Quote:
Originally Posted by pablop
Revolver was definately originally chambered for .38 S&W - does not chamber .38 Special cartridges and still have original matching serial number on rear of cylinder.
Blued finish on brushed metal and checkered wooden grips are original, as is the "new" leather holster with "SAP" (South African Police) stamped on the inside. It was "police issue", but never used.
Any one able to supply me with the manufacturing date?
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The blued finish is
not original. As I indicated before, all the Victory type being turned out at this time were given a dull phosphate coating. If the stocks are original (that is, numbered to the gun), the checkering is not. Also, just to be clear, the accompanying holster does not necessarily identify the revolver's previous service.
Smith & Wesson has not maintained records of a gun's "manufacturing date" per se, only when it was shipped from the factory. I'm still comfortable with my estimate of early 1943 for the time frame in which yours went out.