I have a .38 handed down from my Dad that I would like to know more about. It has no visible model name or number but I believe it may have been a British Naval Officers side arm. It has the letters BNP stamped on the cylinder, 5 in. barrel and frame as well. It also has a lanyard ring on the grip base. The grips have been replaced by my Dad with home made deer antler material.Serial # is7477xx. Any info would be appreciated. Thanx all ................Boog
Age of my s&w
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enfield
US Veteran
It appears to be a.38/200 British Service Revolver, 1940-1944 range, probably closer to 1944.
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Thanks Enfield, would "200" be the model? I actually thought it to be a little older, perhaps the first war............Boog
Jack Flash
Member
"BNP" is an English proof mark, meaning "Birmingham Nitro Proof" -- ie, it was proofed at the Royal Armory in Birmingham, England.
".38/200" is the British designation for the cartridge which is called ".38 S&W" here in the States. Please note that this is a different cartridge than the ".38 S&W Special". It's easy to confuse the two.
Adding to the confusion, S&W made the same basic revolver chambered in .38 Special for use by the US military. It gets worse. Many .38 S&Ws were imported into the US after the war and were converted to .38 Special to enhance their appeal in the American market.
".38/200" is the British designation for the cartridge which is called ".38 S&W" here in the States. Please note that this is a different cartridge than the ".38 S&W Special". It's easy to confuse the two.
Adding to the confusion, S&W made the same basic revolver chambered in .38 Special for use by the US military. It gets worse. Many .38 S&Ws were imported into the US after the war and were converted to .38 Special to enhance their appeal in the American market.
Very interesting JF, thanx forthat.This one has not been modified, it is a .38 standard.
enfield
US Veteran
It's a Model K-200.
Thanx again Enfield. I forgot to mention that an "acquaintance" of mine offered to "clean" it up a bit about 20 yrs. ago and when I got it back he had completely buffed all the original bluing off of it. I would prefer to have it reblued but am wondering what harm he may have done to the various fits and contours of the piece. It is a pretty good shooter as far as I can tell. I am no "Wyatt Earp" but can manage 6 rounds in about a 10 in. group at 25 yds. free hand. It has a real nice "pop" to it.
Maybe you were too busy shooting your 38!?
MrG5122
Member
Your Dad did a great job on those grips. Nice!
"...it is a .38 standard"
What do you consider a .38 standard? Is that the short, fat cartridge stamped ".38 S&W" or the more common round stamped ".38 Special"?
What do you consider a .38 standard? Is that the short, fat cartridge stamped ".38 S&W" or the more common round stamped ".38 Special"?
Wrong wording....it is .38 S&W.....................Daniel
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