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04-29-2024, 12:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
Back shortly pre-Covid, there was quite a bit of South African .380 Mark II ammo being sold. Original British and Canadian .380 revolver ammo has been scarce for quite awhile, at least I have seen none in shooting quantities. Even new commercial .38 S&W ammo is tough to come by and expensive today.
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I hear you, but I don't think this is going to be fired by me. It doesn't look to have been fired as near as my non-expert eyes can tell save maybe a couple of test-fires at S&W.
There is no powder residue on the top strap above the forcing cone, nor are there any marks or pitting on the area of the strap where it's normally seen when firing a revolver. The breechface, upon a MUCH closer inspection, shows an ever-so-slight mark of a round being fired, and yet there was no powder residue in any of the "normal" places when I cleaned the pistol. Everything behind the side-plate looks new, though the gun has clearly been disassembled in the past.
I think I'm going to just leave it like it is...
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04-29-2024, 12:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
Charles Pate always comes through for me. A must have book for anyone interested in WW II handguns.
This one is stamped 1942.
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A closer look in better light allowed me to see what appears to be "1940" on this holster. I can clearly see the "40" part - see photo
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04-29-2024, 12:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt
Regarding blued finish, one source is from Carl Hellstrom's wartime production notes. It is fairly clear that the only Parkerized revolvers were 2187 DSC Guns shipped in mid-1942.
Victory Model wartime changes
This is the Black Magic bluing finish product that S&W used during the war: https://www.hubbardhall.com/product_...nfusion-2?dl=1
There was also an article in the S&W CA Journal maybe 7 years ago that discussed the Victory finishes which I have no access to. I guess the myth of Parkerized finish on Victories still lives on like a zombie. And Black Magic has no similarity to Parkerizing. Most gun manufacturers had switched to the "Black Magic" type hot oxide bath blued finish before WWII. Ned Schwing's book "Winchester Slide Action .22 Rifles" provides a very detailed discussion of Winchester's hot oxide bath bluing process used by them in the 1930s.
The "p" is a proof mark.
Somewhere, I have one of those British canvas holsters, no idea where it is now. I think I bought at an estate sale for a dollar or so. I think it was designed to be used with every revolver type ever used in British service, not just the WWII BSRs. I remember that several years ago, IMA was selling the blue canvas RAF holsters for around $10. They may have been replicas, I don't remember. |
More great info! Thank you!
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04-29-2024, 02:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapeFearElvis
The bottom side of that piece is stamped CANADA
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Ah Ha. Like DWalt said...all part of the British Common Wealth.
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04-29-2024, 02:29 PM
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One more opinion on ammo for your gun. It would be really great if your MiL has some British or Australian Mk II ammo, but I think Remington/UMC would be correct as well. The Brits et al packaged their stuff 12 rounds to a "box". If it were my gun and I had some of the Commonwealth stuff it would be for display only
Just checked Ray Giles in Dallas. He HAD a box of Mk I but he sold it, for $195.
No Mk II..
Last edited by Retired W4; 04-29-2024 at 02:34 PM.
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04-29-2024, 02:36 PM
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Some of the web holsters for the 38/200 used to have cartridge loops on the outside of the flap. Often used in the Western Desert by armoured troops as the little cartridge case could come adrift. Dave_n
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04-29-2024, 02:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_n
Some of the web holsters for the 38/200 used to have cartridge loops on the outside of the flap. Often used in the Western Desert by armoured troops as the little cartridge case could come adrift. Dave_n
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Yep, there are dozens of high quality repo's on Ebay of that cartridge loop holster that you mentioned...$35 or so usually. I think they fit a Webley or a Victory.
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04-29-2024, 04:08 PM
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Ammo is still available especially if your willing to purchase on line. SG Ammo has PPU and Remington 38 S&W in stock. Target Sports USA and Graf and Son are other potential sources online.
I’d want a box or two of ammo if I never planned on shooting the Dandy S&W.
Cheap bulk 38 SW Short Ammunition for sale | SGAmmo.com
38 S&W - Handgun - Ammo - Graf & Sons
Last edited by VASCAR2; 04-29-2024 at 04:11 PM.
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04-29-2024, 05:18 PM
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__________________
S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824
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04-30-2024, 02:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
One more opinion on ammo for your gun. It would be really great if your MiL has some British or Australian Mk II ammo, but I think Remington/UMC would be correct as well. The Brits et al packaged their stuff 12 rounds to a "box". If it were my gun and I had some of the Commonwealth stuff it would be for display only
Just checked Ray Giles in Dallas. He HAD a box of Mk I but he sold it, for $195.
No Mk II..
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Wow! That's like trying to buy 38-40 Winchester or M2 Ball ammo. That's crazy!
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04-30-2024, 02:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VASCAR2
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Now those prices are livable...
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04-30-2024, 02:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Model19man
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That's not bad either. I think I'll likely order a box to put in a drawer... LOL!
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04-30-2024, 03:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapeFearElvis
A closer look in better light allowed me to see what appears to be "1940" on this holster. I can clearly see the "40" part - see photo
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With a close look at the canvas weave, I would say NOT a repo. WW II canvas and snap. That's a good thing.
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04-30-2024, 04:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapeFearElvis
Wow! That's like trying to buy 38-40 Winchester or M2 Ball ammo. That's crazy!
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Try buying 32 Colt rim fire for my Marlin 1891. 
It's a good thing I have a center fire firing pin also, but 32 Colt long or short CF is real expensive. 38 S&W is cheap by comparison.
We have two big ammo dealers here in ATL that always have 38 S&W, just not war time production.
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04-30-2024, 05:56 PM
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IMA still has the Brit canvas holsters in stock,,originals,,both the RAF light blue color ($25) and the G/I Khaki color ($40).
More than they were but that was then and this is now.
A quick glance at their offerings didn't show any of the ammo pouches, belts, etc for the revolvers..
Most everything else they offer now is repro leather with a few orig holsters & belts here and there.
Their ad info states the above holster(s) will fit a Hi-Power or a 1911 as well as the Enfield 38 or S&W 38.
I thought the latter two were what they were made for & issued for.
I seem to remember a separate sized canvas holstera was made for the first two.
But I could be just mis-remembering.
I may have some 38-200 Brit Military,,I will look.
I know there is some .455 in packets there somewhere in the pile.
I used to shoot 9mm Browning Long in an Enfield 38.
Norma brand, FMJ commercial 'White Box' ammo.
Kind of snappy to shoot in the Enfield as I recall but it took it in stride
It was cheap at the time. $4.50/box of 50 if you bought a case.. & w/ Free Shipping! That from CAI of all places.
I still have one box left.
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05-01-2024, 02:16 PM
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Most of the 38 SW ammo is the 146 grain version which was not used by the UK forces. 178 or 200 was the normal loading. I still have Mk II ammo at 178 and seeing the figures given above I might be inclined to try selling one of he boxes!!! Dave_n
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05-01-2024, 07:14 PM
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Back in the 1970s, the British .380 Mk II ammo was very common at gun shows and fairly cheap. As I mentioned, immediately prior to Covid, I started seeing the South African Mk II at gun shows, but not so cheap, around $8-10 for a 12 round box. I remember one vendor having a full case of it. I never bought any as I load my own.
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05-01-2024, 10:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_n
Most of the 38 SW ammo is the 146 grain version which was not used by the UK forces. 178 or 200 was the normal loading. I still have Mk II ammo at 178 and seeing the figures given above I might be inclined to try selling one of he boxes!!! Dave_n
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Indeed. Ammo prices are no joke under our current "leadership"... :-(
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