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11-22-2020, 04:48 PM
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Another orphan...
My original orphan child rescued from the back corner of a dusty pawn shop shelf, and now all cleaned up and posture corrected has been pestering me for a nicer set of clothes to wear, so today at the gun show I located a nice pair of stag grips for it and bought them...But my orphan has been lonely in the safe with all the other newer guns, and yearned for a little brother who might be of similar age and shape that it might have more in common with...
So while buying the new/old grips, something shiny caught my eye on another table across the eye...This old timer was also orphaned and really needed a new home...It is the spittin' image of my first orphan only smaller, and I believe even older, same caliber though...So since it did not have a birth certificate, I beg the indulgence of my friends here in exactly identifying the newcomer...
S/N 8599XX on the butt, which if this is the M&P I think it is, dates it as a war gun 1940-45...Being unfamiliar with older warhorses, I'm puzzled by the 2.25" barrel which has no markings, not even caliber, but has the identical shape and profile of its bigger brother except for the lack of an ejector rod housing, as well as the same half-moon front sight...I already know the nickel finish is not original, but the sideplate fits flush in the 5-screw frame so it appears to be a good job...
Even though the caliber is unmarked, the seller said he had shot it himself, and ID'ed it as .38 Spl...I loaded it at home and .38 Spl. cartridges fit the cylinder...Now my challenge is to find matching stag grips for this one, and since I promised the first orphan a nice crossdraw holster, its new bratty sibling is whining for a shoulder holster in matching leather...Exactly when did I lose control of this orphanage house?...  ...Ben
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Absalom, browningcollector, desi2358, huskypbm, J. R. WEEMS, Kansasgunner, M E Morrison, Moo Moo, NavySCPO, Oracle, rjm6120, series guy, usmc2427765, Wiregrassguy |
11-22-2020, 04:55 PM
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I believe this is most likely a formerly 5“ British Service model M&P from the pre-Victory serial range, later 1941, which was modified and converted to .38 Special post-war. The missing front lug is the giveaway.
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11-22-2020, 04:57 PM
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Is there also a V on the butt separated from the SN? If so most likely a cut down Victory model, nickeled. I've seen more than a few of them. . . owned one once thinking it might be the elusive two inch Victory but the lack of a locking bolt barrel lug should have been a clue. Yours seems to be missing one too.
Jeff
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11-22-2020, 05:07 PM
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Nope, I checked for a V when I bought it thinking it might be a converted Victory...I had no illusions of it being factory produced, but it was such a close match to my other orphan I had to have it...It spoke to me...  ...Ben
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11-22-2020, 05:08 PM
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Could someone with sharper eyes than mine tell if those are Eagle grips?...  ...Ben
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11-22-2020, 05:37 PM
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It would not have a V with that high a serial number. It has to be an early wartime BSR.
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11-22-2020, 05:39 PM
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I appreciate the quick responses...  ...Ben
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11-22-2020, 05:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP@AK
It has to be an early wartime BSR.
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I believe it now...The cylinder is marked "England" and near every flute is a crown and "BNP"...Now about those grips... ...Ben
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11-22-2020, 06:00 PM
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High probabilty it was converted to .38 Special from .38 S&W. If so, Special cases might split due to the oversize chambers, but it still should shoot .38 S&W fine.
Lee Harvey Oswald used his blued one to kill a Dallas police officer the day he was caught.
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Last edited by sigp220.45; 11-22-2020 at 06:04 PM.
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11-22-2020, 06:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Truckman
...Now about those grips... ...Ben |
They’re definitely aftermarket, not S&W. I tried to make out the bird, but it‘s a bit fuzzy. Are they wood or composite? The popular grip maker Franzite used an eagle, but their medallion also had the name next to the bird. I‘m not sure about Sile; but there was another manufacturer also with an eagle.
PS: Bingo. These are Sile. Found the logo. It‘s supposed to be a falcon. Sile also had an eagle medallion.
Last edited by Absalom; 11-22-2020 at 06:17 PM.
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11-22-2020, 06:22 PM
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STOCKS
Love those real Stags as well 
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11-22-2020, 06:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sigp220.45
High probabilty it was converted to .38 Special from .38 S&W. If so, Special cases might split due to the oversize chambers, but it still should shoot .38 S&W fine.
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There's an equally high probability that I'll never know, because I don't think I'll shoot it, it's just too purdy...I do intend to shoot its big brother though...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Absalom
PS: Bingo. These are Sile. Found the logo. It‘s supposed to be a falcon. Sile also had an eagle medallion.
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Yes, that's definitely it...Thanks...Now to the hunt for some matching stags, and those elusive holsters... ...Ben
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11-23-2020, 06:34 AM
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For matching holsters, I would get in touch with one of the leather smiths on this or other forum. They would be able to craft a proper pair for you. Probably less money than the big bucket makers.
Kevin
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11-23-2020, 10:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StrawHat
For matching holsters, I would get in touch with one of the leather smiths on this or other forum. They would be able to craft a proper pair for you. Probably less money than the big bucket makers.
Kevin
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Maybe they'll be kind enough to identify themselves here since I'm a relative newcomer to this fine board...I didn't really expect to find any well-weathered matching used ones at the gun shows... ...Ben
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