Help with markings, date and serial on S-W .38

sphen

sphen

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Hey guys, picked up a .38 S&W and was just wondering what the feedback is on this.

I need some help figuring things out. The CFO is requesting more information on serial and model number as they don't have anything on file other than "S&W .38 Spc Model 10". There is a number at the bottom of the grip (6 numbers) and another number inside the frame where the cylinder flips open (5 numbers) which repeated twice, once on the inside of the frame and once on the cylinder hinge.

My first question is...which is the serial number? Neither seem valid when I enter them on the S&W serial page and when I try and figure it out manually I'm not sure of the frame or model. Any help? Let me know if better pictures are needed of anything. Also, these aren't the factory grips, I'm aware of that.

Lastly, what are these markings?

q2GCTGil.jpg


Here she is in all her glory, it's my first .38. Any other comments or things I should know about this guy?

BXL6V1Kl.jpg


Thanks for the help!
 
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The marking on the barrel and frame are BNP, British Nitro Proofed.
The testing house stamped those there after testing the gun with overcharged loads.
The number under the crane is the serial number.
Make sure it is in .38 special and not .38 S&W. They are not interchangeable.
 
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Well that certainly looks like a S&W Hand Ejector in 38S&W. On the right side of the barrel in the pic, it looks to have *38 S&W Ctg* which is in fact 38S&W not 38Spl. Some of these we in fact changed to accept 38Spl but the 38S&W bullet is larger in diameter and a much shorter case and the cylinder was also changed. It is the predecessor of the Model 10 which was not actually named Model 10 until the 50's. If I were guessing, I would say it is a refinished Hand Ejector with new grips, and may have started as a military gun or police judging by the lanyard ring). Have a look on the frame for a > marking or if there are any remnants of a stamp on the top strap
 
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Might it be called a 1905? model 4th change or some such thing? I had one like that, and the cylinders were bored out and sleeved for 38 Special. I also had one in 38 S&W. Lovely little revolvers to shoot.
 
daBear said:
Well that certainly looks like a S&W Hand Ejector in 38S&W. On the right side of the barrel in the pic, it looks to have *38 S&W Ctg* which is in fact 38S&W not 38Spl. Some of these we in fact changed to accept 38Spl but the 38S&W bullet is larger in diameter and a much longer case and the cylinder was also changed. It is the predecessor of the Model 10 which was not actually named Model 10 until the 50's. If I were guessing, I would say it is a refinished Hand Ejector with new grips, and may have started as a military gun or police judging by the lanyard ring). Have a look on the frame for a > marking or if there are any remnants of a stamp on the top strap
Click to expand...

The .38 S&W case is actually shorter [and slightly 'fatter'] than the .38 Special case. ;)

Clipped this pic for reference off a Google search:

38 s-w_38 spl_357 mag stamp.jpg

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NAA.
 

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Might it be called a 1905? model 4th change or some such thing? I had one like that, and the cylinders were bored out and sleeved for 38 Special. I also had one in 38 S&W. Lovely little revolvers to shoot.
Click to expand...
Good call. I think you are much closer than I but the M&P or 38 Hand Ejector as it was called in service was also derived from the 1905...
dB
 
38 S&W it is, corrected. Thanks guys. I'll take another look for more markings and info once I'm done with the kids homework!

edit: The previous owner did say it was a police gun, but I don't remember seeing any markings that would indicate that. I'm pretty sure the grips were changed by the previous owner as they don't fit perfectly. They are comfortable to hold but they were not made specifically for this model.
 
daBear said:
Well that certainly looks like a S&W Hand Ejector in 38S&W. On the right side of the barrel in the pic, it looks to have *38 S&W Ctg* which is in fact 38S&W not 38Spl. Some of these we in fact changed to accept 38Spl but the 38S&W bullet is larger in diameter and a much shorter case and the cylinder was also changed. It is the predecessor of the Model 10 which was not actually named Model 10 until the 50's. If I were guessing, I would say it is a refinished Hand Ejector with new grips, and may have started as a military gun or police judging by the lanyard ring). Have a look on the frame for a > marking or if there are any remnants of a stamp on the top strap
Click to expand...

Look at this! Digging around in the spare parts, bits and bits, I think I found the grips!

bisyszWl.jpg


Serial number has been found, there number at the butt of the grip matches the number on the inside of the cylinder. I didn't see the number on the cylinder before, it's hard to make out.

So I think you're right, is this the mark you're looking for?

cs0Lo77l.jpg
 
sphen said:
38 S&W it is, corrected. Thanks guys. I'll take another look for more markings and info once I'm done with the kids homework!

edit: The previous owner did say it was a police gun, but I don't remember seeing any markings that would indicate that. I'm pretty sure the grips were changed by the previous owner as they don't fit perfectly. They are comfortable to hold but they were not made specifically for this model.
Click to expand...

The British Nitro Proof stamp indicates it has been in British service. British police forces did not normally carry guns but they did have them. S&W revolvers were probably the most common type for a long time, either purchased directly or acquired from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as the military became smaller in the decades since WWII. (And the MOD has its own civilian police force who would sometimes be armed.)

(I spent several years working as a dispatch rider in London in the 1990s. By that time the police always had some officers armed on duty, usually a few cars with a secure box of firearms in the boot (trunk) and two or three firearms-trained officers cruising around to respond if needed, and being on a bike I noticed traffic division officers on motorcycles were often armed with revolvers. That would be because if an armed officer was needed a motorcycle could get him almost anywhere faster than anything else.)
 
Looks like you have there a S&W Victory model in 38-200. You are safe to use 38 S&W. Same case but the 38-200 just used a heavier bullet. The barrel is likely .357 rather than .360 like older hinged frame revolvers. This means when you reload for it you can use easier to find projectiles for 38 Special and 357 Magnum. These were made by S&W for the Commonwealth countries under the Lend Lease agreement. I have the same gun in my collection and it's a wonderful vintage WW2 revolver.

Cheers
Moe
 
Thanks guys, yup. I believe we've figured it out. Now I have to decide if I'm keeping it or not, there was 20 guns in the lot but I can probably only afford to keep 2 tops!
 
Hey guys, just want to revive this again. I know we determined that this is a 38 S&W but I've noticed that the 38 special cartridge fits the cylinder with room to spare. I know that the 38 special is slightly slimmer but longer so I'm thinking if it fits in the cylinder then it's good to go right?
 
sphen said:
Hey guys, just want to revive this again. I know we determined that this is a 38 S&W but I've noticed that the 38 special cartridge fits the cylinder with room to spare. I know that the 38 special is slightly slimmer but longer so I'm thinking if it fits in the cylinder then it's good to go right?
Click to expand...

No, have it checked by a gunsmith.
 
maxman1 said:
Someone might have reamed the cylinder to accept .38 Special.
Click to expand...

I believe that's the case. I'll drop it off at a smith and have it checked out. I bought all this guys guns and ammo off him and there are boxes of .38 spc....but no .38spc guns.....also, despite this being a .38 S&W, no .38 S&W ammo. I suspect either he or a previous owner had it reamed out.

[edit] pics for visuals...

9FzUZQCl.jpg


z4CsFyVl.jpg
 
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Many of these revolvers had a .38Sp reamer run into the chambers so that they could use the more popular .38Sp cartridge.
The .38S&W is slightly larger in diameter, even though shorter. Fired .38Sp cases will have a slight expansion where they have expanded to fit the .38S&W portion of the chamber. Not a problem.
 
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