CSArms Item Detail

Item No.:	9041	Price :	SOLD
Item :	1953 SMITH & WESSON MILITARY & POLICE AIRWEIGHT REVOLVER W/ ORIGINAL ALUMINUM CYLINDER

Description :

Here is an original, Pre-Model 12, Smith & Wesson Military & Police Airweight Revolver manufactured in 1953, and chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. The Airweight featured a 2 inch barrel on an aluminum frame with an aluminum cylinder. The revolver only weighs 14 3/8 ounces. The U.S. Air Force purchased a large number of these revolvers for their Air Crew Program. These military revolvers were designated The Model 13 Air Crewman. Intended only for standard velocity .38 Special ammunition, the revolver's aluminum cylinder proved to be problematic. A number of cylinders ruptured when fired with higher velocity ammunition. The Air Force removed the revolvers from service and had them destroyed. Smith & Wesson continued production of the Airweight, but replaced the aluminum cylinder with one made of steel. Airweight owners who had revolvers with aluminum cylinders could send them back to Smith & Wesson and the factory would replace the cylinder with a steel one at no charge. As a consequence, revolvers with their original aluminum cylinders are quite scarce. This revolver retains its original aluminum cylinder which is numbered to the 5-screw frame. The serial number falls into the correct range for aluminum cylinder production. The gun is in fine condition, with about 90% of its factory blued finish remaining. There is some holster wear at the muzzle of the barrel and on the forward edges of the cylinder. There is light wear on the edges of the frame and a scattering of tiny specks and scratches overall. The finish on these aluminum guns is easily scratched. The revolver has an excellent bore, chambers, and mechanics. The diamond escutcheon grips have some light wear and a few dings from use. Included is a three page factory letter from S&W Historian Roy Jinks. It shows that the revolver was shipped, as configured, on July 8, 1953 to Richmond Hardware Company in Richmond, Virginia. This is a very nice S&W Airweight from the first year of production. Stock no. 24258

For CS Arms, Inc.
Shop Address:		Mailing Address:
9150 John S. Mosby Highway (Route 50) in historic Upperville, VA		Box 602 Upperville, VA. 20185
(540) 592-7273 or (540) 592-7274 E-Mail: sophiacsarms@aol.com