

G-men...

NASA Interplanetary Rangers. Very elite outfit.


"OK, Zork. Just guide that ship back to earth REAL slow....and no funny business!"

 

[blockislander]

I did not shoot this one and probably won't as everyone here seems to like it a lot!

 

[blockislander]

This is a very interesting gun. Let's bump it up for a second look.

 

[blockislander]

Let me know what you think of it.

 

[6518John]

Let me know what you think of it.

They can put folks out into space but don't have sense enough to not use one of those god-awful engraving pencils on that magnificent revolver!

But what a great thread and package. Thank you so much for posting. That package needs to be in a museum display somewhere.