stratasfan Posted October 14, 2017 Share #1 Posted October 14, 2017 I got part of a report about a Vietnam aircrew that was killed when their plane exploded. It mentions that each crewman carried a .38cal revolver and gives the serial numbers. Anybody know what type of gun this would have been? They were the crew of a AC-130 "Spectre" that was shot down Dec 1972 over Laos. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1Garandy Posted October 14, 2017 Share #2 Posted October 14, 2017 Based on the S/N's I'd say K frame Smith & Wessons. Perhaps some of the Model 15's the USAF had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cw1979 Posted October 14, 2017 Share #3 Posted October 14, 2017 Based on the S/N's I'd say K frame Smith & Wessons. Perhaps some of the Model 15's the USAF had. I agree about the serial numbers. I believe all of these are out of the serial number range of the Model 56s the USAF had at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted October 15, 2017 Share #4 Posted October 15, 2017 +1 on the Smith & Wessons.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted October 15, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted October 15, 2017 So, you are thinking it is one of these types? I sent an email to the Spectre Association website, asking if anyone knew what kind they carried. Would love to find out, as it would be fun to include in the shutterfly book. Thanks for the help! Oh, by the way, what does the "K-frame" mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cw1979 Posted October 15, 2017 Share #6 Posted October 15, 2017 Yes, one of those two. Smith & Wesson revolvers are categorized by frame size. "K" is one of those sizes. Basically the 38 special and 357 magnum revolvers most policemen carried before 1990 were "K" frame models (model 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 64, 65, 66 & 67). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted October 15, 2017 Share #7 Posted October 15, 2017 I agree with the others and have owned several of these guns. All the SNs listed would have been S&W Model 15-2 revolvers with 4" barrels. They were marked "U.S.A.F." on the left side of the frame underneath the cylinder window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted October 15, 2017 Share #8 Posted October 15, 2017 When I attended the Combat Arms Training & Maintenance (CATM) School we trained with the .38 Revolver and then the Air Force transitioned to the 9mm shortly thereafter.IIRC,the full name of the Revolver was the Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece, Revolver Model 15. I enjoyed shooting the Revolver,and I qualified "Expert" with it,something I didn't do with the M16.(The M16's we had were all old and "loose" and hardly anyone qualified "Expert" on them. ) I found this discussion with some interesting info on the Smith-Wessonforum.com: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/216495-model-15-s-w-usa-air-force.html If you scroll down around post # 9 the Vietnam War era posts start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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