I have a 38 SW Special CTG that (supposedly) was the personal handgun of a B-17 naviagtor over Europe in WW II. It appears unremarkable except for a US stamp on the bottom of the handle and carries a serial number 766xxx (no V marking). Any idea of the age and veracity of this claim and possibly value. Also have the airman"s holster.
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38 SW Special CTG
- Thread starter parman81
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
The serial number is definitely in the right ballpark for a World War II era Smith & Wesson Military & Police.
Other than that, without a letter from the airman, or some other sort of tangible proof, it's just hearsay.
Other than that, without a letter from the airman, or some other sort of tangible proof, it's just hearsay.
Willie Sutton
Moderator
Adding the usual note that "38 S&W CTG" is a marking indicating the caliber (CTG = Cartridge), not the maker, or the model.
Often applied to cheap Spanish copies of the Smith & Wesson, in order to deceive the unwary. That's seemingly not the case here, by the serial number.
A photo would be most useful in correctly identifying this piece.
Best,
Willie
.
Often applied to cheap Spanish copies of the Smith & Wesson, in order to deceive the unwary. That's seemingly not the case here, by the serial number.
A photo would be most useful in correctly identifying this piece.
Best,
Willie
.
Thanks for the replies. The gentleman who owned the gun was our neighbor for 30 years and died a few years ago. My dad was a B-29 pilot so they would swap war stories over drinks. Pretty confident the gun was used by him in ETO. Will try to get a photo as it is in excellent condition.
30-30remchester
New member
I would like to hear more from actual members of WWII flight crews on this subject. I have read many accounts of flight crews and I have always heard that in the European theater, air crews carried 1911's. My father-in-law was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in the 5th air corp in Europe and he was issued a 1911. From my limited knowledge the 38 M&P's very navy issue. I am however not that knowledeable on the subject.
Deaf Smith
New member
In the book, "A Wing And a Prayer" by Harry H. Crosby, who was the lead bombardier for the 100th BG (the 'Bloody 100th') he carried a 1917 S&W .45 ACP revolver. He hated that thing and felt silly with it as he was a rotten shot.
Once, when his bomber was loosing altitude due to engine loss coming back to England he had to throw it out the window, along will anything else they could, to lighten the ship.
So the 8th AF did at lease use some 1917 revolvers.
Deaf
Once, when his bomber was loosing altitude due to engine loss coming back to England he had to throw it out the window, along will anything else they could, to lighten the ship.
So the 8th AF did at lease use some 1917 revolvers.
Deaf