I was given a .38 S&W CTG that holds 6 bullets serial #AZZA9A and a #19 carved into the wood stock. This gun will ONLY hold .38 S&W bullets which I can not find anymore.

Can anyone tell me when this gun was made and why the bullets are so hard to find? I love this gun and it shoots great and is in awesome shape. I am down to my last two boxes of bullets for it and would hate to stop shooting it because I can't find ammo.

Any help would be great!

This is a .38 Military & Police that was made prior to and during WW II for the British Commonwealth. It is also called the .38/200 or British service revolver. The serial number on the bottom of the grip frame reads with the muzzle pointing right; it is probably somewhere between the mid 600000 to 800000 range. The same number should be on the rear cylinder face, the barrel flat above the ejector rod, and the inside of the right stock panel with a gun that has all original parts.

It is chambered for the .38 S & W, which is usually available at many of the larger online stores (Brownell's, Midway USA, Sportsman's Guide). Because it is made in smaller quantities than more common rounds like .38 Special, it is fairly expensive but it is out there. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks, any idea on value? I'll never get rid of it, but I should probably insure it.

And, big duh, sorry, I was reading it upside down. The number is actually 767227. The gun is really in fabulous shape but I have no history on it. A friend gave it to my husband because it was too small for him and my husband said, "Here is a great gun for you!" I've carried it ever since and I got it in 2002 and have only shot about two boxes through it.

It is probably a $300-350 gun; it shows signs of being refinished, but if it is mechanically sound its cosmetic condition is only something gun collectors worry about.

This one probably left the factory sometime in 1941. Those that were in military service overseas then sold as surplus will have lots of British proof stampings everywhere; some came back in duffle bags and trunks and avoided this.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It has no stamping on it other than serial number, and the normal stuff on the barrel and the side and the logo. I can't find anything odd on it. It says made in the USA right under the chamber. I can take more photos outside if you'd like to see them. So I am not sure mine even went overseas. Do you think these were also used as Sheriff guns? I was told that they were and that this was one of those. But like I said I don't have a paper trail on it.

Ok, I took more photos, I do appologize that my camera is rather crummy.







Thanks so much for your help.

The hammer and trigger on these were originally "case-colored" (mottled blue, yellow), so this is what makes me think the gun has been refinished. However, the rest of the gun looks like the standard matte or dull blue of the period. A mystery.

It is possible this one went overseas first, then came back here for law enforcement use, but anything is possible. You can request a factory historical letter (for $50) from S & W, but the chances are high it will state it shipped to Britain.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The problem with ammunition is that there is not a lot of demand for .38 S&W so all the Panic driven production is in more popular calibers like .38 Special and 9mm.

Things will improve eventually and you will be able to get some use out of your revolver.

Last time I bought bullets they were $35 a box. I am really not too worried about price, just more or less of them not making it anymore. Sportsman's Wherehouse used to stock them but they don't anymore and told me they could no longer get them. The man behind the counter suggested that I just use .38 specials in it. Well, I tried to explain they don't fit but he wouldn't get it. .38 specials will not fit, they are too long. As you all know.

If you reload, that's the best way to ensure a reliable supply. .38 S&W components are more easily obtained than the ammunition. Except for small pistol primers which are quite expensive at present.

Update: I ended up going to a gun show today and I found probably 25 boxes of bullets from various sellers. I ended up buying two from Garnet Ammunition Inc. The owner also told me to save brass and he'll reload them for me too. Super nice guy, glad I met him. Each seller I talked to about the bullets seemed pretty impressed that I actually had the .38 S&W and remarked about how rare they are, and especially for a lady to carry. Glad I could make somebody's day!

Welcome back to the forum. Glad you found ammo. Those that don't have it always act like it's impossible to find. As you found out, that's baloney.

The lack of overseas import and proof marks and the Commercial style checkered wood stocks with S&W medallions tells me your gun was sold on the commercial market here in the states. It may have a "US Property" stamp on the top strap above the cylinder like those sold to the British but likely not since it is a Com'l Model. Which makes it a little extra special and unusual. Insure it for at least $500.

You can confirm that the stocks are original to the gun by looking for the gun's serial # on the back of the right side stock when removed as Alan noted.

The 19 stamped on the butt is an indication that it was part of some organizations gun inventory like a security firm, possible law enforcement agency, post ofc, etc., etc. But no way to tell which.

