Found in a pawn shop - year? police?

[Spacerust]

I found this 38 on clearance at a pawn shop today. It's not a show piece, but I knew it was older than my 38 special. I read the sticky and listed are the answers to what I found along with pics.
Is it a police issue or something? Any help greatly appreciated.

It is a hand ejector

Serial number: 911219 WB (the number minus the WB is also marked on the cylinder)

38 Smith & Wesson CTG is on the right side of the barrel

barrel appears to be about 6 inches

It has fixed sights with half moon in front

It appears to be missing the butt swivel, but the hole is there

5 screws

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! You have a .38/200 (same as .38 S & W) British Service revolver, likely from early 1941 by the 911219 serial number. Shortly after the US entry into WW II (April 1942) the same gun with a V serial number prefix was called a Victory Model, so many call this a pre-Victory. WB are the initials of the factory inspector. The stamps on the upper backstrap are probably military markings, someone here might know their meaning.

It would be unusual to have a 6" barrel, as the standard wartime barrel length and by this time was 5". Do you see 911219 stamped on the barrel flat near the extractor rod, and is it 6" from the cylinder face to the muzzle? Hope this is helpful.

 

[Absalom]

It's a British Service model that ended up in New Zealand service.

The serial 911219 puts it in Jan. 1942, by which time it should have gotten the Lend-lease UNITED STATES PROPERTY stamp on the left topstrap. The finish there does look original and untouched, which I can't explain.

Its original barrel length would at this serial definitely have been 5".

PS: Looking at the relative position of the caliber stamp on your gun's barrel, I'm pretty sure it's a 5" barrel.

 

[Targets Guy]

It would have shipped in 1942. Mine, s/n 9759xx, shipped 4/42.

It shipped as a Blue, 5", .38SW. When the Brits got done with it it was a Parkerized, 3.5", .38 Special.

At first blush the NZ might stand for time in New Zealand?

 

[merl67]

I have one marked NZ also was told it went to New Zealand. If you look under the barrel in front of the locking lug you may find in very small print an importers mark.

 

[gordonrick]

Welcome to the forum! There are a ton of threads on Victory (and "pre-Victory") British Service Revolvers. There were more than a half a million sent to the Commonwealth countries during the war, mostly under the lend lease program. Very interesting history. Do a search and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know. Unfortunately, you won't find much about an individual gun except when and where it was shipped. What happened after it left S&W is usually not recorded except by the military acceptance marks or proof marks etc. It may have been used in combat by an ANZAC soldier, or spent its service life in a rear echelon arms room until it was sold as surplus.

The real question is whether it has been reamed to fit a .38 Special. The .38 S&W round is shorter and a tad larger in diameter than the .38 Special round. If the barrel is still 5", there is a chance it has not been reamed. Too many were cut down to 2" and modified for marketing here in the U.S. You can test this by trying to insert a .38 Special case in the chamber. If it fits it has been modified. You can still find .38 S&W ammo, but not likely in stock at your local dealer.

BTW - those grips are not original. Yours would have had smooth grips similar to this:

 

[Waveski]

Welcome.

I hope your BSR is original as chambered. It shows "honest wear" , not pitted from what I can see, Sure been around. With a replacement lanyard ring and grips (as shown in post#6) you would have a nice period piece.

 

[Art Doc]

Always.........

 

[mtu164]

Numrich has both original grips and repro lanyard loop .

 

[nicky4968]

And welcome to the forum.

 

[Spacerust]

It does say United States Property on the left side and it is 5" inch barrel. I measured it later that evening. Also it appears that there was some lettering stamped underneath the barrel, but partially removed. Trying to see if I could figure out what was there.

 

[Absalom]

It does say United States Property on the left side and it is 5" inch barrel. I measured it later that evening. Also it appears that there was some lettering stamped underneath the barrel, but partially removed..

It does have the stamp on the left topstrap? I actually enlarged your photo of the top and got nothing. Must be a rare fluke of the lighting, although the stamping is thin and not very deep.

Anyway, that explains everything then, no more mysteries. Lend-lease BSR that was issued to New Zealand forces. The lettering underneath the barrel (assuming you're not talking about the serial, which should be stamped there), could indeed be an importer stamp as suggested by merl67.

 

[Spacerust]

Thank all of you for your comments and kind welcomes to this forum. I plan on making a small display case for this piece.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Congratulations on that acquisition a great gun with history and welcome to the forum.Stick around these old S& Ws get addictive real fast.