Manufactured in 1957. (Based on serial number records presented in "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson," this revolver no. C402924 is the exact gun that started S&W serial number range for the year 1957.) This revolver was produced on government contract for the U.S. Air Force, who designated it the Model 13 Aircrewman and requested the revolvers be stamped "M13". They were intended for use by strategic bomber crews for use as survival weapons. Weight conscious, they were originally produced with a lightweight alloy frame and cylinder with a steel barrel. The model was eventually rejected because of problems with the alloy cylinder with most destroyed by the government or S&W, making surviving examples rare and highly desirable among collectors. The top strap is marked "REVOLVER, LIGHTWEIGHT, M13". Back strap marked "U.S." Only the last 1,500 USAF M13s carried the "U.S." back strap marking. The left side of the frame has a "P" proof mark. This revolver falls within the accepted Aircrewman serial range of C247000-C405363 ("The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Supica and Nahas, pg. 147). Serial number is on the butt of the frame and right grip panel. The number "1357" appears on the six-shot alloy cylinder and extractor. The barrel is unnumbered. A nine digit number is hand marked on both sides of the grip frame. The checkered grips have S&W medallions. Includes a copy of the U.S. Army TM9-2027 technical manual for the M13 revolver, USAF leather flap holster, and a box of Federal Cartridge .38 Special M41 ball cartridges. Provenance: The Edward Scott Meadows Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Excellent, retaining 90% original blue/anodized finish with finish loss on the front cylinder face along with edge and handling wear. The grips are fine with a protective varnish overcoat, some scattered handling marks and some softened checkering. Mechanically excellent. Holster is fine. A must have USAF revolver missing from even the most advanced U.S. military collections.