GEVELOT 38 SW

[jjlesax]

Hi can any help i found this whilst out metal detecting i think the sw is smith and wesson ..but not sure the age or what gun it would have come from ... i,m from the uk

[Roundsworth]

It is, indeed, a 38 S&W cartridge made by Gevelot in France. In the UK, you commonly refer to it as the 38-200. Revolvers from Webley and S&W were abundant, as issued to your armed forces. The cartridge you found appears to have the 146 grain bullet. Someone will be along shortly to shed some light on the connection between the cartridge, S&W, and its use by the British. Cheers!

[jjlesax]

thank you that's interesting wonder what year it came from ..also strange to find one bullet in the middle of the woods

[Andy Griffith]

Not strange at all. Someone in the distant past may have been out target shooting, shooting at game, or fell out of someone's pocket or policeman's belt. Likely for any one of many models of Webley revolvers in that caliber.
Amazingly, it was made in France...there must have been a good price on French ammunition at one time instead of buying British domestically made.

[opoefc]

Gevelot started up around 1820, making powder, balls & hunting equipment, etc. They continued in the ammo. business in France until just after WW2, but then stopped the ammo. part of the business and expanded in machine parts, etc. However, some Gevelot ammo. was still loaded in Canada up until the 1990s. Gevelot also made some small arms in the 1980-90s. .22 rifles and 9mm sub machine guns. Ed.

[Ballarat]

I have about 20 rounds of the WW2 manufactured ammo described above. So it even came to Australia. I will probably sell it to a cartridge collector as its probably way too old to shoot through my Colt OP 38-200. My modern day reloads will suffice.