Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have Colt’s Air Marshal. During the hijacking epidemic of the early 1970s, Eastern Airlines sought unconventional security solutions. In 1972 alone, they suffered over two dozen skyjackings. Eastern’s security director, Jonathan Shields, proposed arming pilots with specialized revolvers firing non-lethal plaster projectiles to subdue hijackers. Colt’s solution modified their compact Lawman .357 revolvers. Standard cylinders were replaced with Zytel plastic versions holding six steel ammunition sleeves. Each sleeve contained a low-power blank charge, plastic sabot, and cavity filled with brittle Plaster of Paris forming the projectile. When fired, the plaster round would disintegrate on impact, neutralizing the threat without overpenetration risks. The disposable cylinder was discarded after firing all six rounds. To prevent misuse, Colt designed the revolver to separate into two components for storage – one pilot kept the frame, the other the cylinder, only assembling aboard flights. Around 25 prototypes called “Air Marshals” were made by Colt’s Jericho, NY division in 1971-72 using Lawman components. But after trials, Eastern opted for the FAA’s Air Marshal program instead of arming crews directly. The remaining plaster revolvers sold as surplus for $9.95 each.
“Developed by Colt Technik (a subsidiary of Colt) in Jericho, New York at the request of John Edward Shields (manager of operational security with Eastern Airlines) as a way to arm pilots aboard airliners to prevent hijacking. Hijackings were much more common in the late 60s and early 70s and in response the FAA started the Air Marshal program that would put armed officers on board commercial flights. Shield’s specifications for the revolver were: the ammunition should not be able to penetrate the fuselage, over penetrate the target, or ricochet. It would also be stored and carried by the pilot and copilot in two pieces, to be assembled and then placed in a safe in the cockpit.”
Lot 462: Rare Colt Lawman “Air Marshal” Double Action Revolver – Rare Colt Lawman “Air Marshal” Double Action Revolver with Unique Plastic Cylinder. (n.d.-i). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/79/462/rare-colt-lawman-air-marshal-double-action-revolver.
