U.S. Air Force retires the last of its S&W Model 15 revolvers

[ABPOS]

"Though the M15 has been an available option as a blank-firing training aid, one has to imagine the costs and complexities of continuing to use a small number of these revolvers, and the ammunition to go with them, has grown over the years. No other service still uses these guns or any other weapon chambered in .38 caliber. Having the AFSFC's K9 program use the same pistols as everyone else can only make things simpler all around."

I have to agree it is next to impossible for me to keep my K frames running and getting .38 caliber ammunition is a real chore (tongue firmly in cheek).

I think I have to respectfully disagree with this quote. On another forum there is a wheelgun guy that posts that is still an armorer for Spec Ops and was in some of the Army Spec Ops for most of his career. I do believe he said there are still wheelguns in the armories today. Would be SF armories but still there nonetheless.

It's possible that SF doesn't use the same rules and aren't included in the normal channels. But shouldn't be discounted I don't think.

I would think if the CMP could get 1911's they could get M15's. I wonder if one of us shouldn't say something to them....... Or all of us. Then they would know there is interest.

Civilian Marksmanship Program |

email: [email protected]

 

[ABPOS]

I just emailed them.

 

[sfcjcl]

Question????
I'm retired Army, so I know that what is standard operating procedure isn't always what happens. Having said that, were all the U.S. Airforce Model 15 revolvers marked "US Airforce"???
Also, did the Airforce every order M15s in Nickel?????

 

[austintexas]

I have one that is marked U S , It was presented to an Air Force general in Washington, DC and he got to keep it when he retired.
SWCA 892

 

[Breakaway500]

This 15-2 was issued to my Dad before he left for Vietnam. We were stationed at Robins AFB in Georgia at the time. I've got the holster and ammo pouch as well.It letters as one of the 2k that went to Robbins at the time.. Although some say the target grips are not "correct"...my Dad says that's how it came out of the box when issued to him. He had his choice, and chose the one with the "big" grips. Good choice Dad. Being an officer he was allowed to bring it back with him. He's 84 and lives in the free state of NH. The photos show him in country, circa 1967.

 

[kwill1911]

Breakaway500, some of these were shipped with the 3Ts. Your dad's is probably one of those. A letter would probably confirm the configuration.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Sorry to hear that they are coming up at the end of the trail. I do have to comment though that I am surprised they are/were still being used. Not taking anything away from the firearm, but it is ancient technology by comparison. Again, not 'picking' on it and I am a huge 1911 advocate, just surprised now in 2019 they are being transitioned out. That's all.

 

[S-W4EVER]

As a kid l grew up at the end of Charleston AF Base runway on Midland

Park Rd... Mama worked at Base Supply for MATS. Got to go on base

many many times too. Anyway we always had to stop at the gate for

the APs to check ID.. They even had girl Air Police!! Lady APs carried

round butt 38spcl S&W revolvers on a lanyard.. Guys had Colt 1911s.

The weaponry makes me think they were Army Military Police.

 

[Farmer17]

I've bought about 30-35 guns off the internet and the only bad deal I got was on a M-15 a few years ago. When received it looked a lot worse than in the pictures, it had a chipped hammer spur and a mangled rear sight leaf like it was dropped from a second story on to concrete and the gun had been refinished in a do-it-yourself type of black finish. I only paid $220 bucks and I immediately sold it for slightly less than that, but now I wish I still had the gun and I would just put a new sight blade on it, shorten the hammer spur a bit, and have it Ceracoted, because I REALLY like M-15s!

 

[SG-688]

Somewhere I have an article - American Rifleman, I think - about 1980's USAF experiments in converting model 15 revolvers to 9 mm. My recollection is that rather than installing new cylinders, they attempted rechambering .38 cylinders.

added:

I still think there was an article in AR but I found a May, 1977 Shooting Times on the subject: Converting the Combat Masterpiece to 9 mm by Major John Edgar. Modified .38 cylinders with half-moon clips.

The author says the S&W model 59 was being tested with the revolver conversion intended as a supplement to a new auto pistol.

 

[sw282]

The weaponry makes me think they were Army Military Police.

NO...They were ''APs''.. Air Police in US Air Force uniforms..

''AP'' arm bands.. ONLY relation to US Army was to their training.

All APs and MPs were trained in the same location.. At that time

US Military Police School was located @ Ft Gordon Ga.. Now its

Ft Rucker Alabama... After Viet Nam in 1972 l was assigned to

Ft Gordon Ga... While there we did quite a bit of work for the

MP School.. The plastic shop at Training Aids made quite a few

rubber S&W revolvers and 1911 Colts... Smiths were RB 4'' K

frame M&Ps...

 

[S-W4EVER]

I attended USAMPS at Ft. Gordon, GA in early 1973. The company I was in was half Army and half Marine. I never saw any AF personnel. At that time there were only one or two female MP's in the Army.

When I was in the ROK (about 1975) we received some new S&W Model 10's for the female MP's that would be rotating in. No holsters so our Supply Sergeant got some swivel holsters from the Air Force (probably Osan AB).

The word was that female MP's couldn't rack the slides back on M1911A1's (we carried Condition 3) so they were issued revolvers to them.

Not doubting your word but I never saw an Air Force Security Policeman carry a M1911A1.

 

[357magster]

The US Air Force is ditching the last of its Model 15 revolvers

Came across this and thought it might be of interest.

I was pleasantly surprised that they still even had some old wheel guns.

