Revolver Lightweight M13

[Westwall]

I just inherited a family Smith & Wesson 6 shot 38 Special.
The top strap is marked Revolver, Lightweight, M13. The left side of the frame has the "P" stamp and the backstrap has Property of U.S. Air Force. Round but with walnut diamond grip Serial # C282***. Serial numbers do not match on the yoke, frame and butt. My research indicates it should be in the 1952-53 range
BUT is has a 5" barrel which I can't find any information on.
I would appreciate any information you may have.
Thanks

 

[kwill1911]

The frame started out as a USAF Aircrewman with a 2" barrel. Someone added a lot of parts to make a complete gun but I would hesitate to shoot it. See this: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...man-revolvers.html?highlight=aircrewman+cheat

 

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum. Kevin has steered you right. We have a data base of these revolvers and if you want to post the full serial number from the butt , we can probably tell you when & where the gun was originally shipped from S&W to the Air Force. Many of these guns were demilled by the Gov't and sold as scrap, so after market "rebuilds" are not uncommon. Yours may be on of those, or the original 2 inch barrel might have been damaged and the 5 in barrel is the replacement. Ed

 

[DWalt]

Due to the aluminum alloy frame, I would recommend using only light loads in the M13. For unknown reasons some are prone to frame cracking under where the barrel screws into the frame. I have seen maybe four Model 12s (same design as the M13) having such a crack. I will not even consider buying a Model 12 at any price because if the frame cracks, all you are left with is a parts donor gun, and not even a very good one.

The USAF recognized the structural problem with the M13’s alloy frame (and cylinder) and adopted the first M41 cartridge in the mid-1950s. It used an undersized 130 grain FMJ bullet at a low velocity. After the M13 revolver was phased out, a modified higher-pressure 130 grain M41 load was adopted in the early 1960s. It was called the M41, Special. In the late 1970s, the USAF adopted a much more powerful .38 Special load called the PGU-12/B. It was nearly the equivalent of the old .38-44 load, and it was fairly tough on all those Model 15 revolvers the Air Force was using before the M9 was adopted.

 

[austintexas]

serial numbers

You said the serial numbers don't match, Does it still have the aluminum cylinder? If the cylinder has been changed out to steel It may be safer to shoot. You still have the frame cracking problem. I have one but when It was liberated from the Air Force someone thought they were safe by removing the "Property of the Air force" from the butt. Everything else is intact.
SWCA 892
PS, I bought It at a pawnshop near Bergstrom AFB, Austin Texas

 

[Westwall]

Thanks everyone
The Serial number on the butt is C282571.
The barrel, cylinder & extractor star serial numbers all match # 399830
The cylinder is steel. The yoke and frame number by the yoke match #14946.
As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will do so.
Walt

 

[Westwall]

M13 Pictures from Westwall

hanks everyone
The Serial number on the butt is C282571.
The barrel, cylinder & extractor star serial numbers all match # 399830
The cylinder is steel. The yoke and frame number by the yoke match #14946.
As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will do so.
Walt

 

[DWalt]

You have some fairly old parts there, like early 1920s for the barrel and cylinder. I would still keep loads for it on the light side, preferably using lead bullets. Have you checked the frame carefully for a crack yet?

 

[Jim Watson]

Right, and roundnose to boot.

 

[Westwall]

Frame is still solid no cracks. Cylinder locks up tight.
Thanks for the info. I have some old round nose lead 38 specials around somewhere for display but it doesnt fit in anywhere in my collection, so I wont ever shoot it.

 

[Inland7-45]

At a gun show I went in the mid 70s there was a guy who had a pile of M-13 demil stuff on his table. As I remember most of it was just crushed and flattened guns and fragments. There were several stripped frames that look like the could have been reassembled into working guns. There was also one complete gun less stocks that was badly nicked and dinged but was still in working order. This was at a time when places like Sarco had tons of demil stuff such as torch cut M1 rifle and M1 carbine receivers and flattened Victory models and military issue model 10s. I do not know when and where the destruction of almost all of M-13s took place but it seems like security around the gun destruction process was more lax. That would explain how some of this stuff has survived.

 

[kwill1911]

There are a couple of misconceptions about the destruction of Aircrewman revolvers: 1.) they were NOT all sent in at the same time to the same place to be destroyed. Each AFB was responsible for the destruction but only as replacement guns became available. So, the guns were demilled over a number of years by different methods--saw cut, torched or crushed; 2.) the demilled guns were sold as scrap which is why Sarco and others wound up with so many parts and pieces. But, several hundred guns escaped as complete guns. I've documented over 400 and I'm sure there are many more.

 

[opoefc]

Aircrewman revolver Ser # C282571 was shipped in March 1954 to Wilkins Air Force Base. Ed

 

[Westwall]

Ed,
Thanks so very much for the info and help.
Walt

 

[austintexas]

demilled

I was stationed at Everux-fauville, France in '65-'67. I was in the welding shop goofing off when the Air Police came in with Carbine bayonets to demill.
The APs stood there and counted each bayonet as it was cut in half. The blade went in one box and the handle in another. As I said one AP counted the bayonet as it came out of the box and another counted each piece after the cut as they were thrown in separate boxes. I begged for a Bayonet but no dice.
SWCA 892

 

[Westwall]

Fully understand. I was in Law Enforcement and had to supervise the destruction of seized firearms. It broke my heart to watch all of the collectable Winchesters, Browning, Luger and Mausers going into the furnace.
Each was documented and checked off as they went in.
Oh Well !

 

[DR505]

I remember one of these burning up in a fire in a TV repair shop in the 1980's. Turned into a lump of melted metal. Awful.

 

[Westwall]

Thinking about the M13 it's not anything I collect or want.
If there is any interest from the forum just let me know and I will run it by the family.
Thanks again to all.
Walt