.38 Colt New Police

[Col Defender]

Hi

A local dealer has some OLD boxes of Winchester .38 Colt New Police. He says it is identical to .38 S&W. Anyone know for sure??

Thanks

Steve

 

[Col Defender]

Hi

A local dealer has some OLD boxes of Winchester .38 Colt New Police. He says it is identical to .38 S&W. Anyone know for sure??

Thanks

Steve

 

[smith17]

He is correct.
Ed

 

[BreakerDan]

He is correct.

38 Colt New Police and 38 S&W are the same.

Historically, the bullet points were different with 38 S&W being roundnose and 38 Colt NP had a flat nose. Other than that, they are identical and completely interchangeable.

 

[Gatofeo]

If they are full boxes, and older than say 30 years, it would be a shame to shoot them.
They have some value to cartridge collectors, especially if they are full boxes in very good shape.
Typically, flaps get torn from countless looky-loos opening the boxes to see the cartridges, then slamming the flaps back in. This affects value.
But if those boxes are full, and have little wear and no tears or obscuring scuffs, they may be collectibles.
If nothing else, if you have a pistol that shoots such ammo, you could display the boxes as conversation pieces. Just don't display the gun with the boxes; a thief would be all set, then.
And today, even if someone breaks into your house, you'll still have Hell to pay if they found ammo with your gun and then shot or killed someone.
God help you if it's a "child," which is defined as anyone under 18 -- except by Handgun Control Inc., which years ago got caught skewing its statistics by establishing a "child" as anyone under 21!
I'm sure that came as quite a shock to the 20-year-old Lance Corporal!

 

[Col Defender]

Originally posted by Gatofeo:
If they are full boxes, and older than say 30 years, it would be a shame to shoot them.
They have some value to cartridge collectors, especially if they are full boxes in very good shape.

The same dealer has a M&P US Army issue revolver, vintage WWII. If I buy the revolver I'll buy some of his ammo. Is the ammo collectible or just the boxes? I ask because I could shoot the ammo and save the boxes???

Steve

 

[smith17]

Steve:
It really depends on how old and what the design is of the box. I have picked up some going back to the early 20s (and maybe a bit earlier) for under $20 per box which is cheaper than you can buy current production ammo. A typical box from the 20s - 40s might bring 5-10 dollars and double that if ammo is in it. If you buy your boxes for 10 dollars apiece, you probably won;t get rich selling it down the road. My ignorant opinion.
Ed