Cogswell And Harrison Conversion

dustyman · Feb 13, 2014

Speaking of S&W 's. I also have a Victory that is strange. It has been converted by Cogswell and Harrison of London.
It's Parkerized, has a 3 1/2 inch barrel, ramp sight, and is 38 SPECIAL. I am told that after the war, some S&W's were converted and shipped back to the U.S. Here's the kicker.I was also told that in some cases, the 38-200 cylinders were replaced with 38 Specials supplied by S&W. In the case of my revolver, all serial numbers are alike except the Cylinder. Of course the barrel still is marked 38 S&W Ctg.
So, I was informed that these changes were made by C & H so they would be readily accepted by American consumers.
Any comments will be appreciated.

Hondo44 · Feb 13, 2014

Welcome to the forum.

Not so strange. Many, many were converted to more practical calibers like 22 and 38 Spl. Mostly cheaply done in this country with reamed out chambers for 38 Spl after importing them back across the big pond.

However those done in England by reknowned gunmakers like C&G are finely crafted conversions sometimes with target sights and/or shortened barrels. But more for use in Britain than for export, IIRC. A "NOT ENGLISH MAKE" stamping indicates it was exported from the UK thru official channels. No telling how it made it's way back if not stamped as such.

Muley Gil · Feb 13, 2014

Welcome to the Forum.

A converted cylinder will show the old .38 S&W chambers, as well as the new .38 special chambers.

Can you post a picture of the rear of your cylinder, with the chambers showing?

Art Doc · Feb 13, 2014

I have never seen or heard of a replacement cylinder. I think they always just reamed the original one.

DWalt · Feb 13, 2014

While it's possible to replace a .38 S&W cylinder with one in .38 Special, I'd agree that virtually all such conversions were done by boring out the .38 S&W chambers. The whole idea was to do the conversion very cheaply, and a cylinder replacement would be much more expensive than simply reaming out the cylinder chambers.

opoefc · Feb 13, 2014

Since the cylinder has no serial number, it may well have been replaced by a prior owner in the US, who did not want the .38S&W cylinder. The fact that the barrel still says .38S&W is a good sign the British conversion from a military revolver to a civilian revolver for the British market, kept the original .38S&W cylinder. If the Brits had changed it for the US market, the barrel stampings would have been crossed out and .38 Special added. Ed.

dustyman · Feb 14, 2014

The conversion serial number is V 77xxx. The serial number on the 38 Special It has not been reamed out it is a 38 Special cylinder that was placed in the pistol before being parkerized. That serial number is 66xxx. The cylinder is also parkerized. which tells me that it was on the gun when the conversion was done. OPinions please.

Cogswell And Harrison Conversion

dustyman

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Hondo44

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Muley Gil

US Veteran

Art Doc

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

DWalt

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opoefc

US Veteran

dustyman

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