Use of S&W revolvers by Australian Forces

[S&W_aussie]

Hi All,

I was researching some stuff on the Australian War Memorial website and came across some (public domain) pics of Aussies using Smiths during 3 conflicts..WWII, Korea & Vietnam. Thought I would share them.

Here is a pic of an WWII Australian airman in 1943 with a 38-200 S&W Military and Police. Below that is my revolver of the same type.



Here are a group of WWII RAAF (Australian Airforce) crew with Victorys. Carried cross draw.


This is of an Australian soldier guarding a prisoner in Korea with his Victory...yeas we used them for a loooong time


This is a photo od US General James Van Fleet presenting Australian 3 RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) with a Presidential Unit Citation in Korea. Gen. Van Fleet is carrying an ivory handled Smith


And lastly..this looks a bit strange..it is an Australian Army Sapper (engineer) doing tunnel clearing exercises with the US Military in Vietnam. He has some pretty strange gear but also carries a silenced S&W revolver!


Hope you like them

Mike

 

[Texas Star]

Thanks, mate! Nice pics!

Have the floods there subsided yet? Did they reach Brisbane? The news here said that most of Queensland was affected.

T-Star

 

[S&W_aussie]

Hey Tex

Nah Brisbane got away with it this time it stopped raining about 4pm yesterday..only a couple of showers today. Still some rivers a few hours from here around the 8 metre mark. Some towns will be cut off for a couple of weeks yet. We are still rowing supplies accross to my dad..lol

Glad you like the pics Of course we have had S & W revolvers long before these were taken but I couldn't find any earlier pics...strange.

Cheers

Mike

 

[badguybuster]

Those are very cool pics. thanks for sharing

 

[victorylarry]

Great post! Looks like you have a nice pre-victory there. Does your S&W have any military markings? I'm thinking it probably has "Property of United States" on topstrap? Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[CL300]

Can you still get a XXXX "off the wood" at the Breakfast Creek Pub?

CL300

 

[S&W_aussie]

Can you still get a XXXX "off the wood" at the Breakfast Creek Pub?

CL300

Lol...yep...You sound like a local?

 

[S&W_aussie]

Hey Larry,

No, strangely enough it doesnt have US property marks. It is a c.1940s M&P in 38/200. It has a 5" barrel and is blued. The serial number is 7883XX so pretty certain it was a Lend Lease....just a very early one. I have 3 military Smiths including that one. I also have a US Property .38 special cal. 4" Victory and a M1917 .45 cal. Pics below.

1917 No. 76827


Victory Sn V368191 ...I know some people think its dangerous to state the full serial but its on the tag in the pic anyway..lol



Cheers

Mike

 

[turnerriver]

Use of S&W...

I'm at work viewing this on my phone so I may be
mistaken but it looks like General Van Fleet carried
his ivory handled S&W in an Audley holster.
Very enjoyable photos,thanks for posting them.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA 1426

 

[S&W_aussie]

I'm at work viewing this on my phone so I may be
mistaken but it looks like General Van Fleet carried
his ivory handled S&W in an Audley holster.
Very enjoyable photos,thanks for posting them.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA 1426

Looks like an Audley....Here is another angle

 

[m1gunner]

Neat pics. Does that tunnel rat have a mouth switch for his headlamp?

 

[S&W_aussie]

Neat pics. Does that tunnel rat have a mouth switch for his headlamp?

Hey mate,

Yep...those blokes must have been pretty tough...I don't think I would do it.

Mike

 

[artu44]

Aussies got also M1917s during WWII. I bought this australian made holster, copy of the USM1909, used by an aussie Air Force pilot named Fethers.

 

[S&W_aussie]

Aussies got also M1917s during WWII. I bought this australian made holster, copy of the USM1909, used by an aussie Air Force pilot named Fethers.

Cool...I didn't know that..thanks for posting!

 

[effects]

Hello. First post. I believe I have a Australian M&P 1905 Fourth Change. It is stamped (on the left side) D (broad arrow) D which I believe is Australian Department of Defence. It has a 5" barrel and has smooth grips. It is .38 S&W calibre (38-200). It also has a stamp of 3 (above a line) with 1215 (below the line) on the left side. It has the lanyard ring. The serial number is 8347XX. There is no V but there is a P on the butt well away from the serial number. The barrel, cylinder and frame all match numbers. Seeing that this thread is about Australian M&P, can anyone help me out with the date of the serial number. Thanks.

 

[opoefc]

effects, Welcome to the Forum. Close serial numbers to your S&W revolver were shipped to Australia in late 1941, as part of a contract for 8,000 revolver, cal. 38/200 . Ed.

 

[effects]

effects, Welcome to the Forum. Close serial numbers to your S&W revolver were shipped to Australia in late 1941, as part of a contract for 8,000 revolver, cal. 38/200 . Ed.

Thank you so much, Ed! So my revolver may have been used "in theatre"? I currently have it on the kitchen table and am in the process of dis-assembly and cleaning.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Darned interesting post.

Is there something on the top of the frame of the silenced revolver or is that something in the background?

 

[walnutred]

I think what you see on top of the frame is an early version of a laser sight.

 

[effects]

Here's a photo of my less than pristine ~1941 S&W 1905 Change 4 in .38 S&W calibre. Anyone know what the 3 over the 1215 stamp means. You can barely see it in the picture but it is marked D (Broad Arrow) D. I know she's rough, But she's mine.

 

[dhartz]

effects,

I just came across this old post hope you will see my reply

On Australian Enfield rifles .the number, in this case "3" stands for the 3rd military district and the rest is the number assigned to that weapon within the military district.

I don't know if it applies the revolvers as well as rifles.

By the way, I have a S&W, similar to yours, with the number 3 over 585 and a serial number of 7512xx

 

[Retired W4]

Great pictures. I obtained an Australian Victory model that went through FTR in the mid 50's. I bought it at a gun show in the DFW area in the mid 90's and just had it to the range this past week. All matching number except for the grip panels and it still shoots well. It's a great piece of history that I am proud to own. During my tour in RVN I visited the Aussie compound near Vung Tau a couple times and had the opportunity to fly them around a few time as well. My thanks go out to our friends for their service in country.

 

[opoefc]

John Witty, You have a sharp eye. That holster of Jimmy Van Fleet's is indeed an Audley. Ed.

 

[PJGP]

No, strangely enough it doesnt have US property marks. It is a c.1940s M&P in 38/200. It has a 5" barrel and is blued. The serial number is 7883XX so pretty certain it was a Lend Lease....just a very early one. Mike

I am a bit over three years late with the following comment!

Clearly not a Lend Lease gun, but one of the 8000 supplied direct from S&W to Oz in January 1941.

Peter

 

[tekarra]

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting.

 

[gordonrick]

FWIW - my Pre-victory, SN 760659, shipped on 7 May 1941 as part of that Australian contract (per Jinks). No proof or acceptance markings at all.

 

[AlanDavid]

The 3 is for the third military district being Victoria, the number underneath as stated in a previous post is the rack number or the number for that rifle or pistol within the third military district.
Regards
AlanD
Sydney

 

[.455_Hunter]

Great guns!

As a young teen, I remember lusting over these .38's listed in the Navy Arms fliers in the late 80's and early 90's. I think they were $125.