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RARE SMITH & WESSON MODEL 13 LIGHTWEIGHT .

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
RARE SMITH & WESSON MODEL 13 LIGHTWEIGHT .

AIRCREWMAN REVOLVER Cal. 38 Spl. S# C 278913. Bbl. 2" pinned with "SMITH & WESSON" on left plus ".38 SPL. CTG." on right. Shipped January 18, 1954 (within batch 2 of 10) to Norton Air Base in San Bernardino, CA. Alloy cylinder model designed for military M-41 cartridge using 130 grain FMJ bullet loaded to maximum pressure of 16,000 PSI. They are deemed unsafe to shoot with modern commercial ammo. Referred to as ".38 Military & Police Airweight" (introduced 1954) by S&W, they were marked "M13" for the Air Force; S&W later used Model 13 for their K frame fixed sight heavy barreled 357 Mag. police model revolver. Left top strap marked "REVOLVER, LIGHTWEIGHT, M13" plus backstrap marked "PROPERTY OF U. S. AIR FORCE". Originally made as 5 screw K frame round butt, they were changed to 4 screws (eliminating upper sideplate screw) per military request for simplicity & reduced parts; later, ALL S&W model revolvers eliminated the top sideplate screw in 1956 plus model stampings began in 1957. This revolver has early flat cylinder latch plus matching numbered barrel, alloy cylinder, extractor, and round butt diamond center checkered walnut grips. Case colored standard serrated trigger and checkered hammer. Later models for the Air Force had steel cylinders to alleviate the strength concern of the alloy cylinders plus some were supposedly retrofitted with steel cylinders (none have been documented). S&W recommends that these revolvers not be fired but rather retained as rare collectibles. Most of the originals were destroyed by the government & sold as scrap making those left in existence very rare; because of this, there are many "fakes" and S&W warns of this fakery as well. This one is "the real deal" in spectacular condition. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 2019 factory letter supporting above statements. CONDITION: simply stunning collector example with all aspects near excellent. Careful scrutiny will yield a very faint beginning cylinder turn line and hint of a rub mark on the cylinder from the revolver laying on its side. PROVENANCE: Estate collection of Fred Inganamort. (22-1627/NW). CURIO. $5,000-8,000.