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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 03-07-2011, 06:16 PM
marcus396 marcus396 is offline
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Default USAF model 13

A local auction has this Aircrewman and several others but this one is only USAF marked, sn c283807 diamond grips P proof marke rates 95% no pouch, I noticed the grips has S&W medallion and was looking for USAF medallion, the 3 other model 13 are US marked, later S/N and a supposed pre model 13, which would be the pre model 12 with alum frame and cylinder, similar to my pre model 12. Marked revolver lightweight M13 all of them, no 2 C401708 98% US marked No 3. C402022 90% US marked No 4. C 402720 95% US marked. Pre model 13 ( pre model 12?) 2" airweight flat latch 5 screw diamond grips C237317 same as aircrewman but with out markings. On the USAF model, if the grip serial numbers match rest of gun, then I will consider this for a purchase, but the medallion grips send a red flag to me, please feel free to fill me on of legitimacy of these. Thanks Marc

was there a cut off s/n that the medallions were changed from S&W to USAF , also, there are extra model13 aircrewman parts available, cylinders, triggers, hammers and two sets of grips , this gentleman was a Retired USAF Colonel and this was from his personal estate,
seems like aircrewman 1948-52 US marked 1957 and pre model 13 ( model 12?) 1953 . why would pre model s/n date post date a dated aircrewman? red flag no 2?
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Old 03-08-2011, 06:04 PM
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The photos appear to show an authentic M13. I am unaware of how many (or early) of these had the Air Force stock medallions but they are not common. The serial number range of the guns mentioned all fall in the M13 range, and the US- and non-backstrap stamped guns are less common also. The only ways to tell if they are authentic are a factory historical letter and close in-person examination. Good luck with your decision.
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Old 03-08-2011, 09:19 PM
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I think if they were the property of a retired USAF Colonel, they are probably the real deal.
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Old 03-08-2011, 09:45 PM
marcus396 marcus396 is offline
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Thanks for the replies, and thank you for your service to OUR Country, I appreciate your imput. I do have an opportunity to have a hands on examination and check to see if grips match, I do expect these to all sell north of 1200 with exception of pre model 12, I will give results on selling prices and hopefully I may come away with one of these. a picture is a thing of beauty, but I withhold judgement until I see it in person.
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Old 03-08-2011, 09:56 PM
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Thanks, Marcus. I have a pre model 12 myself, and would love to have a Mod 13. Good luck! Don't let it get away. We would love to congratulate you!

His gun, with provenance, is probably worth a little extra.
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Old 03-08-2011, 10:17 PM
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AirCommando and Marcus - does your model pre 12's have the alum cylinder?

I picked one up a few weeks back, serial #2372xx and lucky enough to get the orig box also. It has the alum cylinder and I have not found any cracks.


Charlie

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Old 03-08-2011, 10:22 PM
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No, mine doesn't, but I have a friend who has one very similar to yours.

Congratulations on yours!

Terry
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Old 03-08-2011, 10:25 PM
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No, mine doesn't, but I have a friend who has one very similar to yours.

Congratulations on yours!

Terry
Maybe not for long. I'm still considering trading it
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Old 03-08-2011, 10:35 PM
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Hi Mike! I almost said I'll trade you my Cobra for it!

Terry
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Old 03-08-2011, 10:39 PM
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Hi Mike! I almost said I'll trade you my Cobra for it!

Terry
A bird in the hand, Terry!
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Old 03-08-2011, 10:47 PM
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AirCommando and Marcus - does your model pre 12's have the alum cylinder?

I picked one up a few weeks back, serial #2372xx and lucky enough to get the orig box also. It has the alum cylinder and I have not found any cracks.


