USAF Model 15s

[michael1000]

I worked small arms training from '76 to '79, and I recall the ones in use by SPs were all blue, most marked "USAF." We did see some parkerized ones that were refinished "old Viet Nam guns." They were usually in storage, long term, for "contingency." Maybe some were issued to flight crews.

 

[JWM]

Late to the thread. I was DOD Police from 1983-89, at Otis ANGB, MA. We were running short of model 15's to issue out, a request was submitted to Warner-Robins AFB for more revolvers, about 1986. We received a crate of model 15s, all parkerized finish, target hammer, target triggers, and magna stocks. I'm pretty sure they were stamped USAF on the frame.

 

[S&W Fan]

No follow up from the op-another one post wonder?

 

[Retired W4]

Late to the thread. I was DOD Police from 1983-89, at Otis ANGB, MA. We were running short of model 15's to issue out, a request was submitted to Warner-Robins AFB for more revolvers, about 1986. We received a crate of model 15s, all parkerized finish, target hammer, target triggers, and magna stocks. I'm pretty sure they were stamped USAF on the frame.

I was told there were a lot of 15's stored at WRAFB and I know Ft Rucker had many 10's in storage at one time. Don't know about today.

 

[CH4]

I was an Air Force cop and all the M15s I saw were 4", blued and stamped USAF.

 

[MajorD]

While I spent the majority of my military career with the army, I did spend a few years in the Air Force Reserve in the early 1990's. I got the chance to do the qualification course for the revolver ( at that point the active duty Air Force had transitioned to the beretta, and only a few reserve component units still had revolvers. When we got in line and were handed a revolver to use ( my job was not specific to carry of small arms, so we were not assigned guns just randomly given one from a rack to carry to the firing line) I distinctly recall a mix of blued and parkerized guns. One would imagine like all other military small arms, that having been in service through the 60's with a good number having served in Vietnam, that they would have gone through an Arsenal rebuilding program where they were refinished

 

[Thuer]

About 20 years ago, I did work in a gunstore. The nice thing was that we have had a pile of guns wich where stored by their owner. If the owner did not pay his storage fee, the gun came on the market. So I could buy this Smith and Wesson model 15 marked U.S.A.F. The price was very nice. 250 Dutch guilder at hat time. It is still in my collection. I treassure it. The revolver is in company by a last production model 15. This one was given to me from a collector who did collect Vietnam eara revolvers. He could not buy mine model 15 so he bought a brand new one. It is in my collection now to.

 

[bgrafsr]

While I spent the majority of my military career with the army, I did spend a few years in the Air Force Reserve in the early 1990's. I got the chance to do the qualification course for the revolver ( at that point the active duty Air Force had transitioned to the beretta, and only a few reserve component units still had revolvers. When we got in line and were handed a revolver to use ( my job was not specific to carry of small arms, so we were not assigned guns just randomly given one from a rack to carry to the firing line) I distinctly recall a mix of blued and parkerized guns. One would imagine like all other military small arms, that having been in service through the 60's with a good number having served in Vietnam, that they would have gone through an Arsenal rebuilding program where they were refinished

I've posted this before but I'll do it again:


A buddy of mine was in the Army Reserve and had to go to Camp Perry for week-end duty and qualification. He asked if I wanted to go along and I said yes.
A bunch of Reservists were taken to the firing range to qualify with revolvers, which were S&W Model 15's. There were a lot of misfires and guns that were not working like they should. The Lt. in charge was getting very frustrated and angry. My buddy told him I was an S&W Armorer for the PD I worked for, and he asked if I could check the guns over.
I did, and found many problems that I was able to correct, and the guns worked fine for the qualification after that.
The Lt. was so happy and he asked me what type of gun I wanted to shoot. I told him that I would like to shoot an M60, as I had not shot one since VietNam. He told one of the men to take me to a rifle range and give me an M60 and all the .308 ammo I wanted, and told me to shoot to my heart's content. I shot the qualification course with the miniature targets and was a happy camper.

 

[kwill1911]

Is that Holster also listed with that gun from the Air Force???

Yes. It is not the most common type of USAF holster but it is a legit example.

 

[Greyman50]

GI in our unit in Vietnam " acquired" a A.F. Mdl 15, never asked how he got it but had it in his hootch. It was blued with regular wood grips.

 

[1blindref]

I found this one here in the classifieds about 10 years ago, and it's one of my favorite S&W's in my collection. I bought it to give to my son who's been serving in the Air Force as an MP and CATM instructor for the past 13.5 years. I'm planning on giving it to him when he retires from the Air Force in 6.5 years.

 

[Homie]

Why isn't the Target Hammer mentioned in the letter?

 

[luvsmiths]

I don't know, but did they go to the USAF in any other configuration?

 

[michael1000]

all USAF model 15s had target hammer, trigger, and ramp front sight.