What is this old hand ejector?

[oldcop46]

I tried to figure this out by looking in my Standard Catalog of S&W and think it is a 38/200 British Service Revolver from lend lease era but no sure.

It is a hand ejector
Serial # V 52120
38 S&W Ctg on barrel and 38 special cartridge under thumb piece
5 in barrel
Fixed sights

N+Z 6444 stamped on blackstrap at the top
Has strain screw, butt swivel/lanyard ring, 5 screw

 

[Absalom]

Yes, it is an ex-BSR from summer 1942. It was in service with New Zealand per the backstrap stamping. Marking the caliber conversion on the frame with a .38 Special stamp is also typical of whover converted and/or imported NZ-surplussed BSR's.

As a lend-lease gun, it should have the US property stamping on the left topstrap. At that serial, there were no BSR's without it. If that is gone without obvious traces, the gun was likely refinished.

 

[oldcop46]

It does have the U.S. property stamp. I haven't fired. The owner says a 38 spl case swells when fired in it. I suspect the conversion not so hot
Thanks for the info.

 

[Absalom]

It does have the U.S. property stamp. I haven't fired. The owner says a 38 spl case swells when fired in it. I suspect the conversion not so hot
Thanks for the info.

I'm sure the conversion is fine. It's an inherent issue since the .38 S&W case has a slightly larger diameter than the .38 Special. I do not consider it any safety concern, and people here on the forum who have actual experience shooting these converted BSR's tend to be of the same opinion, although there are others who disagree. If you re-load, re-load and shoot .38 S&W, which still fits; if you don't re-load, the bulged and sometimes split cases in .38 Special don't matter.