Charlie

Nice one, Charlie! Mine is C 237217. I bet yours is pretty close....
Mine doesn't have the box. It looks like somebody shot a few cylinders through it but only a few, judging from the cylinder face, but no marks or scoring on the recoil shield. You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at the barrel, either. Very very faint turn line on the cylinder. No cracks, 98%, etc.
These are VERY cool guns. The only thing I don't like about it is I can't shoot the darn thing! And that really bugs me. I must confess I don't even like handling it a lot. Heck, I even shoot my Sudanese and Portuguese AR-10s once in awhile.....
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Old 03-08-2011, 11:07 PM
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great looking pistol!!! mine does not either, due to the transition model (1957-58) before the model was stamped in the crane. I have pics posted of it on other posts, I am confident that this was a factory set up, but letter will confirm this. I got mine from an estate auction from a retired USAF Officer. Now the only question I had was the high polished blue barrel and cylinder that seems different from others i have seen, but lighting conditions and clarity of photos make a difference too.
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Old 03-08-2011, 11:12 PM
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mine does not either, due to the transition model before the model was stamped in the crane. I have pics posted of it on other posts, I am confident that this was a factory set up, but letter will confirm this. I got mine from an estate auction from a retired USAF Officer.
Marcus, I didn't mean to imply mine was ever a USAF gun. It's in the wrong serial number range. And I have a Roy Jinks ltr. stating it was sold in 1954 and to where it was sent and it's no AFB., so it's a civilian version with the aluminum cylinder, which was dropped from all of them at the end of 1954.
I think you are on to the "real thing", though.
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Old 03-08-2011, 11:13 PM
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I got mine from the son of a former AF Col. These guys must have carted all the good ones home. Mine was carried for twenty years as a ccw by this old guy. My gun is about 80-85% gun but it has a nice history.
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Old 03-08-2011, 11:33 PM
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I would be more than happy to have a letter say it was indeed sent to my neighbor, since he was in the USAF at that time, cause he had other s&w model 10's, but this one stood out due the diamond grips and condition., I was lucky to get it for 350. I guess any doubts I have will be dictated by bidding prices. But for what it is worth, I want the extra aluminum cylinders triggers hammers sideplates, etc, because I can always resale what I dont need. Looking up past prices on these aircrewman, 750-1785 is about what I am finding, but the way things go, a 98% may go way north of 2 grand, but one rule I have when I go to estate auctions, if I see an Veteran looking or even bidding on something I am interested in, I tend to let them have it, its more sentimentel to them, then myself, and they appreciate it afterwards.

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Old 03-08-2011, 11:50 PM
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Based on my only experience with these, you did very well. Very well.

Charlie
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Old 07-12-2013, 09:54 PM
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Resurrecting an old thread... I just spotted a for sale posting on seattleguns.net for a USAF model 13 Aircrewman for $500. K-frame, 2" barrel, blue, round butt, ramp-mounted half moon-ish front sight, s/n C259348. Not my cup of tea, but it looked like a reasonable price for an uncommon gun and I figured somewhere on board here might be interested.
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Old 07-12-2013, 10:30 PM
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Quote:
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Resurrecting an old thread... I just spotted a for sale posting on seattleguns.net for a USAF model 13 Aircrewman for $500. K-frame, 2" barrel, blue, round butt, ramp-mounted half moon-ish front sight, s/n C259348. Not my cup of tea, but it looked like a reasonable price for an uncommon gun and I figured somewhere on board here might be interested.
That gun looks to be an original frame, but re-built everything else. The cylinder is stamped with K serial number. The barrel is also appears to be cut down and is most certainly incorrect.
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Old 07-14-2013, 12:40 AM
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Too bad. I don't know much about aircrewmans (aircrewmen?), my interest lies in Chief Specials, but I figured someone might be interested. Too bad it's not authentic and/or original.
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Old 07-14-2013, 09:10 PM
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not mine but on ebay there is an aircrewman aluminum cylinder with a serial number that is only a few digits off of that frames serial number
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Old 07-15-2013, 09:18 PM
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Charlie, that is a fine looking "package" you show there, we picked up one yesterday in the C23714x range, but NO box, mint shape, and was wondering just how the end of the box is marked...is there a 'sticker' over the imprint ( embossed lettering)?? or the wording "Airweight".......
thank you
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Old 07-16-2013, 04:50 PM
marcus396 marcus396 is offline
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found out my pre 12 alum frame steel cylinder had a hairline crack on frame, very very fine hairline crack, now its a parts gun, sold it to a friend of mine who is a gun smith,
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Old 07-17-2013, 01:51 PM
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I wonder how long it's had that crack, and how many rounds might have been fired through the gun since it developed? Might it not be perfectly safe to continue to shoot that gun (although with lower pressure loads only)? I've read quite a few "airweight crack discovered" threads on this site, but never an "airweight failed at crack" thread.
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aircrewman, airweight, ccw, jinks, m13, model 1, model 10, transition

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