From the Vault: U.S. Air Force Smith & Wesson “Baby” Aircrewman Revolver
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- It’s a “holy grail” item in the revolver collecting fraternity, and it’s pretty much unobtainium for even the most well-heeled collector. It’s the Smith & Wesson “Baby” Aircrewman revolver, and Brownells Gun Techs™ Keith Ford and Steve Ostrem show us one recently offered by Rock Island Auction Co. Smith made the Aircrewman for the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s to serve as a lightweight sidearm for pilots and other crewmembers of combat aircraft. This J-frame is chambered in .38 Special, with the frame AND cylinder made of aluminum, so the Aircrewman weighs only 10 oz.! It’s unofficially called the “Baby” because there was also an M13 Aircrewman built on the larger K-frame. The Air Force’s standard-issue .38 Special load generated too much pressure for the light J-frame, which led to failed frames, cracked cylinders, and even a few guns blowing up.
Only 605 Aircrewmen revolvers were made before the Air Force took them out of service and destroyed them. About 10 guns evaded destruction and instantly became among the most collectible Smith & Wesson revolvers ever made. Was your Great Uncle Ned in the USAF in the ‘50s? Did you inherit an oddly lightweight snub-nosed revolver from him? Keith explains how to identify a genuine Aircrewman. Since they were “salvaged” U.S. Government Property, some surviving Aircrewman had their markings ground off them. Keith shows us where to look for hidden identifying marks. - กีฬา
Another RARE USAF revolver was…..The Model 56 .38. For Air Crews in SAC. These were taken out of the inventory in 1982 if my memory is correct. I helped pack them up in my armory and send them out.
I think I'm in possession of one of these very revolvers you speak of it is what brought me here I'm trying to identify it
Army guys were very adept at "salvaging" good stuff headed to a landfill. A buddy of mine was at Fort Carson in 1968. For some inexplicable reason the Army was hauling brand new equipment to the on-base dump. He and others would "salvage" stuff off the trucks on their route. Basically one or two guys would be on the truck "guarding" the goods, while simultaneously throwing it overboard into the ditch.
Followup vehicles would come along an pick up the "found" property. He remembered a brand new Jeep engine in its crate laying in a ditch, but it was gone when they came back. What was really baffling was all the 7.62 MG ammo that was just made (in 1968) that was headed to the dump. Crazy stuff.
Wow any idea why the stuff was being dumped?
@@mrtumas998 I'm going to guess Military Strategic Accounting. We got Y dollars this year but if we aren't spending Y dollars, they'll only give us X next year...
@@Del_S ahh the classic " every department is spending every dollar of the budget strat"
The ammunition spoken of was a super hot 38Spl that was issued to USAF Security Police AF wide for their S&W Model 15 revolvers (which are also fairly rare because when USAF switched to the M9, the Clinton Administration ordered them all destroyed and not put out for sale as surplus.) The Model 15s were marked with "USAF" on the left lower frame under the cylinder. The ammo was a 130 grain FMJ set back into the case and crimped. Typical in markings, the year and manufacturer were on the headstamp. Usually WCC and the last 2 digits of the year. I still have a couple from about 1981 or 1982 that were "dropped" on the ground and considered damaged. These were basically a 38 Spl +P+ in strength. The Model 15s were fully "equipped" with white outline rear sights, wide target trigger, wide target hammer and red ramp front sight; all with standard size S&W emblem wood grips. AFOSI Agents carried a specialized chopped Colt 45 Commander.
Thank You! What a joy...
Awesome little revolver.
My S&W model 340PD in 357 Magnum considers this it's great grandfather, Lol.
Best video series ever
I know that the Air Force used the S&W M15 Combat Masterpiece 38spl in 4 inch and 2 in for air crews.
It is my understanding that these revolvers were principally issued to aircrew in ejection seat equipped aircraft, not to all USAF aircrew. I’d speculate that this resulted (in part) from the intensity of ejection with early-designed seats (some of which employed explosive charges to blow the seat and its occupant clear of the aircraft).
thanks again I didn't know that ever made them. 🙂👍☕
Great video guys. Heard that UPS took a distinctly anti 2a stance with you. Could you do a video on that. I feel that 2a supporters should have good information they can base their voting dollars with. FedEx is up to bat I assume?
FedEx and USPS only problem is we all know who owns USPS. I would like to see a response also but legality issues may not allow it.
Fedex? They love to steal guns..I mean...they "misplace and lose" guns very often.
THANKS
my g dad was a flight engineer for the original c 5 galaxy will get back if he carried this!
Thats cool
Thanks for the video. I learned something today.
👍👍Thanks fellows that was pretty cool to see
A not insignificant use of such a weapon is small game hunting and wilderness self defense. You could have 2-3 wadcutters ready to go and if you saw game rotate the cylinder to take a rabbit, snake, etc.
One complaint I have about this series is that we never get to see any actual closeups of the firearm. The history is nice, but the details are important too.
Wow awesome…..
I bet, wait, I KNOW.. You guys have forgotten more about gun's than I have ever known!
Speaking from my experience with the AF, they have never given any serious thought to sidearms for anybody. I understand that Model 15s with 2 inch barrels were used at some point. I do know for a fact that 2 inch M-15s were used by Missile Launch Officers in the late 70s and into the 80s. Each gun had 5 rounds. The crew members were required to qualify with this weapon. It was a joke because there were no ranges to practise at and 98% of the officers were not gun guys. No women on crew then. The model 15 is a neat little gun but...
How do I know if the one I have it authentic? I was cleaning out my grandmas estate and came across one (not in perfect condition) and I held onto it. Some of the details add up to the one I have but not everything which confuses me.
Do an episode on the over n under. .410 .22LR. Survival gun. Very popular. So popular they were being stolen,,,,,,. Eventually pulled from Survival kits.
Former USAF Survival Instructor. 8501.
Love your vids. Any chance we can get closer close ups down the road, like on the medallion? Happy 4th to all patriots out there!
would put black powder in that, not smokeless. lower down like a modern .22lr or magnum... on a lanyard?
40k!!!! Holy smokes!!!!
The air force never used them. Probably 200 rounds of training
lol those air force guns
Stranglehold Outdoors
👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸☕️☕️💯🛎
Cool find, but since it was stolen from the Air Force, how is this legal for your auction house to have and/or sell?
The statute of limitations, also sadly the original "borrower" is likely free from worries.
@@kylegoldston Not my point at all. Again, how is this legally possessed by anybody but the Air Force? Simple answer: it's not.
@@threadripper979 It’s quite legal and your assumption is incorrect. They were deemed curio and relics several years ago.
@@TheRKFord My assumption that somebody stole the revolver, which was ordered to be destroyed, from the Air Force is wrong? I don't think being a curio or relic changes stolen property into legally-owned property, regardless of the time elapsed.
@@threadripper979 It clearly changes everything and I suggest you do your due diligence and properly research the subject before assuming it’s not legal to own by anyone other than the AF and saying as such.
Cool to see but wouldn't that make you a felon now?
Nope. They are listed as curio & relics now.
What about aircrew WOMEN!?
They were making sandwiches for all the flyboys
There were none in those roles at that time
What is a woman??
@@alswann2702 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Good times...😂😂😂😂😂
@@alswann2702 I dunno, it just felt like the right thing to say.