Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this double-action revolver built on the round butt Kalloy service frame today for a penny start auction; this is the Smith & Wesson 12-3, also known as the .38 Military & Police Airweight!
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: 12-3
Serial: 6D61253
Date of Manufacture: 1980
Caliber: .38 S&W Special
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 2" Pinned
Optics/Sights: 1/10" Serrated Ramp Front with Integral Frame Notched Rear
Stock/Grips: Round Butt Checkered Walnut Magna Style Grips with S&W Medallions
Action: Double
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
However, there were persistent reports of cylinder and frame failure with the M13 and its counterpart, the Colt Aircrewman. To remedy the issue, the Air Force attempted to issue a dedicated low-pressure .38 cartridge for the weapons — the Caliber .38, Ball, and M41 round. But despite this, negative reports continued to come in. As a result, Air Force officials decided that the revolvers were unsuitable for issue, and the model was withdrawn from service. Almost all of the examples were crushed or destroyed.
A civilian model of the M13 was released in 1953, called the Military & Police Airweight. This designation was changed in 1957 to the Model 12 Airweight. The Military & Police Airweight initially used an aluminum cylinder and frame, weighing only 14.5 ounces. However, the aluminum cylinder proved insufficiently strong to withstand continued firing with standard .38 Special cartridges. So, in 1954, S&W changed the entire production of air weight revolver cylinders to steel, increasing the weight to 18 ounces. The Model 12 had three variants, namely 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3. These variants had a narrower hammer and an aluminum grip frame that was 0.08-inch narrower than the standard steel K-frame. However, the final version, Model 12-4, used the same frame dimension as the other K-frames and had a rounded butt.
Contents:
This example will ship with the original labeled box and paperwork pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: 12-3
Serial: 6D61253
Date of Manufacture: 1980
Caliber: .38 S&W Special
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 2" Pinned
Optics/Sights: 1/10" Serrated Ramp Front with Integral Frame Notched Rear
Stock/Grips: Round Butt Checkered Walnut Magna Style Grips with S&W Medallions
Action: Double
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Smith & Wesson (S&W) Model 12 is a revolver that uses .38 Special ammunition built on Smith & Wesson's medium-sized K-frame. It is essentially an aluminum alloy-frame version of the Model 10, also known as the M&P. The Model 12 was produced in two-inch, 17-ounce (482g) and four-inch, 19-ounce (539g) configurations from 1953 to 1986. The early models featured an aluminum cylinder in addition to the frame. In 1953, the United States Air Force (USAF) ordered a modified version of the Smith & Wesson Military & Police Airweight revolver. This variant had a two-inch barrel and an aluminum cylinder and was intended to be issued to US Air Force flight crew members. The revolver was called the Revolver, Lightweight, Caliber .38 Special, M13, and around 40,000 Smith & Wesson M13 revolvers were produced.
However, there were persistent reports of cylinder and frame failure with the M13 and its counterpart, the Colt Aircrewman. To remedy the issue, the Air Force attempted to issue a dedicated low-pressure .38 cartridge for the weapons — the Caliber .38, Ball, and M41 round. But despite this, negative reports continued to come in. As a result, Air Force officials decided that the revolvers were unsuitable for issue, and the model was withdrawn from service. Almost all of the examples were crushed or destroyed.
A civilian model of the M13 was released in 1953, called the Military & Police Airweight. This designation was changed in 1957 to the Model 12 Airweight. The Military & Police Airweight initially used an aluminum cylinder and frame, weighing only 14.5 ounces. However, the aluminum cylinder proved insufficiently strong to withstand continued firing with standard .38 Special cartridges. So, in 1954, S&W changed the entire production of air weight revolver cylinders to steel, increasing the weight to 18 ounces. The Model 12 had three variants, namely 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3. These variants had a narrower hammer and an aluminum grip frame that was 0.08-inch narrower than the standard steel K-frame. However, the final version, Model 12-4, used the same frame dimension as the other K-frames and had a rounded butt.
This example will ship with the original labeled box and paperwork pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
