1953 airweight..........

[dant]

M&P version, and came to us this weekend and had to get it as we don't ever "see" these, BUT my question is being that it has the aluminum cylinder and it is suggested to NOT fire it, are they of "interest" or just "collectible".........................

Thanks..................

 

[opoefc]

Definately of interest ( what S&W isn't?) and very collectable. I agree you should not fire it, for safety reasons, as well as preserving original condition for future collectors. Many of these were returned to S&W for a free replacement of the alloy cylinder with a steel version, however when S&W shipped them back, they didn't return the alloy cylinder, which ruined the gun for collectors. Those that didn't get returned, like yours, are increasingly hard to find. Good catch! Ed.

 

[dant]

Thank you Ed, I know if any we ever saw in the past, had the steel cylinders and this one the numbers on the cylinder match the gun........also have seen some that were "remarked" (stamped) as Aircrewman (M-13) tsk, tsk................
now we wonder what kind of box they came in?? gold/blue?? the short barreled M&P style??
Thanks again.......

 

[pigbike]

dant, I have the same revolver and recently had a post attemping to find out how many are out there and their value. Seems that no one really knows what they are worth, but suggestions are maybe in the 600/700 dollar range. I don't know if this is an accurate value.

I just plan to hang on to it for now. It should not be fired so it's just a collector item.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/159299-alloy-m-p-snub.html

 

[opoefc]

Dan, The ones I've had in the box, were in the blue two piece box, however that's not to say a gold box couldn't happen. S&W often used what ever box they had on hand to box a gun. Ed.

 

[dant]

Pigbike, thanks for the 'link' and yes, they are about the same, and yes, as Bob says good to see there are other "groups", and some things just are NOT meant to be fired ( or turn out that way) I agree with Ed, the fact it still has the "ORIGINAL" fitted and numbered cylinder of ALL aluminum alloy is kinda neat, and yes, even the grips have the number stamped( two rows of 3 digits each) serial number of the gun/cylinder assembly...........
Ed, is the old ,two piece blue box, have the 'sunburst' on the lid ?? and white end label stickers...??
Thanks again guys good info....................

 

[XAVMECH]

S&W Aircrewman - USAF model

Picked up my "new" 3906 yesterday from my FFl, who happens to be quite a gun collector. I was commenting on the fact that LNIB 3906s aren't all that common and he brought out a box and said: "ever seen one of these....?" I admitted that I had not. It was a S&W "Aircrewman" snub-nose .38spl revolver in blue. It had the aluminum cylinder and had "Property of United States Air Force" struck on the rear frame between the grips. I'd heard of snub nosed "aircrew" versions of revolvers used by Navy flyers during the Vietnam war, but in the AF, we had 4-inch blue Model 15s. Anyway, this beautiful little lightweight had a Roy Jinks letter with it that stated that it was built with a group of AF revolvers between 1952 and 1954. It was stated in his letter that it should not be fired because of the aluminum cylinder, and that this model had been withdrawn from service. So...did the Navy actually get the same model issued during the Vietnam war with steel cylinders, or was their "aircrewman" another gun altogether??
Thanks,
XAVMECH

 

[jcelect]

Box

Hey Dant, the box would not have been a Sun Burst type as they were only used on J frame guns in the mid 50s!
jcelect SWCA#LM723

 

[dant]

Yes, Joe, I just noticed, when I grabbed one that "looked" a little bigger, but saw it had the longer barrel sticker on the end for a 32 HE, duh...........we sold a very early M&P 2 inch box not long ago at the OGCA that was gold/blue........

EXAVMech, I recall from my brother in law served on the USS Enterprise, Gulf of Tonkin, two tours mid and late 60's....he told us,some the pilots carried model 12 airweights, but they had 'steel' cylinders, who knows, maybe be 'arsenal reworked, and the steel cylinder "added" ( replaced) , and were a much later model than the "Aircrewmen" M&P......was told they carried a variety of different guns,makes and models, personal choice??Of course, more of a "survival weapon" no other purpose........