Autry National Center

http://theautry.org/the-colt-revolver-in-the-american-west/arming-the-united-states-military?artifact=2010.16.1-2,.5 http://theautry.org/the-colt-revolver-in-the-american-west/arming-the-united-states-military?artifact=87.118.115

#5 of 7   Arming the United States Military

Array ( [MKEY] => M540248 [TITLE_CUR] => Aircrewman Model Revolver [DATE_MADE] => 1951 [CREDIT_LINE] => [DESCRIPTION] => The Aircrewman Model is one of the rarest and most intriguing revolvers Colt ever manufactured. In 1951, the United States Air Force contracted with Colt to produce a snubnose double-action revolver with a frame and cylinder made of aluminum alloy. The revolver featured silver Air Force medallions on the grip, a stamp reading "Property of the U.S. Air Force" on the backstrap, and a special Air Force identification number on the butt. Approximately 1,189 revolvers were shipped, but concerns over the weakness in the aluminum-alloy cylinder caused the Air Force to return the entire lot. All of those revolvers were accounted for and subsequently destroyed. Nevertheless, a few managed to survive. Serial number 2689LW appears to have never been shipped to the government and was subsequently retained by Colt as a sample. [ID_NUMBER] => 87.118.103 [MAKERS] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [MAKER_TYPE] => manufacturer [MAKER] => Colt's Manufacturing Company [SORT] => 1 ) ) [SERIAL] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [NUM] => 2689LW [NUMTYPE] => serial number ) ) [INSCRIPTIONS] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [INSCRIPTION_TYPE] => Stamped [INSCRIPTION_TEXT] => PROPERTY OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE ) ) [OWNERS] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [OWNER] => [OCCUPATION] => [SORT] => ) ) [IMAGES] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [TYPE] => primary [SORT] => 1 [MEDIA_ID] => 87_118_103detail1.jpg [CAPTION] => .right side [CREDIT_LINE] => [W] => 640 [H] => 479 ) [1] => Array ( [TYPE] => primary [SORT] => 2 [MEDIA_ID] => 87_118_103.jpg [CAPTION] => .left side [CREDIT_LINE] => [W] => 640 [H] => 493 ) [2] => Array ( [TYPE] => primary [SORT] => 3 [MEDIA_ID] => 87_118_103detail2.jpg [CAPTION] => stamping on backstrap [CREDIT_LINE] => [W] => 640 [H] => 319 ) [3] => Array ( [TYPE] => primary [SORT] => 4 [MEDIA_ID] => 87_118_103detail3.jpg [CAPTION] => butt detail [CREDIT_LINE] => [W] => 640 [H] => 383 ) [4] => Array ( [TYPE] => primary [SORT] => 5 [MEDIA_ID] => 87_118_103detail4.jpg [CAPTION] => grip detail [CREDIT_LINE] => [W] => 626 [H] => 640 ) ) [GROUPINGS] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [TERMKEY] => T209046 ) ) [INTERPRETATIONS] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [TERMKEY] => T209036 [BROADER_TERMKEY] => T208558 [story] => Learn More; The Colt Revolver in the American West | Arming the United States Military ) ) )