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09-01-2022, 02:18 PM
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My new US Air Force S&W M13 Aircrewman revolver
It took a while but I finally have my new USAF S&W M13 Aircrewman .38 revolver in hand. I posted about this earlier here and got some very valuable feedback from the members. I have just now sent my S&W letter request, but I can pretty confidently say this will letter with a September 29, 1954 ship date to Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. It is all correct, serial number C301602, with the expected numbered barrel, cylinder rear face, front of ejector star, and grips. Here are a few quick pictures, sorry, I am not the best photographer.
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09-01-2022, 02:36 PM
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Wow! Very cool piece of Air Force history!
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09-01-2022, 03:30 PM
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Very nice. Don't have an AC but I do have a square butt Model 12. Probably as close as I'll ever get. I do have that holster however.
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09-01-2022, 03:45 PM
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Is that a flat head screw in the sideplate just at the back of the trigger guard? If so, it would be in the wrong place. Check the one under the right stock panel.
A great find! Congrats.
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Jack
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09-01-2022, 03:56 PM
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One of the only grail guns on my list as my father carried one while in theater flying RF-4C out of Udorn in 1971. Great looking sample.
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09-01-2022, 04:31 PM
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Congrats. Nice find.
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09-01-2022, 07:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK
Is that a flat head screw in the sideplate just at the back of the trigger guard? If so, it would be in the wrong place. Check the one under the right stock panel.
A great find! Congrats.
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Son of a gun! Great eyes JP@AK! I swapped them back. From the look of the dimple under the grip made by the round head screw, I would guess it has been swapped for a long time. Thanks!
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09-01-2022, 07:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertFox
my father carried one while in theater flying RF-4C out of Udorn in 1971.
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I wonder if he was flying recon over the Trail or over the Plain of Jars. Or both. My unit ran an operation out of Udorn for three months in 1971. We were focused on the incursion into northern Laos.
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Last edited by JP@AK; 09-01-2022 at 07:29 PM.
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09-02-2022, 09:15 PM
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The mention of Udorn Thailand brought back some memories. I was stationed there 1969-1970 working on Triple Nickle Squadron(555th) F-4D's.
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09-03-2022, 03:01 AM
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I was at Udorn, Thailand from 10-73 to 8-74 as a crew chief on F-4 recon aircraft. Everything was 'training flights' after the Viet Nam bombing halt.
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09-13-2022, 03:02 PM
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Congratulations and thanks for sharing!
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09-13-2022, 03:37 PM
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Very cool gun. Thanks for showing.
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09-13-2022, 03:42 PM
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Did they really let airmen actually carry weapons or were they just for picture day?? 
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09-13-2022, 03:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK
I wonder if he was flying recon over the Trail or over the Plain of Jars. Or both. My unit ran an operation out of Udorn for three months in 1971. We were focused on the incursion into northern Laos.
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Yes, his stories and flight plans he kept would verify, not that I remember hearing the "Trail" or "Plain of Jars".
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09-13-2022, 04:00 PM
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Great gun. And the holster is the icing on top. I want to find a model 15 AF gun for my son who is a Tech Sargent. I bought a new in box AF holster from a forum member, and I got the belt. I just need the gun lol. Kinda doing it backwards.
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09-20-2022, 02:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertFox
One of the only grail guns on my list as my father carried one while in theater flying RF-4C out of Udorn in 1971. Great looking sample.
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Surprised they were still in the system that late.
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09-20-2022, 03:06 PM
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I, too, have to settle for a (very nice) Model 12. Needless to say, it has a steel cylinder but I have never worked up the nerve to fire it. Picked it up off of GB three or four years ago before the crazy prices hit. It came with a correct-ish but mismatched box - RB vs SB - and the crook seller on GB even made a SN mistake on the fake replacement label. Still, the revolver itself is near mint. Not trying to make it an Aircrewman, I just had to replace a Model 12 that I had over 40 years ago
Last edited by GeoJelly; 09-20-2022 at 03:07 PM.
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09-20-2022, 04:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertFox
Yes, his stories and flight plans he kept would verify, not that I remember hearing the "Trail" or "Plain of Jars".
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Good chance the flight plans would not mention those names. Perhaps only coordinates.
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Jack
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09-20-2022, 04:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ameshawki
Surprised they were still in the system that late.
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The C model was only configured for recon that late in the war. I don't recall it used for fighter/bomber missions during that time. But yes, there were lots of RF4Cs in action 'til the end of the war.
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09-20-2022, 04:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK
The C model was only configured for recon that late in the war. I don't recall it used for fighter/bomber missions during that time. But yes, there were lots of RF4Cs in action 'til the end of the war.
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I meant the revolver. I thought most of those were crunched in the early 60's. The recon Phantoms were still flying in Desert Storm. At least one was lost if memory serves.
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09-21-2022, 02:04 PM
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Did these M13’s have a steel bolster (I think it is called) in the recoil shield for the center pin to lock into? I have a couple of 360J’s and they both have the steel reinforcement for the locking pin. Just a curiosity question, I understand that probably no one who has one of these plans to ever fire it!
Edited to add: dug my Model 12 out - it's a RB and does not have the steel bolster. It's near-mint which is surprising given it came from Crook Broker. It has a triple-alpha serial so methinks it would've been in a one-piece box. Seller sent it in an older box - but the box is marked for Square Butt. Some day I may find someone with a RB box and swap ...
Last edited by GeoJelly; 09-21-2022 at 04:24 PM.
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09-22-2022, 07:17 AM
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[QUOTE= I have just now sent my S&W letter request, but I can pretty confidently say this will letter with a September 29, 1954 ship date to Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. [/QUOTE]
Very nice Model 13, Slufstuff. I'm jealous...not only of your Aircrewman, but the fact that it's not only a birth year gun for me, but a birthday gun for me! It was shipped on the day I was delivered. Very cool! Enjoy!
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09-22-2022, 08:56 AM
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Great piece of AF history you have there. Thanks for showing it to us.
I apologize for extending a slight detour of the thread but a friend that I flew with at NAS Dallas in the 90's, W4 Joe Hansen, was stationed in Udorn. I can't remember if they had U-8s or U-21s, but I have been in his walk-in safe to look at all his ivory, jade and gold he gathered up while there. I think his time there warped his mind somewhat. 
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