38 M&P Model 1905, 4th change. With unusual markings

[Long Branch Setter]

I picked up what I believe to be a Model 1905 38 M&P , 4th change. Ser # 439XXX. Gun was not in good shape outside and I paid 125.00, figured it would be a project this winter for a truck gun.
Started to get the rust off and noticed two stamps I can’t find any information on. I appreciate any info people may be able to provide.
I appreciate being here as I love the old S&W revolvers.

 

[DARE]

380 MK II sounds British to me. Is the gun .38 S&W or is it .38 S&W Special?
I'm thinking if .38 S&W you may have a British Service Revolver. A lot of those guns wound up in police service in Europe after WWII. The other mark might be German or Austrian. Something to do with where it was used after the war. If the serial number is 439216 I am probably wrong.

 

[Timothy2700]

We call Austria “Austria”.
Austrians call their country “Osterreich”. So marked for Austrian Police.

 

[Long Branch Setter]

The barrel is marked 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG on the right side and SMITH & WESSON on the left side. It’s a 5 screw frame with MADE IN USA on right side bottom in front of the trigger. Left side of frame has the two stamps with S&W logo behind the trigger. Thank you for your input.
What puzzles me is the British (?) 380 MKII along with the Austrian or German (?) OSTERREICH POLIZE surrounding an eagle just below the hammer.
Any idea as to a manufacture date.

 

[Truckman]

It looks like a BSR that was repurposed to the Austrian Police... ...Ben

 

[Long Branch Setter]

We call Austria “Austria”.
Austrians call their country “Osterreich”. So marked for Austrian Police.

Great info. Thank you.

 

[Truckman]

The barrel is marked 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG on the right side

It may have been rebarreled at some point......Ben

EDIT: Check the flat under the barrel for a different serial number...

 

[Long Branch Setter]

It looks like a BSR that was repurposed to the Austrian Police... ...Ben

Excuse my ignorance. BSR is British Service Revolver?

 

[Truckman]

Excuse my ignorance. BSR is British Service Revolver?

Yessir......Ben

 

[Long Branch Setter]

It may have been rebarreled at some point......Ben

EDIT: Check the flat under the barrel for a different serial number...

Serial number under the barrel matches the one on the butt.

 

[Truckman]

Serial number under the barrel matches the one on the butt.

Not likely to be a BSR then...Will the cylinder chamber a .38 S&W (.38-200)?...Is there a S/N on the back of the cylinder?... ...Ben

 

[Long Branch Setter]

Not likely to be a BSR then...Will the cylinder chamber a .38 S&W (.38-200)?...Is there a S/N on the back of the cylinder?... ...Ben

Yes, cylinder ser # matches the ser # on the butt and bottom barrel flat. A 38 Special cartridge drops right in the cylinder. Inside of the barrel is bright a shinny, no rust. Mechanically perfect and tight. Don’t think it’s seen many rounds.
Outside was rough, lots of rust but no deep pits.

 

[DARE]

If you shared the serial number we might be able to help you more.
For instance, I think the British Service Revolver serial numbers were 680000 or higher.

 

[Long Branch Setter]

If you shared the serial number we might be able to help you more.

Sorry I thought it was in my original post. Ser # is 439216. Could it possibly be an early 1920’s gun sold to the Austrian police, captured by the British and repurposed after WW1? Just a wild guess on my part. The Standard catalog of S&W shows a range of 241704 - 1000000 with manufacture dates of 1915-1942.
Since it’s marked 38 S&W Special and a cartridge drops perfectly in the cylinder would a 38 S&W Long and 38/200 also work in it?

Edit: The S&W catalog also says the square butt version is scarce which is what I think this one is.

 

[Truckman]

Now it sounds like the .380 MKII is a mismarking...Providing the S/N might narrow it down as David suggested... ...Ben

 

[JP@AK]

The S&W catalog also says the square butt version is scarce which is what I think this one is.

That is simply an error that showed up in the 4th Edition. In fact, the reverse is true. The round butt version was less common in the 1920s.

 

[Long Branch Setter]

Now it sounds like the .380 MKII is a mismarking...Providing the S/N might narrow it down as David suggested... ...Ben

439216

 

[DARE]

Your gun is not a British Service Revolver. You said has Made in USA on the right side. That was added in 1922 at around serial number 405000. Your number not that much higher so I would guess your gun around 1925. No telling how it ended up with the Austrian Police.
I have a .38 M&P that shipped to an importer in Hamburg, Germany in 1913. Has German proof marks.

 

[Goony]

This is a good "mystery" revolver. The serial number is well outside the range of those typically furnished to the Austrian police following WWII. The .380 Rimmed Mk II (FMJ 178g bullets, and dimensionally the same as the U.S. .38 S&W round) was the standard British/Commonwealth revolver cartridge from 1937 onward. While we have all seen BSR's commercially converted to .38 Special, I don't recall seeing an M&P rechambered in the other direction. I'd very much want to know if a .38 S&W cartridge fits in the cylinder.

 

[Long Branch Setter]

This is a good "mystery" revolver. The serial number is well outside the range of those typically furnished to the Austrian police following WWII. The .380 Rimmed Mk II (FMJ 178g bullets, and dimensionally the same as the U.S. .38 S&W round) was the standard British/Commonwealth revolver cartridge from 1937 onward. While we have all seen BSR's commercially converted to .38 Special, I don't recall seeing an M&P rechambered in the other direction. I'd very much want to know if a .38 S&W cartridge fits in the cylinder.

I’ll see if I can find a 38 S&W round to try. As I said earlier the 38 S&W Special drops right in. I’m going to do some research but thought the 38 S&W was just a shorter version of the 38 S&W Special. Am I mistaken?

You don’t know how much I appreciated everyone’s input. Thank you again. These old handguns are a hobby for me, every time I hold one I wish it could tell me its story.