Lend Lease?

Kerbyg

Kerbyg

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Hi,
First post and glad to be here.
Trying to further identify.38 revolver handed down from my father.
No “V” or “Property US Government “ markings. Plenty of British markings as well as what looks to be conversion to .38 Special markings on bottom of barrel. Barrel is now 3 1/4”. “Parker Hale England” stamp on front sight post. Barrel marking for .38 S&W still on.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Guy
 

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Welcome to the forum.
I believe what you have is a .38/200 British Service Revolver.
Caliber-.38 S&W with 200 grain bullet.
Serial number range 700,000 to 1,000,000. Then they were numbered with the V prefix (for Victory). Guns came with 4", 5" or 6" barrels. Many guns had the barrels cut after the war and were converted to .38 Special. Yours seems to be one of these.
Some would call your gun a pre-victory because it does not have the V.
 
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On my list is SN 767114 which originally shipped on 5/12/1941. Yours is a postwar modification of a pre-Victory BSR, likely refinished, the barrel shortened, was rechambered to take .38 Special ammunition and then sold on the commercial market, mainly in the USA. Many thousands were imported and sold by mail order here. Such postwar conversions of surplus military BSRs done in England demonstrate fairly good workmanship, and are nothing to be ashamed of, unlike the numerous similar conversions done in the USA during the same period, usually in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Yours is too early to be Lend-Lease and is one originally purchased by the Commonwealth from S&W.
 
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