mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Not sure where to start this write-up. Guess it begins in September 1963 when S&W sold one of their new Model 41s to the US Navy. Somewhere along the way Donald Lee Poorboy took possession of it. He was a member of the US Navy Rifle and Pistol Team and of the Navy Small Arms Training Unit. Here's a passage from Mr Poorboy's obituary in the Coeur d'Alene Tribune news paper ...
-Donald Lee Poorboy, 85 of Hayden died Monday evening February 20, 2017. Don was born in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 10, 1931 the child of Ernest King and Audrey (Love) Poorboy. Don was raised in Oklahoma and entered military service at the age of 16. He was a member of the Cherokee Nation. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and retired at the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station in California. While in the service, Don served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Don also was a member of the U.S. Navy Rifle and Pistol team and was part of the Small Arms Training Unit. Don achieved the U.S. Navy Distinguished Marksmanship Medal in both rifle and pistol. At the time he was only the 13th person to achieve that distinction. Because of his continued interest in marksmanship he served as a manager of the U.S. International Shooting Team and ultimately as a Range Manager in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Don also served as President of the Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Gun Club.
-It's been tweaked with custom grips, foregrip checkering, Bomar target sight and has the 7 3/8" (190mm) length barrel. Taking the barrel off the frame I found the text "SATU" stamped on the bottom. Proof it was part of the Small Arms Training Unit. Also, there's a navy anchor stamped next to the SN on the frame. I have an email from Roy Jinks, the S&W historian, documenting that it was indeed sold to the Navy.
-She's been around the block a bit, showing some finish wear, but still in very good condition. Wish I could crow about finding it in a barn and paying a crazy cheap price but not this time. The collector I got the USMC High Standard S-101 from reached out to me and offered it for sale. We came to a price that was fair for both of us but it certainly wasn't my typical Mawkie Price™. But the chance to add a piece of US military markmanship history to the collection was impossible to say no to.
-Donald Lee Poorboy, 85 of Hayden died Monday evening February 20, 2017. Don was born in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 10, 1931 the child of Ernest King and Audrey (Love) Poorboy. Don was raised in Oklahoma and entered military service at the age of 16. He was a member of the Cherokee Nation. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and retired at the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station in California. While in the service, Don served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Don also was a member of the U.S. Navy Rifle and Pistol team and was part of the Small Arms Training Unit. Don achieved the U.S. Navy Distinguished Marksmanship Medal in both rifle and pistol. At the time he was only the 13th person to achieve that distinction. Because of his continued interest in marksmanship he served as a manager of the U.S. International Shooting Team and ultimately as a Range Manager in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Don also served as President of the Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Gun Club.
-It's been tweaked with custom grips, foregrip checkering, Bomar target sight and has the 7 3/8" (190mm) length barrel. Taking the barrel off the frame I found the text "SATU" stamped on the bottom. Proof it was part of the Small Arms Training Unit. Also, there's a navy anchor stamped next to the SN on the frame. I have an email from Roy Jinks, the S&W historian, documenting that it was indeed sold to the Navy.
-She's been around the block a bit, showing some finish wear, but still in very good condition. Wish I could crow about finding it in a barn and paying a crazy cheap price but not this time. The collector I got the USMC High Standard S-101 from reached out to me and offered it for sale. We came to a price that was fair for both of us but it certainly wasn't my typical Mawkie Price™. But the chance to add a piece of US military markmanship history to the collection was impossible to say no to.
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