Very nice gun, enjoy and keep it in the family as the special heirloom that it is.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jmarie,
I am waiting on a letter any day now from the Smith & Wesson historian, Roy Jinks, for Serial number 760659 which is very close to yours, given the numbers they were churning out. It is also a 5" barrel (measure from the end of the barrel to the face of the cylinder) 38/200 with no proof markings and "unmolested". Mine has the original commercial "blue" finish but was missing the original stocks (grips) which were probably like yours (the smooth grips were common later). Yours does appear to be refinished, but they did change finishes during the war.

The letters (available for $50 from S&W) will tell when a particular serial number was shipped (not necessarily when it was manufactured) and where or who to. As these were not likely to have been shipped individually, there is a chance that our guns were in the same shipment, although that is by no means certain. From what I've read on this and other forums, for this time period it would possibly be a British Purchasing Commission consignment destined for the UK, but who knows. Perhaps they went in to service so quickly they just didn't get marked. Normally, I would think you would at least find military acceptance marks, typically some variant of the British "broad arrow" mark, if not the proof marks done later. These also ended up in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. I don't think many of the .38 S&W models were sold or issued here in the States, but anything and everything is possible with these guns. I'll post the letter once it arrives.

This will only tell part of the story because after the war, many (thousands) were sold as surplus, usually chock full of acceptance and proof marks, and others made their way back to the U.S. by some other circuitous route. That just makes the "naked" guns more fascinating to me.

FWIW - I purchased this one last month at a local pawn shop for $250 out the door as part of a package buy. It was priced at $300 with plastic imitation stag grips, but I've seen one recently in a range/gun store with reamed cylinders (to accept the .38 special cartridge) for $499 which is VERY high for one like that. Prices are all over the place right now.

As you know these are really nice shooters. Enjoy!

MidwayUSA and CheaperThanDirt will occasionally have some .38 S&W in stock, just keep checking and don't wait too long if it's listed as in stock - they tend to sell out very quickly nowadays. My local Bass Pro Shop carried it, but they have been picked clean of all ammo for a while now.

I went a shot two boxes through it a few days ago and I just fall in love with it more and more every time I shoot it! Mine tends to shoot high, but after you get used to that it's fairly easy to hit your target. Granted I was shooting from about 40 ft away, with a bit of wind. Mine is also a 5 inch barrel. I am no looking to get a S&W semi-auto that's a little cheaper on the pocket book to target shoot with and to be my new conceal carry gun. Any thoughts on which one? The smaller the better.

If you want a semi-auto, the 9mm Shield is a good choice. A friend bought one a few months ago and I thought it was a good balance between compact size and power. If you find a range that rents guns you can try before you buy, which I highly recommend. You may find that even if it feels good in your hand it is uncomfortable to shoot or difficult to manipulate. That's a rude awakening when you've just laid out several hundred dollars.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I prefer a small S&W alloy frame model (for lightweight) revolver over a semi auto for concealed carry and recommend that to all who will not be shooting the semi-auto frequently enough to stay very familiar with it. Of course opinions vary greatly.

The revolver is the original "point and click" device; no manual safety (unless you ghoose a model with one), magazine, jacking a round in the chamber, faulty feeding ammo, etc., to think about. Just point and shoot! If a round doens't go off, just pull the trigger again and the next good round goes off; no worries about or need to clear misfires, jams or anything.
This S&W site page has many choices of small frame .38 Spls and on the following pages. That's about the cheapest ammo to buy and an adequate carry gun caliber.
Revolvers - Smith & Wesson

I'm sure you'll get many more great suggestions by other members as well.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

What about a .22 revolver? .22 bullets are fairly cheap too. I've never shot one but almost picked up one at the gun show when I got my bullets. It was a Ruger, but I'd rather have a S&W.

A .22 revolver? You're really opening the floodgates now

One that is very similar to your .38 is the model 17 (6" barrel), or the 18 (4" barrel), with adjustable sights. There is a very rare fixed-sight .22 version of your gun called the model 45, but you're unlikely to run into one. A smaller gun known as the J frame is also available, the model 34 (blue, 2 or 4") or 63 (stainless, 4"). Many of these can only be found used. Plenty of others also but these are the ones you'll probably see.

Glad you found the ammo for your .38. Enjoy and be safe!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220