Recently purchased a hand ejector model with in .38 S&W. Serial # 803594 located on the butt and cylinder. It has import marks and I was wondering when it was manufactured. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim

The Catalog puts it at about 1941.
If it is a .38 S&W and not a .38 Special it was probably made for the British in WWII.
Jim

An approximate shipment dating would be September 1941. If it's marked .38 S&W on the barrel, it would be a pre-Victory model .38/200 revolver made for the British Commonwealth's use during WWII. At that time, it would probably not have the "United States Property" stamping on the topstrap. Most of these will have a 5" barrel length (front face of cylinder to muzzle). If yours is shorter than that, it was probably cut, and that is not very good at all. Posting a few pictures will provide evidence for a better assessment.

Wow! You guys are fast! If i had stayed up a little longer i would have had my answer.

The barrel is indeed 5", and I see no US Property mark on the top strap. I assumed the .38 S&W caliber indicated British service, the date you have provided was very helpful! I notice the grips appear more deailed than military stocks of the Victory series. Does this indicate they are not original (the serial number on the stocks is not the same as the gun) or was that typical for the pre-victory hand ejectors?

Jim

Correct, non-matching numbers mean they came from another gun. The originals would have likely been service style (small), walnut and uncheckered, but some would have been the commercial type of similar size, but checkered and with small silver medallions.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The typical smooth wood Victory stocks did not appear until some time in early 1942. Prior to that, the normal S&W commercial wood stocks were used - round-top, diamond checkered, with silver medallions. Without a picture, yours cannot be identified.

You also need to check to see if your chambers have been bored out to accept .38 Special ammunition.

The chambers have not been bored out to accept .38 spec., as they protrude about a quarter inch.

I found some rounds on line and perhaps I will reload in the future.

You are fortunate that the chambers have not been bored. Reloading the .38 S&W is the way to go to avoid logistics problems. The proper bullet diameter is 0.360-0.361", and those are available. However, I find the typical 0.357-0.358" lead bullets used for the .38 Special work OK. If you reload, you can easily approach .38 Special ballistics in your 38/200. Just don't use such loads in any of the early top break .38 S&W revolvers.

Thought I posted these pics once before but guess I hadn't figured it out.

Attached Images

	20140427_133004.jpg (72.9 KB, 52 views)
	20140427_133033.jpg (55.7 KB, 35 views)
	20140427_133056.jpg (69.0 KB, 37 views)

Stocks appear correct for the period, as does the hot blued (Black Magic) finish. It's nice to find a .38/200 pre-Victory which has not been messed up.

My only complaint is the import stamp on the frame. Otherwise I love the way she looks! Thank you for your expertise, I hear you are the guy to ask about Victory revolvers.

As it's not close to being in mint condition, I don't believe the import stamping (which I can't see) makes a significant difference in value and none in shootability.