38/200 question

[pecolajeep]

Hello all: jut picked up a 38/200 lend lease with brit markings. Also on the frame is stamped OL.OLD.779 and on the back strap is marked "POL.LUN.487". I was told these marks could be post war West German Police markings. Anyone got any thoughts?

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I too have a lend lease pistols with British markings. The back strap of mine reads "POL.LUN.76" for Polizei Luneberg Waffe 76. Luneberg is a town in Northern Germany. These were used in West Germany after the war. It sounds like it was used in two different towns after the war, hence the "Old.779" and the "LUN.487".
Since lend lease guns were not required to have all the british proof marks during the war, yous, like mine, was sold after the war and that is why it contains all the proof marks, and the markings "Not British Made" on the right side of the frame in front of the trigger guard.
I hope this answers some of your questions. I'm sure someone else on the forum will have more to say.

 

[pecolajeep]

thanks for the info on my 38/200

What a great cite! Yes my revolver has the "NOT ENGLISH MAKE" on the right frame. It has London view marks on the barrel and frame (crown over "v" in circle and crown over "gp" in circle and NP. That's what I like about collecting these guns, every one I own has some variation in markings. Again thanks and best regards......

 

[TomcatPC]

Hello

"38/200"?? I was under the impression that the correct name of the cartridge fired by British Victory Model Revolvers, Enfield, and Webely & Scott Revolvers during the War was called the .380" Revolver Cartridge. I don't recall ever seeing an actual WWII British Military issue Revolver ammunition box that was marked "38/200".

If I recall the .380" Mk.I Cartridge did have a 200 grain lead bullet, but that was replaced by a 178 grain Ball (aka Full Metal Jacket) bullet. The later 178 grain ball version was called the .380" Mk.II (or Mk.IIz). From what I have heard the later .380" Mk.II cartridge was in use some time prior to the start of the War in Sept. 1939, so I'm not even sure if the British Victory Model ever officially (in actual combat use, not counting training) fired the .380" Mk.I cartridge with the 200 grain lead bullet?

This is a WWII issue British (Canadian made) box for .380" Mk.IIz cartridges. I have never seen a box that was marked "38/200", just .380".
Thanks
Mark

 

[nutsforsmiths]

Mark, I believe you are correct with the British calling the round a .380. Smith & Wesson called the pistol itself a 38/200 British Service Revolver. Only the U.S. ones during the war were actually called Victory Models, the British ones were never "officially" Victory Models.

 

[TomcatPC]

Hello

So the term "British Service Revolver" is technically correct regardless if there is a V in the serial number or not? I have heard the the term used, but I was under the impression that the term "British Service Revolver" was used for the revolvers that were bought prior to the Lend Lease Programme?

Does anyone have an actual WWII British (or British Commonwealth) made .380" MkII (or Mk.IIz) Cartridge that they could post a photo of, and/or know what the head stamps read?
Thanks
Mark

 

[jamned]

38/200

I had a full box (50) with just four numbers on the headstamp, but the top of the plain brown box was marked "38/200". That was the only mark on the box. Sold it at the Troy, Mi. show, Jim Nedela.

 

[Ballarat]

The thread appears to have been hi-jacked to a degree. The OLD marking refers to Oldendorf which was a police district and probably still is in Germany. It may have two F,s my knowledge of German place names is limited.

 

[pecolajeep]

thanks again

Yes my origonal thread was getting pretty far afield. Thanks for the info on the "OLD" (Oldendorf) and "LUN" (Luneberg) identifications. I looked it up, these two West German cities are about 80 miles apart in NorthWest Germany. Interesting? Thanks againg everybody......pecolajeep.......

 

[cxm]

I"d guess the Old is for Oldenburg, not Oldendorf... not sure there is an Oldendorf... but could be... but Oldenburg is a fair size city...

FWIW

Chuck

Yes my origonal thread was getting pretty far afield. Thanks for the info on the "OLD" (Oldendorf) and "LUN" (Luneberg) identifications. I looked it up, these two West German cities are about 80 miles apart in NorthWest Germany. Interesting? Thanks againg everybody......pecolajeep.......

 

[TomcatPC]

Sorry for high-jacking this topic.
Mark