Mike,

I had you, then I lost you. :-)

You say, "...there is ample room to wonder about what was really done." However, that's only true if you restrict yourself to Roy's letters. There has been ample research done by respected folks like Rick Nahas, Charlie Pate, Scott Meadows, et al. We KNOW what the USAF contract specified (DA-19-059-ORD-1546). We KNOW what the Technical Manual says. (TM9-2027) We KNOW what the 23 October 1959 letter says about destruction of the "Lightweight Revolver M13." I have copies of these documents along with internal USAF letters on the subject, the original test report and all the articles ever published (I think) on the Aircrewman revolvers. I also have a database with dozens of examples shipped after 1954 that have matching, serial numbered, alloy cylinders. AFAIK, no one has found a single authentic example of one with a steel cylinder.

I think the preponderance of the evidence is clear but reasonable men can disagree.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208