Navy overrun Chief for the Chief

[chiefdave]

Came up with this on GB, not a perfect example but came with the original box and all of the paperwork. One of 112 overruns from a 1977 Navy contract for 2000 pieces.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy Chief.

Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy.

 

[shouldazagged]

Very nice find.

I've never seen one with a lanyard ring.

 

[squidsix]

Please return that to the Armory. I will be there in the morning in uniform with the correct paperwork (that I will generate tonight and back-date to 1977).
Nice find!
V/R,
Chief

 

[JayFramer]

One word to describe that gun:

BEAUT.

 

[Texas Star]

I've seen just one of those. With so few released on the civilian market, now I know why.

But who got the Navy guns like that? Why put a lanyard ring on a J-frame, if for intelligence or LE personnel?

Why issue a little snub .38 to aviators? Maybe the idea was to conceal it if thy could get civilian clothes behind enemy lines?

Maybe admirals got some, or paymasters? Couriers? I used to know an Army guy who was issued a Colt .32 auto when on courier duty. He wore civilian clothes then. But the supply of those little Colts ran out decades ago.

 

[FifthWheel]

Congrats, looks good!

 

[Old_Cop]

Maybe a Master at Arms weapon?

 

[squidsix]

Maybe a Master at Arms weapon?

This. I knew a guy who was a third class in absentee collections in chicago. He carried a "snub .38" he said while on duty.

 

[les.b]

Chief, that's a beauty....learn something every day on here. Never heard of this variation!! Great find!

Best Regards, Les

 

[loeman]

I've seen just one of those. With so few released on the civilian market, now I know why.

But who got the Navy guns like that? Why put a lanyard ring on a J-frame, if for intelligence or LE personnel?

Why issue a little snub .38 to aviators? Maybe the idea was to conceal it if thy could get civilian clothes behind enemy lines?

Maybe admirals got some, or paymasters? Couriers? I used to know an Army guy who was issued a Colt .32 auto when on courier duty. He wore civilian clothes then. But the supply of those little Colts ran out decades ago.

Like Texas Star I have questions too. But mine are more elementary. How do you recognize one? Yes, I get the lanyard ring, but other than that what are the differences? Thanks for your input.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Since a few folks have said this is the first one they've seen, I'll offer this thread from last year to fill in a few blanks...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-backstrap-lanyard.html?526901=#post139657601

A tidbit often overlooked is these little characters don't have a serial number stamped on the butt (due, I presume, to the lanyard ring), but rather it's stamped on the frame inside the yoke.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Personally, I love any revolver with a lanyard ring!

Ivan

 

[TomkinsSP]

Please return that to the Armory. I will be there in the morning in uniform with the correct paperwork (that I will generate tonight and back-date to 1977).
Nice find!
V/R,
Chief

True story, on the job we once caught a forger because he used a typewriter font which post dated the supposed creation of the document.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I've seen just one of those. With so few released on the civilian market, now I know why.

But who got the Navy guns like that? Why put a lanyard ring on a J-frame, if for intelligence or LE personnel?

Why issue a little snub .38 to aviators? Maybe the idea was to conceal it if thy could get civilian clothes behind enemy lines?

Maybe admirals got some, or paymasters? Couriers? I used to know an Army guy who was issued a Colt .32 auto when on courier duty. He wore civilian clothes then. But the supply of those little Colts ran out decades ago.

If military lieutenants (ensigns) are like police lieutenants, so they don't lose it?

 

[kwill1911]

These were for Naval aviators. The Navy also bought some Model 37 revolvers for aviators.

 

[chiefdave]

These were for Naval aviators. The Navy also bought some Model 37 revolvers for aviators.

Makes sense, in the mid 70's the Navy changed the personal survival vests for one that incorporated flotation. The new vest had 2 compartments for personal items and one had a slot sewn in for a small revolver or pistol. Being in P3's none of the aircrew was issued a personal sidearm. On the rare occasions that the crew needed to be armed those of us that were qualified had to draw a sidearm from the armory and the only choices were 1911 or M10 S&W.

 

[LostintheOzone]

This. I knew a guy who was a third class in absentee collections in chicago. He carried a "snub .38" he said while on duty.

Never heard that one. Probably after my time.

Just real bad shore duty there.

 

[Texas Star]

Makes sense, in the mid 70's the Navy changed the personal survival vests for one that incorporated flotation. The new vest had 2 compartments for personal items and one had a slot sewn in for a small revolver or pistol. Being in P3's none of the aircrew was issued a personal sidearm. On the rare occasions that the crew needed to be armed those of us that were qualified had to draw a sidearm from the armory and the only choices were 1911 or M10 S&W.

