Possible Aircrewman K-frame Airweight?

[bigun]

I saw a 2" pre model 12 Airweight today. It had a serial number of C 2241xx and had a square butt with diamond wooden stocks. The left side of the barrel had Smith and Wesson on it and the letters were very small and delicate. I don't remember all of the markings on the right side of the barrel except that it did include Airweight. There were no markings on the smooth backstrap and nothing had been ground off of it. I'm not sure whether the top strap had anything marked on it or not? I'm going to check this gun out more closely tomorrow.

My question is if there were any genuine Aircrewman revolvers made with this low of a serial number? If true, then, what markings should be on the right side of the barrel? What other distinctive characteristics should this low serial numbered gun have to be an Aircrewman?

 

[DCWilson]

What other distinctive characteristics should this low serial numbered gun have to be an Aircrewman?

A cracked frame or blown cylinder.

Seriously, I don't think that could be an Aircrewman. Standard production numbering for the Airweight M&P began around C223999 according to SCSW. This just sounds to me like a really early Pre-12. Which is pretty cool by itself.

 

[murphydog]

An M13 would have all the usual USAF stampings on the left top strap and back strap, so I don't think this is one of them.

 

[Malysh]

Just as important as the serial number range and correct USAF markings -No Aircrewman revolvers were square butt, whether we're talking about the K frame, the baby Aircrewman J frame, or the Colt D frame.

 

[Goony]

biggun -

You may very well already know this, but when you more closely examine the gun, you'll want to verify that the numbers on the underside of the barrel and especially the rear face of the cylinder coincide with the serial number. If the cylinder is original, it ought to made of alloy. If you can remove the stocks (grips) to see if they also match, that would be a good idea, too.

 

[Malysh]

Guys, it makes no difference what the gent checks. He said the gun has a square butt. Aircrewman were round butt only.

 

[Goony]

Guys, it makes no difference what the gent checks. He said the gun has a square butt. Aircrewman were round butt only.

Yes, I understand that and your point is taken. I'm simply advising the fellow on things to look for in purchasing an Airweight from that early period.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

It would have USAF markings and the occasional punchmark as we as "Property of the USAF" on the back strap.

Not to highjack the thread, but where are real USAF Aircrewman prices at these days? I have one in about 85% that was carried for many years by a retired Ltc friend of my brothers. He traded it to me for a semi-auto a few years ago. It letters and has all the typical marks and stampings.

 

[bigun]

The square butt is what had me thinking that the Airweight in question was not an Aircewman-but, the dealer that has this revolver insisted that it was an Aircrewman. So this is the reason I had wanted to consult this forum about this. In terms of value for this pre model 12 being in approximately 97% overall condition-how much more would this very early pre 12 be worth than a model 12 in the same condition? I'm curious because the seller's price is very high because he believes that he has a genuine Aircrewman. I appreciate all of the comments everyone has given above!

 

[Malysh]

The square butt is what had me thinking that the Airweight in question was not an Aircewman-but, the dealer that has this revolver insisted that it was an Aircrewman. So this is the reason I had wanted to consult this forum about this. In terms of value for this pre model 12 being in approximately 97% overall condition-how much more would this very early pre 12 be worth than a model 12 in the same condition? I'm curious because the seller's price is very high because he believes that he has a genuine Aircrewman. I appreciate all of the comments everyone has given above!

Well, I insist your dealer is either misinformed or a crook. I'd like to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
Frankly, any dealer who doesn't take the time to research a gun he believes to be rare before he slaps a high price tag on it is really telling you he could care less if the gun is correct, could care less if you get reamed, and could care less about his reputation as long as he gets that money. I see this plenty with older DA Colt revolvers.
It's a $400-$500 gun without the matching box.

If I may suggest, use the advanced search feature to review the pertinent criteria for Aircrewman, just type in Aircrewman and see what comes up. You will find excellent posts detailing and showing pictures of them by experts.