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

** Didn't realize that this link was posted yesterday by somebody else. Sorry for the redundancy. **

 

[kld555]

I was in from 1963 till 1966 and carried at various times the 1911, the model 10 and the model 15. Selfridge AFB and Dow AFB.

 

[texmex]

If the article is correct, there are 100,000 in inventory. At $150 each wholesaled out could result in $15,000,000 return to the USAF. That might buy most of a new fighter plane.

How about they sell these and use the money to build the border wall that Congress and Mexico don't want to pay for?

 

[Goldstar225]

I suspect that the S&W 15s were only used for blank fire in K9 training since the K9 handlers carried the Beretta on duty. If that's the case it's strange that they would get rid of them since the M17/M18 won't cycle blank rounds. Maybe they're obtaining dedicated blank guns in their place.

 

[stansdds]

Agree, there would have to be Federal legislation authorizing release of the surplus model 15s for sale, likely to the CMP.

However, under the current House of Representatives leadership, this is about as likely as BGEN Chuck Yeager showing up on my local range to shoot a 1911.

On a more practical note, if the military K9s still need to have blank-firing training, I wonder how this will happen with the M17? Maybe the Air Force will have the dog handlers just yell "BANG!" really loud.

I was going to say something to that effect, but since you already said it, I'll just quote you and bump this thread back to the top.

 

[Old cop]

The Model 15 was our issued weapon for uniformed officers in the late '60s and my biggest regret is I did not buy mine when they were phased out for the new stainless heavy barrel thirty-eights.

 

[GaryS]

So, how does the Air Force dispose of those guns? CMP? Trade them? Hopefully not the "D word". That would be a shame.

 

[DWalt]

What M15s are left would be in storage at the Anniston (AL) Army Depot. It has been over 10 years ago since I was involved in such things, but at that time where were not nearly 100K of them there. I personally converted quite a few of them to "Inert" status for use by honor guards, etc. by welding up the guts and plugging the bores.

USAF Security Forces training is done at the SF training center at Camp Bullis in San Antonio. All working dog training is done at the Medina Annex of Lackland AFB. I used to work at the USAF Gunsmith Shop right next to the dog training center. A great location if you like constant barking.

All USAF small arms logistics functions are handled at Robins AFB, Warner Robins GA.

 

[ispcapt]

Not doubting your word but I never saw an Air Force Security Policeman carry a M1911A1.

In the 1950s and early 1960s the USAF Air Police as they were called back then carried the 1911. Have to remember that until 1947 the USAF was actually part of the Army and after becoming a separate service in 1947 many of the same uniforms and accessories were still Army equipment. Later the SPs went to the M-15.
General LeMay pushed for the M-15 and specified target hammer and target trigger. He felt those were better suited when in cold weather gear wearing heavy thick gloves.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Ispcapt is correct.
Early on after the AF split from the Army, the APs did carry 1911s.
I Have seen them do so.
Can't remember what color their holsters were.

 

[mm93]

Isn't it possible that "$45" gun ended up in a pawn shop because it went "AWOL" rather than having been sold off officially?

Yes it's possible, but more likely that it got transferred to a state or local agency when the USAF got rid of it. As mentioned previously the practice of the US Government is to offer items to state and local agencies before they sell to the public, or destroy them. So I'd guess this would likely be one that went a legal route, rather than pilfered.
Of course this government practice wont apply to future disposal of these Model 15's as every agency I know of has converted to semiauto handguns, so none will likely purchase these guns now that USAF is disposing of them. So the likelihood of these having a happy ending for collectors isn't bright.

 

[mm93]

When I was in the USAF in 1969 the guys at the gate of McChord AFB near Tacoma, Wa. were armed with Model 15's. Saw them every time I went through the gate for a year I was there. Then reassigned to Hickam AFB in Hawaii in 1970 and the gate guards there had Model 15's also.

 

[Mule Packer]

The end of an era. I was never in the Air Force, but have always appreciated the Model 15.

My Model 15-3 was the third Smith and Wesson I ever purchased. I bought it used and was very pleasantly surprised the first time I took it out to the range. It was...and is... exceptionally accurate.

Although I have other handguns, more often than not, I slip the Model 15 into the truck with me when I go into town.

Like I said, the end of an era.

 

[dsink]

In the 1950s and early 1960s the USAF Air Police as they were called back then carried the 1911. Have to remember that until 1947 the USAF was actually part of the Army and after becoming a separate service in 1947 many of the same uniforms and accessories were still Army equipment. Later the SPs went to the M-15.
General LeMay pushed for the M-15 and specified target hammer and target trigger. He felt those were better suited when in cold weather gear wearing heavy thick gloves.

Not to hijack the tread but was the model 15 ever offered commercially with target trigger and target hammer?

 

[Bubba2014]

They really are great guns, also the stainless 67's

 

[fishcreekrim]

Herrett skip line checkered shooting stars. My favorite grip for a k frame��

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I love my semi's but there's something to be said for an older blued revolver . S&W did it right when it was making them . Got to say though , my m14 is one I will keep until I die .

 

[S-W4EVER]

In the 1950s and early 1960s the USAF Air Police as they were called back then carried the 1911. Have to remember that until 1947 the USAF was actually part of the Army and after becoming a separate service in 1947 many of the same uniforms and accessories were still Army equipment. Later the SPs went to the M-15.
General LeMay pushed for the M-15 and specified target hammer and target trigger. He felt those were better suited when in cold weather gear wearing heavy thick gloves.

Heck, anything was possible in the old days. I made an open holster in the Craft Shop (in ROK) for my issued M1911A1 and wore that for awhile. Don't know if that would be allowed today.