Why were P-3 (Neptune? Orion?) crews not armed? If they crashed/bailed out, they'd have the same survival needs as anyone.

I think WWII PBY crews were armed and even had rifles, to kill sharks if needed as they picked up survivors in life rafts.

RAF PBY's/Catalinas were armed. Coastal Command called in the RAF Colt M-1911's in .455 from WWI, as the crews needed pistols to protect themselves from rescued Luftwaffe crews who crashed in the Channel. Otherwise, the armed Germans could commandeer the rescue plane!

That order also got all the .455's and their obsolescent ammo in one command, and those Colts were more powerful than the .38-200 revolvers usually issued.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I was awarded a base security job (mid watch) from time to time and all I ever saw was a 1911. That was at two different duty stations, one in Fl. and one in N. Africa. 67-71.

Revolvers were uncommon in the Navy during my time and I worked with aviators almost every day.

That snub is a peach.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Why were P-3 (Neptune? Orion?) crews not armed? If they crashed/bailed out, they'd have the same survival needs as anyone.

That's a good point.

Best not try to figure out any military logic. That was my mantra. It served me well.

 

[Texas Star]

Some Navy aviators bought their own revolvers. I think the guy who wrote, Flight of the Intruder carried a M-19 .357 like his fictional character did. The author flew A-6 Intruders in the Vietnam war. Name is Stephen Coonts.

His book became a quite good movie, marred for me only by one piece of casting that stank of Hollywood's preoccupation with PC.
You can see clips on YouTube.

While in the USAF, I occasionally saw Navy aircrews on our bases. They were in transit or refueling, etc The guns I saw were always WWII S&W Victory Model .38's. Knives showed more variety.

 

[les.b]

Texas Star:

Thanks for the plug for Stephen Coonts. He grew up here in West Virginia, in Buchannon, which is about 30 miles from where I'm sitting right now.

We don't have all that many famous people from WV!! And, from what I understand, he is a good guy.

The movie was directed by John Milius, who is a real pro gun guy, a director of the NRA, and also directed, IIRC, the Dirty Harry movies, and made the 44 Magnum famous.

Best Regards, Les

 

[chiefdave]

Some Navy aviators bought their own revolvers. I think the guy who wrote, Flight of the Intruder carried a M-19 .357 like his fictional character did. The author flew A-6 Intruders in the Vietnam war. Name is Stephen Coonts.

His book became a quite good movie, marred for me only by one piece of casting that stank of Hollywood's preoccupation with PC.
You can see clips on YouTube.

While in the USAF, I occasionally saw Navy aircrews on our bases. They were in transit or refueling, etc The guns I saw were always WWII S&W Victory Model .38's. Knives showed more variety.

The casting was not only PC but also historically incorrect. The Navy didn't have any colored aviators until the early 50's and they would not be senior enough for squadron command at that time.

 

[OLDSTER]

WOW ! What a find

 

[TomkinsSP]

That's a good point.

Best not try to figure out any military logic. That was my mantra. It served me well.

An old friend flew USAF KC-99s and then later KC-135s, apparently they gave aircrew parachutes then took them away in both types at different times. (Why, who knows. Based on the price of silk?)

 

[ordnanceguy]

The Navy didn't have any colored aviators until the early 50's and they would not be senior enough for squadron command at that time.

Hello Chief:

I think that CMDR Benjamin Cloud, CO of an RF-8 Crusader photo recon squadron (VFP-63) operating on Yankee Station, would be surprised to learn of that. By 1972 he was XO of the USS Kittyhawk.

 

[chiefdave]

Hello Chief:

I think that CMDR Benjamin Cloud, CO of an RF-8 Crusader photo recon squadron (VFP-63) operating on Yankee Station, would be surprised to learn of that. By 1972 he was XO of the USS Kittyhawk.

I stand corrected.

 

[cmj8591]

There was a large contract for the Japanese National Police in the 90's for model 36's. Those guns had a lanyard ring just like this one. I'm not sure how many they made but it was a big order.

 

[Texas Star]

There was a large contract for the Japanese National Police in the 90's for model 36's. Those guns had a lanyard ring just like this one. I'm not sure how many they made but it was a big order.

I think they used the model 36 long before that, too.

And have had some SIG-Sauer P-232's.