Vietnam Luger Bring Back
I just scored this Vietnam Luger bring back. It should be in my hands in a few days. It was brought back by a member of the ARVN Airborne Advisory Team 162. Vietnam Luger bring backs are pretty rare and I'm excited to add one to my growing Nam bring back collection. I have redacted the vets name as he is still living. I actually have his number & address and plan on calling him soon. Hopefully, he will give me the story on how he acquired it.
That is a special Luger and a great addition to a Nam bring back collection. I have only seen one other. It will be great to see additional pics when you have it in hand.
John
Thanks John I'll be sure to post more pics.
I wasn’t with the Americans over there, I was with the ARVN’s. I enlisted and after training, I left Ft Benning Georgia to an address in Vietnam and stayed there with that outfit for two years. When I got there I was with ARVN Airborne in 68 and came home Christmas day 69.
There was 60 or 70 of us on the whole team; from senior advisor to a PFC. There just wasn’t many of us. I basically have one picture of me from over there. It was at an awards ceremony. We were not allowed to carry cameras and take pictures out in the field. I was with the ARVN Airborne for two years and at the time we weren’t allowed in US PX’s, mess halls or anything else like that. We advisors weren’t really well liked.
In Vietnam, the Americans themselves didn’t like the Advisors. We were called the Red Hats. AAD162 or Airborne Advisory Detachment is what it stood for. On our uniforms we wore the ARNV Division patch and on the front pocket we had what we called the Gladiator patch which was a sword with a wing on it. We also had our Division patch or task force what it was called when I first got over there. In order to make the Americans happy they changed it to the American lingo like division and brigade, battalion all that good stuff. When I got there in 68 we were task force.
When asked about how he acquired the bring back he said, I usually don’t talk about stuff like that. I was a combat advisor and made enemy contact and that’s about all I can say. There was a holster with the Luger but it wasn’t for a Luger it was like for a 45. The guy I got it off of he wasn’t on the friendly side of the fence! As young kids were trophy hungry. The only thing about that gun that was not matching was the firing pin. I don’t know what the gun is like now but it was all matching except for the firing pin. That wasn’t the only weapon I brought back. They didn’t have security back then like they do now. I’ve been home 51 years so does that tell you anything?
After the first tour, I came home with a couple of SKS’s. Believe me I wish I had those back again. The three SKS’s were sold for less than $400. I sold the Luger for $50! That was back in 1973 or 74. I needed the money and didn’t need the pistol so I let loose of it. The weapon I carried over there for two years was a WWII or Korean War M1 Carbine – 30 caliber. I did not carry the current issued US weapon over there. I didn’t like the M16. About eight months ago, I tried to purchase a carbine like I carried in Nam and when given the price, I said good god I don’t want to buy the gun shop, I just want to buy your gun!
Good choice sir by not wanting to carry the M16... too bad everybody that had an M16 didn’t have the M1! My Vietnam friend still hates the M16... a lot of men lost their lives because of that thing.
Anyways, great story.... yes, too bad you still don’t have those pieces in your collection. They would be worth a fortune today! I love the M1 carbine... one of my favorites! Prices just keep going up....
Cool Luger! It looks to be a 1921 DWM with a Mauser toggle assembly... I wonder how and when this happened. It'd be interesting to know how this Luger ended up in Vietnam. I wonder if the Russians had anything to do with this? Haha.
Wow, what a find!!
Seeing the words Vietnam and Luger together in the same sentence feels weird
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