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LOT 1462
Rare, Highly Desirable, Documented USAF Smith & Wesson M13 Aircrewman Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. C286749, 38 Special cal., 2 inch solid rib bbl., blue/anodized finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in late-1953 or very
early 1954, the M13 was produced on government contract for the U.S. Air Force, who designated it the Model 13 Aircrewmen 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 “PROPERTY OF U.S. AIR FORCE”. The left side of the frame has a “P” proof
mark. Serial number “C286749” is on the butt of the frame. The six-shot alloy
cylinder, barrel, and extractor are numbered to the gun. The checkered grips
have S&W medallions, with the right panel numbered to the gun. This revolver
falls within the accepted Aircrewman serial range of C247000-C405363 (“The
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” by Supica and Nahas, pg. 147). The included
factory letter confirms the current configuration as well as shipment to Norton
Air Base in San Bernardino, California, on May 14, 1954. Other included documents (copies) pertaining to the revolver: The May 14, 1954 S&W invoice for 1,000 M13 revolvers ordered by the USAF and the U.S. government shipping invoice for the 1,000 M13 revolvers.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 95% plus original blue/anodized finish showing slight thinning on the back strap, scattered handling marks, 90% vivid case colors on the hammer and trigger, and overall crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1463
Documented U.S. Army Issued SIG Sauer
M17 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box - Serial
no. TF002370, 9 mm para cal., 4 1/2 inch round
bbl., coyote tan finish, polymer grips. In January 2017 it was announced that SIG Sauer had won the U.S. Military Modular Handgun System (MHS) contract to replace the Beretta M9 as the standard U.S. military sidearm, and later that year the U.S. Army announced the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were to be
the first units to receive the M17. Only 3,000 of these pistols were returned to SIG Sauer for sale on the commercial market. The introduction of the M17 marked the beginning of the end to the M9’s service with the U.S. Armed Forces that originated in the
late 1980s when it replaced the Colt M1911A1. If the service life of the M1911A1 and M9 are any indication to the longevity of the standard U.S. military handgun, it will be decades before we see a round of rigorous testing to replace the M17. The shipping box
326 Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
is a numbered match to the pistol and identifies it as “UDM17-9-SURPLUS” and contains three extra magazines,
LMD laser light combo (as adopted through the MHS PAiL program), a standard weight recoil spring, cable lock, and papers. Per the included
certificate, this pistol was part of the initial deployment of the U.S. M17 MHS Pistol in American service. An included Department of Defense Freedom
of Information Act letter states this pistol was received by Army General Supply (Logistics Modernization Program Stock Records) from Sig Sauer Inc. on October 26, 2017. On November 6, 2017 it was received by the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution. On March 31, 2019 Army General Supply (Logistics Modernization Program Stock Records) performed a reconciliation on the weapon. Finally, on April 24, 2019 the Defense Logistics Agency shipped the pistol back to Sig Sauer Inc.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 97% plus original coyote tan finish with limited handling marks and crisp grip texturing. Mechanically excellent. The white light function on the laser light combo functions, the IR illuminator and laser are untested. Box is excellent with limited storage and
handling marks.