This older gentleman came home with me today. Was marked as a Victory, but no V prefix, a 5" barrel, and 38 S&W—not Special— say otherwise.

Markings:

• "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on top strap
• Odrnance, Proof, and WB Acceptance (Waldemar Boberg) on butt
• N Z and a character I can't make out, over 385 at top of backstrap
• SN matches on cylinder and barrel flat (looks to be early 1942)
• Right stock numbered to a different gun

I'd be gratefull for any light that can be shed on this guy!











Cheers

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Alden
Guns N' Rosés

With the "United States Property" stamp, it's definitely a Lend-Lease revolver. and at that time those were going to the British Commonwealth. The SN indicates shipment was probably in the February-April 1942 period. It looks correct, but the finish looks little more shiny than I would expect. NZ could be New Zealand, I'm not sure about that. It doesn't seem to have the typical post-war British proof marks (at least not that I can see), which would indicate that it is likely to be a GI duffel bag special bringback. Maybe traded for a carton of cigarettes. That is a plus for value. I wouldn't worry too much about the mis-matched grips, as they are at least the correct style.

I think you dated it pretty much dead on. S/N 926xxx, a 5" .38/200 SW, Lend Lease shipped 2/42.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I agree with the ship date and Lend Lease, but it's a 38 S&W—not even a Special.

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Alden
Guns N' Rosés

Since the gun came from New Zealand, by way of whatever international surplus merchant acquired it, no British post-war proofs or other markings would be expected, in fact would be odd. So it does not need to have arrived surrepticiously.

The British did not as a rule property-stamp Lend-Lease guns. It has never been established whether Commonwealth countries that received L-L guns from Britain (these were centrally distributed) applied their marks to these upon receipt or only post-war once it had been established that they would not need to be returned. Only from Australian L-L revolvers do we know that they were generally not property-marked until the FTR in the 1950s.

I like it! But Clamped in a metal vice!!


That makes my teeth hurt.

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When words fail, music speaks.