This gun has a 6 inch barrel, .38 S&W special, hand ejector, fixed sights, serial mo. 803070. It has a threaded hole in butt that I assume was a swivel at some previous time. Has a screw under trigger guard, and a mainspring tensioning screw in front of grip frame. I did not check the number of screws in side plate, It has smooth 90% blue, good bore, shoots fine. It has BRINKS very poorly, unevenly stamped on backstrap. Frank has it, so I can't post a picture.

What is it?

Thanks, Frog

It‘s a pre-war .38 M&P from mid-1941.

Most .38 Special-chambered guns by that time went to agencies and organizations; Brinks would be one that qualified. The swivel is found on most during that time period.

I have about a half-dozen M&P serial numbers listed which are very close to 803070, all of which shipped during the 6/1941 to 9/1941 period, so it is likely yours shipped in that same period. To amplify a little, beginning in around mid-1940, S&W received large contracts to supply revolvers to the British Commonwealth military (the British had become involved in a shooting war with NAZI Germany at that time), and devoted nearly all of its production resources to supplying the British needs. Relatively few M&Ps were released to the US domestic market, and most of those (chambered in .38 Special) went to law enforcement, etc. That situation continued until the war's end in 1945. Generally, ordinary American civilians could not buy guns during the war, as all production was directed toward military needs (same was true for automobiles and some other items). However, there were provisions made to supply guns for essential civilian uses during wartime such as law enforcement and defense plant security guards.

The hole in the butt is not threaded. The lanyard loop is inserted into the hole and is secured in place by a cross pin hidden under the grips.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I visited a Brinks depot in the Dallas TX area a few years ago. The armed guards are still carrying 6" revolvers as you describe. Brinks seems to be the only armored car company that stresses armed guards, especially when refilling ATMs. I don't know how willing to shoot they are told to be. Certainly, they hope the gun display will discourage a robbery attempt.

__________________
Bob.
SWCA 1821

Thanks guys. My friend Frank bought this .38 in a pawn shop and we wondered what it was.

Frog

Years ago, Brinks used our city police department range for qualifications. The oddest thing I saw about their training was a piece of plywood that had a hole cut in it to replicate the slot in the armorer car. The guards practiced shooting through the slot.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

This is just a vaguely relevant reminiscence.....
Back in the late 1960s/early 1970s, while I was still a little kid, we lived in Montreal.
There were a couple of separitist-terrorist organizations that funded their activities through armed bank robberies. In fact, my Dad was in a bank during such a robbery.
I remember seeing Brinks guards doing currency delivery/pick-ups and specifically recall them 1) being armed with S&W revolvers & pump action shotguns, and 2) them being unusually alert, even a little edgy, in the course of carrying out their jobs.
They seemed very serious and professional.

Jim