Colt's Special Revolver for Airline Pilots
03-18-2022, 07:39 AM
#2
All is fine at .79
Joined APC: Sep 2016
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In observance of Internet forum etiquette some context:
The 1970s were a period with epidemic levels of airline hijackings, and this revolver was designed by Colt at the request of Eastern Airlines to arm pilots. To address concerns about over-penetration of aircraft skin or windows (or of a potential target), a projectile made form plaster of Paris was designed. Colt started with MkIII and MkV Lawman snub-nosed revolvers, and replaced the cylinders with a new one made of Zytel, with six steel sleeves installed. Each sleeve held a sealed cartridge, with a plaster bullet inside a sabot (the plaster was brittle enough that engaging rifling would shatter it). The cylinder was disposable, meant to be discarded when empty. Only a small number were made, as Eastern Airlines ultimately decided to use Federal Sky Marshalls instead of arming its pilots.
03-19-2022, 06:22 AM
#3
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Compact revolvers are a trustworthy companion. Fits comfortably in a pocket or strapped to an ankle. The joke at Wings of Man was, 'Nice piece Jimmy, if you file the sight down won't hurt so bad when a bad guy shoves it up your…' Note the tapered design of the .357 auctioned
03-19-2022, 07:35 AM
#4
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03-20-2022, 06:42 AM
#5
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Context matters, this idea was after the fatal hijacking of EA 1320 in 1970. I met Capt Wilbur later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter...le_Flight_1320
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter...le_Flight_1320
03-20-2022, 02:54 PM
#6
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,958
Context matters, this idea was after the fatal hijacking of EA 1320 in 1970. I met Capt Wilbur later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter...le_Flight_1320
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter...le_Flight_1320
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