Tanaka Colt Aircrewman 'R-model' Heavyweight Model Gun

Tanaka Colt Aircrewman 'R-model' Heavyweight Model Gun

About Real Colt Aircrewmen Revolver The Colt M13 Aircrewmen Revolver was a unique firearm that prioritized lightweight construction over safety. It was commissioned by the United States Air Force, specifically the Strategic Air Command, to provide their airmen with a compact and lightweight emergency sidearm. Both Colt and Smith & Wesson were contracted to produce the M13 Aircrewmen revolver with identical specifications, but the parts between the Colt and S&W versions were not interchangeable. This created two distinct variants of the M13 with the same name. The need for a lightweight emergency sidearm arose in the 1950s when the US Air Force had to keep nuclear-capable bombers airborne at all times as a deterrent against the Soviets. The risk of being shot down over hostile territory was a genuine concern. The M13 Aircrewmen was officially adopted by US Air Force servicemen in 1951. Remarkably lightweight, the Colt M13 Aircrewmen weighed only 11 ounces when fully loaded with six rounds of M41 .38 Special ammunition. The M41 round was specifically developed for this revolver and featured a low-pressure load with a 130-grain FMJ projectile. It is important to note that firing regular .38 Special ammunition was not recommended due to the aluminum construction of the frame and cylinder. Regular .38 Special ammo was too powerful for the aluminum components, posing a significant safety risk. Finding authentic Colt M13 Aircrewmen revolvers today is extremely challenging as Colt produced a limited number of them. The risk associated with attempting to fire regular .38 Special ammunition ultimately led to the Air Force recalling the guns. Most of the recalled revolvers were recovered and subsequently destroyed in 1959. To learn more about this fascinating piece of Cold War history, I recommend watching the Forgotten Weapons YouTube video where Ian McCollum discusses the Colt M13 Aircrewmen revolver in detail. About Toy Model Gun The Tanaka Colt Aircrewman 'R-model' Heavywe

Brand
Tanaka Works
Category
gear
From
277.81 USD

Where to buy

Specs

M10 M13 M19