Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: M13 Aircrewman, 4 Screw, Flat Latch

Serial Number: 288806

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1954-1956 / C&R

Caliber: .38 Special

Action Type: 6-Shot Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Barrel Length: 2" Pinned

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut magna stocks with S&W medallions. The right grip has a non-matching serial number stamped into the wood. There is some heavy handling wear. The checkering is generally well defined with some smoothed areas. There are some minor losses along the edges including areas where the wood has worn away. The grips rate in about Fair overall condition.

Type of Finish: Black Alloy with Blued Steel Barrel & Yoke. Case Color Hammer & Trigger.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is defined, though shallow. There is no erosion. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 65% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows moderate-heavy handling and operational wear. There are scattered scratches. There is finish loss throughout the cylinder and on some of the leading edges and top strap. The front of one of the chambers on the cylinder has a small chunk removed, a common occurrence with these alloy cylinders. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked. The rear of the backstrap has been shaved, likely removing the Property of U.S. Air Force marking. Few M13's were made without this marking. Overall, this handgun rates in about Poor - Fair condition.

Mechanics: Due to the alloy construction of the cylinder, we do not recommend shooting this revolver…neither does Smith & Wesson. The action functions correctly with light side-to-side play in lockup. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a shoulder holster rig in Good condition. There is some staining on leather. There are no rips or tears. There is light handling and storage wear.

Our Assessment: When the Korean War started in 1950, the US Air Force put out a call for lightweight, compact personal defense weapons they could issue to aircrews. Colt and Smith & Wesson, two of the largest and oldest revolver manufacturers, both submitted prototypes that used aluminum alloys in their designs. Fun Fact: While a common material today, aluminum was almost exclusively used in prototypes and one-off firearms prior to the 1950s. Oliver Winchester built a prototype shotgun with aluminum receiver plates as early as 1865, but the cost to purify and process aluminum was prohibitive back then. The Air Force would adopt Smith & Wesson’s design and ordered over 40,000 of these lightweight six shooters in .38 Special. These would arm aircrewmen as well as agents in the Office of Special Investigations. Unfortunately, the aluminum alloy that was so cutting edge and lightweight that it helped Smith & Wesson win the Air Force contract was this product’s ultimate undoing. By 1959, many of the aluminum cylinders and frames of these revolvers showed significant breaks, cracks, and weaknesses, some units having ruptured altogether. The Smith & Wesson M13 Aircrewmen revolver, which requires the low-pressure M41 Special Ball ammunition as they couldn’t withstand commercial ammo loaded with lead bullets, was scrapped (literally, in most cases). But these guns were the beginning of a revolution in gun materials, and this revolver and its accessories showcase that history perfectly. There were several variations of the model. This variant is a 6-shot, 4-screw, flat latch variant. The grips have been replaced and the backstrap has been shaved. Few M13's were made without the U.S. Air Force Property mark on the backstrap, but we believe this marking was removed. The left side of the frame is marked correctly with "P" near the yoke. Whether you’re a general firearms collector, military historian, or specifically a Smith & Wesson fan, this revolver would improve any collection it joined.