Canadian S&W pre-Victory Revolver

[MGWLLW]

Just picked up a S&W pre-Victory revolver with a 6" barrel & Canadian markings. It is all-original & matching, with an excellent barrel. On the downside, it only has about 60% of it's factory finish left and has an import mark. It came in a holster with a 1941 date stamped on the inside. From everything that I've read, this gun was probably produced in late '41 to early '42. If it shoots anything like my British lend-lease S&W revolver (5" barrel), I should be happy with it!

I do have a question, though:

What is the significance (or lack thereof) of the second broad arrow that appears on the right sideplate, just above the trigger? Most Canadian guns that I've seen just have a single marking on the left sideplate, above the grip. Could that second marking signify service with another Commonwealth country? It looks Canadian, but I'm not sure.

 

[MGWLLW]

More pictures

 

[MGWLLW]

Final three pictures

 

[hsguy]

Nice looking gun, the Canadians seemed to prefer the 6" guns. Both markings look like the standard Canada markings and I don't think the second mark on the sideplate indicates service in another country. I have a Canadian gun that is also marked on the backstrap with a unit number and wonder if yours has a similar marking? The gun is also has an additional caliber marking on the barrel. The gun should shoot very well, my 6" Canadian gun is a pleasure to shoot. Welcome to the forum and thanks for the good photos.

 

[MGWLLW]

Nice looking gun, the Canadians seemed to prefer the 6" guns. Both markings look like the standard Canada markings and I don't think the second mark on the sideplate indicates service in another country. I have a Canadian gun that is also marked on the backstrap with a unit number and wonder if yours has a similar marking? The gun is also has an additional caliber marking on the barrel. The gun should shoot very well, my 6" Canadian gun is a pleasure to shoot. Welcome to the forum and thanks for the good photos.

No, my gun is not unit-marked on the backstrap, nor does it have any additional markings on the barrel. I really love shooting .38 S&W, as it's light & accurate. And I particularly like the 5" & 6" barrels that are predominantly found in the Commonwealth examples.

Thanks for the reply!

Mike

 

[opoefc]

Mike, There's no particular significance to the extra Canadian stamp on the right side plate. Stuff happens! I note the Import Stamp was applied under the barrel. A nice effort by the importer to not deface a visible part of the gun. Ed.

 

[Waidmann]

I have never seen a sideplate Arrow C before, only butts or on the right side. The .38/.380 was used to signify the gun was chambered to .38 S&W/.38-200/.380 MK II, I don't believe this was long-lived. It was also used to mark .38 Specials converted to .38-200.

 

[DWalt]

From the SN, it likely shipped in May or June 1941, so it matches the holster.