.38 S&W case is shorter, but also larger diameter than .38 Special. A .38 S&W round will usually not chamber in an unmodified .38 Special cylinder.
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38 M&P Model 1905, 4th change. With unusual markings
- Thread starter Long Branch Setter
- Start date
OP
Copy. I’ve gotten an education tonight thanks to y’all. Just finished reading info on the 38 S&W. Now I’m on a hunt for some of that ammo see if it fits. I’m also going to slug the bore and take some measurements.
Is the 38 S&W the same as the 38/200 British round used in the Webley revolver? When I find out one way or the other, I’ll be back.
Actually it is called .380/200 I think, if loaded with a 200 grain bullet. Dimensionally the same as .38 S&W. I think .38 Special uses a .357 diameter bullet. .38 S&W is nominally .361.
I think S&W used the same diameter barrel for either caliber. For instance, during WWII they made .38 M&Ps in .38 S&W for the British and in .38 Special for U. S. forces. Think they used the same barrels except for difference in length. 4-inch barrels for U. S. and 5-inch for the British.
I think S&W used the same diameter barrel for either caliber. For instance, during WWII they made .38 M&Ps in .38 S&W for the British and in .38 Special for U. S. forces. Think they used the same barrels except for difference in length. 4-inch barrels for U. S. and 5-inch for the British.
I'm guessing that this revolver has had the chambers altered to accept the .38 S&W cartridge.
Please post a picture of the cylinder, taken from the rear, so that we can see the inside of the chambers. Look for two "rings" inside.
Please post a picture of the cylinder, taken from the rear, so that we can see the inside of the chambers. Look for two "rings" inside.
DWalt
Member
The .38 S&W cartridge is an early American cartridge design, long preceding the .38 S&W Special. It has a slightly greater case diameter than the .38 S&W Special, and will nearly always not fit into an unaltered .38 S&W Special chamber. It is most definitely NOT a shorter version of the .38 S&W Special. Likewise, a .38 S&W Special cartridge is too long to fit into an unaltered .38 S&W chamber.. It is not unusual to find some .38 S&W revolvers that have been later rechambered to allow .38 S&W Special cartridges to be used in them. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a cartridge called a .38 S&W Long. However there are cartridges called the .38 Long Colt and the .38 Short Colt. Both are dimensionally identical to the .38 S&W Special cartridge except for having shorter case lengths. Both can be used in any revolver chambered for the longer .38 S&W Special cartridge. There was never a cartridge which was officially designated as the .38/200. The British cartridge was designated as either the .380 Revolver Mark 1, which used a 200 grain lead bullet, or the later .380 Revolver, Mark 2, which used a 178 grain jacketed bullet. Both are dimensionally identical to, and interchangeable with, the American .38 S&W cartridge. It is entirely possible, but would be unusual, that your revolver was originally made in .38 S&W Special, and was later rechambered to accept .38 S&W/.380 Revolver cartridges. If a .38 S&W cartridge can easily be chambered in your revolver, it is likely that is what was done.
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OP
Two rings inside the cylinder. 38 S&W round fits perfectly.
OP
It appears the fund was originally made for 38 Special. Anyone know what the service round was for Austrian Police in the 1920’s? I’m guessing it may have went there first as a police service weapon. I don’t think it went to the British and converted bc of the lack of proof marks, Brits love those things.
Somewhere along the line it was given to or became property of the British or a British colony who converted it to 38 S&W. Wild guess I know.
Somewhere along the line it was given to or became property of the British or a British colony who converted it to 38 S&W. Wild guess I know.
Mystery gun for sure. Did she come with stocks ? Smooth or checked?
Looks like she’s all there and ready to go.
Ammo? I’m thinking, ALL of the above!
Lastly is the Butt drilled for a lanyard?
OP
Hard to see the rings. It ‘s converted to 38 S&W.
OP
The 38 S&W cartridge has a slightly larger diameter than the 38 Special. A 38 S&W will not normally chamber in a 38 Special cylinder.
If a live round was head stamped 38 THIS gun would probably fire it and save your life.
Nice gun to have during the time period.
Nice gun to have during the time period.
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