I have 11-4, SN C570XXX. On barrel it reads "38 S&W (178 gr)". Has lanyard and is a 3 screw. Any idea when this revolver may have been made?

According to the SCSW, 1962

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Very rare model in the U.S. Lanyard makes me think a cop gun in Canada or some other associate with Great Britain.

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Does that (178gr) with the caliber on the barrel look like a factory stamping? I'd be interested to see a picture if you can get one.

PS: So I learned something new. I assume your barrel looks like the one in the attached photo I found. That does definitely look like a factory original stamping. I didn't know that existed in this format. Interesting.

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Most of the Model 11s were made for South Africa's police. Mine, an 11-4 serial number C570307, has "SAP" rollmarked on the backstrap. Mine wasn't shipped to South Africa but stayed in the factory inventory until the 1990's, when it was sold at auction.

Absalom, that's it exactly. The 178gr is an original factory stamping. I've had this in the safe, in it's box for years. I'd forgotten that it was at one time in the S&W museum for Butterfield and Butterfield. The tag is still on the gun.

crranch, mine came out of the same auction as yours. Is your gun's backstrap marked?

I believe it identifies the cartridge used by the brits instead of the std american loading.

Look for Fast Snake's posts here within the past week. He lives in Johannesburg and you can see his M-11 and South African Police accessories: cap, whistle, service medal.

Many of these guns weren't shipped, due to UN embargoes against South Africa in those days. I think that's why they were finally sold here.

Sure, but this barrel is MARKED that way. Very unusual. I find it quite interesting.

Did S&W sell a lot of Model 11s for police use in India?

I think the expression "a lot of Model 11s" is an oxymoron. The SCSW does not contain any information on numbers, and since the serials ran within the sequence for the M&P/Model 10, nothing definite can be ascertained as to volume. But the numbers apparently were small.

As for destination, the SCSW lists only the South African contract. While India was well-supplied with BSR's in .38 S&W, both from Indian units receiving them during the war and the British leaving them behind in 1948, and had them in service for a long time (many being FTR'd at Ishapore in the late 1960s), I have come across no reference to Model 11's being shipped there. But it's certainly possible. Not many, if any, would be likely to have come back and hit the collector's market here (and be lettered).

Buff, I hadn't noticed it before but the backstrap is clearly marked SAP. If I can figure out how to post pics, I'll do it.