I purchased this revolver a while ago from a local gun shop. Hoping someone can help me identify it. No model number but it appears there is a D above the assembly number. Hand Ejector. Serial number is 960755. Caliber is 38 S. & W. CTG. Barrel length 3 1/4. Fixed sights. Yes there is a strain screw and it's the 5 screw system. Pin barrel. If more information is needed please let me know. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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I think you have what is called a pre-victory from just before WWII. It has been refinished and has had the barrel shortened. My expertise in this model is extremely limited. Hopefully, others will be of more help to you

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Why, I aughta.....

You mentioning the shortened barrel got me thinking. It appears the front sight has been moved back and there is writing on the top of the barrel. Sight covers up most but the legible part is:

GFIELD MASS USA
14.09.DEC. .29.14

Obviously that should be Springfield but what about the rest?

Attached Images

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Those are patent dates. The latest one, Dec 29, 1914, protects the hammer block that was introduced in that year. Ironically, some models did not get equipped with this safety device. If you remove the side plate, it might be there. It is leaf spring riding in a channel cut in the sideplate and activated by the upward motion of the hand pressing a spring-loaded stud which turn a "flag" to block the hammer. It was a brilliant bit of engineering, but its weakness was mud, crud, and dried grease, rendering it unreliable. In fact, some guns left the factory without this pretty remarkable safety device. When it worked , it worked well. So well in fact, that hand operated in reciprocity, and the leaf spring & coil spring buried within the trigger were not needed.

The '09 Date refers to an improved trigger that provides two points of contact in double action to give a longer throwback. When you remove the plate, cycle the gun in double action and pay attention to the points of contact between the trigger and the hammer. In double action:
.The bevel on the trigger catches the sear and start to lift. After 1909, the cam on the trigger hooks onto the foot of the hammer and brings it a little higher. Ergo, a heavier slap at the primer.

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Why, I aughta.....

Tuco,


Welcome to the forum.

It became the Model 10 when model numbers were introduced in 1957.

The factory called yours the ".38/200 British Service Revolver (Model K-200)". It's the British WW II military revolver made under contract in the early 1940s for Great Britain, chambered in 38 S&W with a 200 grain bullet, known as the 38/200 in British terminology. It's a version of the tried and true S&W ".38 (Special) Military & Police 'Victory' Model", just chambered for the different cartridge.

The message that's covered on the 1st line is Smith and Wesson and more patent dates on the 2nd line.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Welcome to the Forum.

Your revolver was originally built for the British Commonwealth forces during WW II. It probably had a 5" barrel, although 6" barrels were built as well.

Many of these .38 S&W revolvers were rechambered to .38 special. Has yours been converted to .38 special?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Since nobody else has mentioned them, the stocks appear to be made of a synthetic material formerly marketed as "Catlinite" or some such name. They were popular in the '50s as replacement or "upgraded" grips and even show up on some of John Wayne's single actions. They have a bit of historical interest and are quite normal to be found on a revolver like yours that was probably given a complete redo about that time.

Froggie

The serial number would indicate shipment from the factory in probably April 1942. As previously stated, if marked as .38 S&W, it was a British service revolver, usually called a .38/200. Yours is what is called a chopped and bored pre-Victory, as the serial number does not have a V prefix. That started a little later in 1942.

When the British declared these as surplus after WWII, literally boatloads of them were imported into the US by numerous surplus arms dealers in the 1950s and 1960s. To make them more attractive to US buyers, the importers frequently had the barrels cut shorter (most originals had 5" barrels), bored out the chambers to accept .38 Special ammunition, blued or nickel-plated them, and frequently added cheap plastic grips (any combination). Yours fits that description. They sold for prices in the $25-$35 range back then. At present, gun show prices are usually in the $200 area. They have no collector value, as there is virtually nothing original about them. Their only value is as a cheap utility shooter or throwaway gun. You should check to see if .38 Special cartridges will fit, and there is a high probability of that. If not, you must use .38 S&W cartridges, which are difficult to find and somewhat expensive. It should be safe to shoot, but that's about the extent of what good can be said about it.

The rest of the rollmark was "Smith & Wesson Sprin.." on the first line, followed by "PAT'D" (patented) and the rest of a series of earlier patent dates.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Yes it has been converted to 38 special. Of course I never would but it appears even a 357 cartridge will fit. It's a great shooter, probably one of mine that I'm most accurate with. Thanks for the info.

I have to say this is more and better info than I was expecting. Very interesting.

I'll have to get some better gunsmith tools and take off the side plate to find out about the flag block hammer.

New to the forum and am really enjoying it.

Thanks to everyone.

I would assume you could see the old style hammer block down in front of the hammer without disassembly. I know you can the later version.
Get with somebody familiar with revolvers before you start taking stuff apart.