The Real Herman Goering Personal Pistol
 

I did not know this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../GoeringMP.jpg

M&P, isn't that same as postwar S&W Model 10 ?

Model 10 is also my favorite S&W, a very cool revolver.

Story
 

Years ago (about 40) I met a man who was present when Goering surrendered. He was a young 2nd Lt attached to S2. The Smith was given to his Capt. In comes a Col who says I'll take that. Fortunately he donated it to West Point, where it can be seen today.

Carl

It really makes me wonder why HG carried a S&W.
Well, he had an IQ of 135, he must have a reason for that.

Maybe because he wanted a pistol that he knew would absolutely, positively work every single time he pulled the trigger. ;)

I believe that I may still have a holster in stock like the one in the above photo, that has German police markings inside. What German made police revolver would this be for? TH

If I remember correctly, the gun was given to him as a gift before the war.
I think you will like to see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2TXL5MjB6I

"It really makes me wonder why HG carried a S&W.
Well, he had an IQ of 135, he must have a reason for that." - suum cuique

I will venture a guess: Goering had a flair for the dramatic, which included designing his own unique uniforms. His choice of a revolver only added to the impression that he was something special. And this kind of attitude is not unknown among flag rank officers. In America, Patton had his own pearl handled revolvers that he carried. And MacArthur chose to be frequently seen with a long stemmed cob pipe which was specially made for him in a small plant in Missouri. So it was probably not so much that the revolver was more dependable as it was a way to create the impression that Goering chose to make.

Ron,
To paraphrase Patton himself;
"The grips are ivory, not pearl. Only a pimp in a New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl
handled revolver"

Alanint -

By golly you are right! I had totally forgotten about that.

Thanks

Tom,

Germans captured a good amount of Spanish and American revolvers that were used by the French during WWI that were still in use/storage when France fell in 1940. I have a color picture of a German using a S&W-like revolver (could be a Spanish Orbea as well)...

Douglas

Just watched episode 19 of The World at War and there was a clip of a German general surrendering what looked like a S&W revolver. Cuda been a 1917 45acp.

Any body else see that?

I'll bet it there was no reason at all why he carried it, other than he probably "just liked it". It was his enemy's gun, so like we wanted Lugers, he kept his that he was awarded.

Very interesting thread!

Here is a link to an very interesting story of the capture of Goering. The author says that he personally took Goering's pistol, but comments only that that he was disappointed that it wasn't gold.

Capture of Goering