I have a M&P Hand Ejector that was handed down to me, and I'm trying to learn a little more about it. From the serial number I've learned it was made in 1940. It's chambered in .38 S&W. The barrel is marked 38/380 38 S&W CTG. It also has a lanyard off of the grip and was given to me with a canvas holster that has slots for 6 rounds, and a slot with a brass (?) cleaning rod. The cleaning rod is stamped Parker Hale made in England. The grips have small silver colored S&W medallions in them. The barrel from the cylinder face to end of barrel is 6". I was told it was a cavalry pistol fro WWII, but have no idea if that is true. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum!

The "cavalry" part is unlikely, but everything else indicates a British Service Revolver manufactured for Britain during early WW II. If your identification of the year is accurate, it is a so-called "pre-Victory", since it was produced before the V prefix models that shipped to Britain under Lend-lease starting in 1942 in large numbers. Yours would have been purchased by the British Purchasing Commission. The British stampings on it were applied post-war when it was released from service for commercial sale.

I'm assuming the date is correct because I got that info from Smith and Wesson. I was just really interested in the history. Thank you for the info you provided, it helps a lot.

The standard configuration for this model would include a 5" barrel. However, in the very early part of the war Great Britain was so desperate for guns they took whatever S&W had on hand including 4" and 6" barrel revolvers.

There's no problem if you want to shoot the gun except the 38 S&W caliber demands loading your own ammo for economy. Factory ammo can be scarce and pricey.

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Thanks! Here's a couple pictures of it.

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Very nice package!
There is no reason to doubt the info you got. The gun's configuration matches the time frame. Looking at Pate's list of British purchases from S&W in 1940, I would think it highly likely your gun was part of the order of 20,000 6" revolvers I've highlighted in the snip attached.
A standardization toward a 5" barrel for British orders did not occur until that first large order in October 1940.

Attached Images

BPC 1940.jpg (66.7 KB, 40 views)

It's really hard to see in the above pictures, but there is what I think is a proof mark on the frame.

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Ok, so this isn't a great picture either.

That mark is a large C with an A in the center. That's the mark for the Canadian Military accepted small arms, so your gun is an early WW2 shipment to Canada. It may have been a direct shipment from S&W, or have gone through the British Purchasing Commission. Your canvas holster is correct for the gun and was made in Britain. Very nice and desirable WW2 relic. Ed.

That's an important distinction. You likely need to move one line down on the list of shipments I posted above, although as Ed says, it could have also gone to Canada through the BPC.

The C with broad arrow inside indicates the revolver is Crown Property for Canada. That means it was bought and paid for by the Canadian military. That was in the pre-Lend Lease period.

Welcome to the forum. That is a very nice revolver, and the overall package adds not just to the value, but to the historical interest in the arm. You say that it was handed down to you, and that may mean a family connection that adds value for you. Very nice collectible arm, though as SaxonPig says, the ammo can be difficult to find. Hand loading is really the way to go. I have a number of firearms chambered in this caliber, and loading for it is easy, painless, and inexpensive.

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