S&W Model 15 - Serial Range for USAF

[Nickjc]

Hi !

I did a search and didn't seem to get a solid hit - are there known serial ranges for M15's that might have seen usaf service?

Are they marked as such as well?

thanks for any info

Nick

 

[murphydog]

They are scattered all over the 15-1 to -3 SN range. Most were stamped "U.S.A.F." on the left lower frame above the trigger but I have seen some that just had "U.S." There are Forum members who are true experts in the field of U.S. military revolvers who may have more information.

 

[gatekeeper]

I was the NCOIC of Arms and Equipment in the 70's. All I ever encountered and in my Armory were stamped U.S.A.F, even the snub nose version.

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[murphydog]

Thanks for your service! Here is a photo of one that lettered as a U.S.A.F. gun. (Can you tell my day job is not in I.T.? )

 

[gatekeeper]

All had target triggers and hammers, that was the norm.

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[bgrafsr]

15-2: K558758




15-1: K467045

 

[JP@AK]

Great Caesar's Ghost, Bill!

Your picture of the USAF 15-2, serial number K558758, has non-relieved target stocks. Beautiful, although clearly not original to that revolver.

Every Model 15 ever issued to me in my two years in SE Asia had Magna stocks. I don't recall inspecting the frame on every one of them so that I can say whether they had U.S. or U.S.A.F. on them. That wasn't exactly a major concern of mine at the time!

I'm sure it was one or the other . . .

 

[Breakaway500]

My Dad carried this 15-2 in Vietnam as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. Ser. K575824. My favorite revolver.

 

[JP@AK]

My Dad carried this 15-2 in Vietnam. ser. K575824 My favorite revolver.

Interesting! It is USAF marked. How did he manage to keep it? We had to turn them in after each mission or sorty - unless we were going right back out. When we left the country, one item on our checklist was an acknowledgement that all USAF property had been returned (including any issued firearms).

 

[Nickjc]

Thanks for all the images and info so far !

 

[Breakaway500]

My Dad was allowed to bring his revolver back,which he did.He was a doctor so possibly that made a difference? There was a holster that got lost in the years we travelled around, being transferred here and there.The first 16 years of my life were mostly moving every 6 months. Such was the life of an A.F. brat..

 

[bgrafsr]

Great Caesar's Ghost, Bill!

Your picture of the USAF 15-2, serial number K558758, has non-relieved target stocks. Beautiful, although clearly not original to that revolver.

Every Model 15 ever issued to me in my two years in SE Asia had Magna stocks. I don't recall inspecting the frame on every one of them so that I can say whether they had U.S. or U.S.A.F. on them. That wasn't exactly a major concern of mine at the time!

I'm sure it was one or the other . . .

You're right, the stocks are not original, but I had them and like the looks of them on the gun. I do have the correct stocks for both the 15-1 and the 15-2.