In Vietnam I bought a 38 special from another grunt and carried it for my combat tour. He told me that he found it in an area when they had cleared out some vietcong. I recently gifted the pistol to my son who has become a gun hobbyist -- I've told him my history with this old friend but I know nothing about the DOB or the heritage of the gun itself. The serial number is C906XXX located on the butt-frame. I always thought it was an army aviator pistol but the serial number did not show up as "lost or stolen" when the ATF cleared the weapon for me to bring it into the states. So, what can anyone tell me? I believe it is a Model 10 with 4" pencil-barrel. Photos attached.
Vietnam Pistol -- what is 'story of my 38 Special?
- Thread starter 'NamTubba
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sac-gunslinger
Member
Beautiful gun. Tell your son never, ever to refinish it. The finish tells the story of the war.
tac803
Member
Page 397 of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson lists the ".38 Special M&P Postwar and Models 10, 11, 12, 45, and Aircrewman" with a serial number range that yours falls into. The C prefix serial number is listed as "1948-1967 C1 - C999999". Doesn't narrow it down much, since they made a boatload of these. If you open the cylinder, look at the flat part perpendicular to the barrel where the crane closes, and you may see a number stamped there. You can always get a letter from Smith and Wesson to try to find out what year it was made, but looks like it was closer to '67 than '48. Very nice piece of history there. Thanks for your service!
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In this case, I think I would spring $50 for the letter. I didn't get around much, but my limited exposure to weapons in the Navy always revealed square-butt M&P revolvers, not round-butt.
Skeptic 9c
Member
The US Army, back in the 60-70-80, standardized on the round butt. But, it would be marked US property.
Geoff
Who wonders if he let his imagination run wild..
OLDSTER
Member
Nice revolver and great story. I agree; DO NOT refinish that beauty.
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Thank you for your service. Just adding it may have been a private purchase and carried/sent overseas; a factory letter should tell you if it shipped to a military or civilian destination.
Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson
Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson
nawilson
US Veteran
Welcome to the Forum! You have quite the first post. I agree with everything written above about not refinishing and getting a factory letter, and would like to add that you should write down this gun's story. That way, your son, his children, and their children will know the story without relying on memory. In this case, the gun's story is your story of service. It will become a family heirloom, so let them know.
And, thank you for your service and welcome home!
And, thank you for your service and welcome home!
AirForceShooter
Member
a lot of USAF aircrew were issued these in VN.
I had one and traded it for a Hi-Power.
AFS
I had one and traded it for a Hi-Power.
AFS
austintexas
Member
I picked up a cheap M-10 at a hock shop for a knock around gun and while cleaning it up I notice a small p stamped above the triggerguard in the front. It is a 67 era revolver and the p is the military acceptance stamp. there is no US or US property stamped on it anywhere. So now it resides in my police and military portion of my collection.
SWCA 892
SWCA 892
Colt Cobra
MY Dad carried a Colt Cobra, and an M-2 Carbine on his jaunts out to Than San Nhut international and beyond in the MC-130E, he moved downtown to the Embassy during TET, after the hotel across the street was hit by an NVA rocket, but that lasted about two weeks. It was insane downtown, heck it was insane everywhere over their. A couple of MacVSog boys offered to share a couple of Browning Hi Powers out of the two cases in back...but he passed. billy magg
MY Dad carried a Colt Cobra, and an M-2 Carbine on his jaunts out to Than San Nhut international and beyond in the MC-130E, he moved downtown to the Embassy during TET, after the hotel across the street was hit by an NVA rocket, but that lasted about two weeks. It was insane downtown, heck it was insane everywhere over their. A couple of MacVSog boys offered to share a couple of Browning Hi Powers out of the two cases in back...but he passed. billy magg
mg357
Absent Comrade
First thank you for your service, second nice model 10 its a really nice piece of history and third NEVER EVER get it refinished.
chipking
Member
My second tour in Viet Nam I was assigned to an aviation outfit. We had a young very green chopper pilot who would come by on a regular basis to fondle and admire his issue revolver. He asked the Gunny one day if there was anything he could do to make it "better". The Gunny replied. "Yes sir. You can file down the front sight" The Lieutenant replied " Oh so I can draw it faster" The Gunny's response. "No Sir You do that so that when Charlie takes it away from you and shoves it up your *** it won't hurt so bad"
Last time I ever saw the Lieutenant in there. I hope and pray that he made it and is now telling that story to his kids.
Chip King
Last time I ever saw the Lieutenant in there. I hope and pray that he made it and is now telling that story to his kids.
Chip King
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Do I remember hearing that some of the GI "tunnel rats"--who had to be brave to just short of lunacy, I'd think--preferred the Model 10 to the 1911A1 for their forays?
I don't ever remember seeing an issue round butt S&W carried by any of my buddies in either of the Assault Helicopter Companies I was in, in RVN. I'm not saying they weren't on the list in the arms room, I just didn't see one. I was issued an old Victory model. That's a great gun with an interesting story you have there.
BillyMagg, The Black Bird (not SR-71) flew some interesting missions, and was pretty high tech in the late 60's/early 70's. Did you grow up around Little Rock, or Duke (FL)? Too bad he didn't take the HP's. You might own one now. The MC-130E guys usually had access to nice stuff.
BillyMagg, The Black Bird (not SR-71) flew some interesting missions, and was pretty high tech in the late 60's/early 70's. Did you grow up around Little Rock, or Duke (FL)? Too bad he didn't take the HP's. You might own one now. The MC-130E guys usually had access to nice stuff.
igor455
Member
i was issued the 2 in version when i was there and it looked about like that when i came home with it. i also scrounged a browning hi power from the sog lads and had both with me. didnt see any 4 in round butts though. i was there 69 and 69 in chu lai
Darkenfast
Member
Although I was Navy, I spent a fair amount of time on Army bases during the 70's and 80's. I saw some female MPs wearing round-butt S&Ws. Never saw one out of the holster, so I don't know the barrel type, but it appeared to be four-inch. Nice piece of history you have there!
C Broad Arrow
Member
The personal weapons of war tell our story best.
Ross3914
Member
I carried that exact same configuration as an Army Aviator. I don't recall any "US" markings on any of the ones I was issued.
Remember that the last M1911A1 was delivered in 1946, so after that the military bought revolvers off-the-shelf if they needed more sidearms. Even before that, they were buying .38 specials, e.g. "Victory Model". So it's not suprising that people saw so many different models and configurations in their time in service.
It's absolutely beautiful in my eyes.
Remember that the last M1911A1 was delivered in 1946, so after that the military bought revolvers off-the-shelf if they needed more sidearms. Even before that, they were buying .38 specials, e.g. "Victory Model". So it's not suprising that people saw so many different models and configurations in their time in service.
It's absolutely beautiful in my eyes.
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