Date and info request

[541T]

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Traded into this yesterday. Young man posted on a local trading board. I gave a M&P gen 1 in 9mm. It had the black grips on it that were falling apart and very dry sticky, my hands were black when I got home, so I put the only other K frame grips I had in it for now.

It’s a 38 special, K Frame, 5- screw, 2.5 inch barrel. It has a plugged lanyard hole. I’ll post pics and see what y’all can tell me.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

I hope you didn't have much invested in your 9mm trade gun. You now have a WW II era British Service Revolver (BSR) that was originally chambered in .38 S&W, which is different from .38 special. It probably shipped with a 5" barrel and the barrel has been cut down.

The cylinder has been rechambered to .38 Special. Since the original chambers are larger, fired brass may swell and at times, split.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[541T]

Thank you sir. I’ve been a long time lurker here, never had anything to contribute or question til now.

 

[quinn]

Welcome aboard! That looks like a WWII BSR vicoty with a cut barrel. Cylinder may have been reamed to accept 38 special as it should originally have been 38/200 (38 s&w). BSR is a British Service Revolver or lend/lease.

 

[541T]

Welcome aboard! That looks like a WWII BSR vicoty with a cut barrel. Cylinder may have been reamed to accept 38 special as it should originally have been 38/200 (38 s&w). BSR is a British Service Revolver or lend/lease.

Sir as an effort to understand and educate myself, can you tell me why you say that, not that I doubt, but I have no clue and I’m having a hard time w some of the things I turned up in my search.

 

[541T]

Welcome to the Forum.

I hope you didn't have much invested in your 9mm trade gun. You now have a WW II era British Service Revolver (BSR) that was originally chambered in .38 S&W, which is different from .38 special. It probably shipped with a 5" barrel and the barrel has been cut down.

The cylinder has been rechambered to .38 Special. Since the original chambers are larger, fired brass may swell and at times, split.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I actually didn’t I had traded an old Rossi model 88 for it.

 

[JP@AK]

British Service Revolver or lend/lease.

I seriously doubt it was a L/L unit. We cannot see the full serial number, but the lack of a property stamp on the top strap is an indicator, as well as the location of the "flaming bomb."

It is almost certainly an early British contract BSR, which has been modified as noted above.

 

[quinn]

After the war, many of the BSRs were turned into "snubbies" for the American market and sold very inexpensively here. The missing lug for the muzzle end of the ejector rod is what keyed me to my analysis. I have owned a few of these. As it was very easy to lengthen the cylinder shell space to allow the longer 38 special, it was a nice inexpensive carry gun.

This is not to say that it is definely not a shortened model of 1905. Otheres, here, with better eyesight can probably give you a postive identification.

 

[541T]

Full serial number is in this pic.

 

[JP@AK]

Serial number 751984 confirms what I stated above. This BSR was probably produced in the first half of 1941.

 

[bigggbbruce]

From the S&W 4th edition.

 

[Retired W4]

As quinn said, the lack of the lug below the barrel is the big red flag for a cut barrel. I've seen them sell around here for $250 lately.

 

[cgt4570]

The only interest I would ever have in putting one of these atrocities in my safe is the fact that it's similar to the model that Oswald supposedly used to shoot the Dallas cop in the theater after the JFK assassination. I see fools pay hundreds for them at auction because they haven't educated themselves enough to see that the under barrel locking lug is missing or that the front sight has been soldered on over the patent stamps. I might give $200 for a very nice example based on the LHO/JFK connection, but would never dare shoot one. If reamed from .38 S&W to .38 Special, the brass will swell and likely split, making it unusable for reloads. The difference in bore diameter (.357 vs .360) would make accuracy virtually impossible.
When these were released by the Brits, modified like yours, then dumped on the US market in the 1950s, they sold for $20-25 in the backs of gun magazines.

 

[toddimusnimski]

You traded into a piece of WW2 history that was frequently used for concealed carry back in the day. 38 special ammo is readily available; just be aware of the split case likelihood as others have mentioned. Avoid +P loads and Welcome to the Forum!

Todd

 

[mtgianni]

Sir as an effort to understand and educate myself, can you tell me why you say that, not that I doubt, but I have no clue and I’m having a hard time w some of the things I turned up in my search.

A plugged lanyard hole for me would be the biggest indicator, as mentioned also the lack of a lug.

 

[Muley Gil]

Sir as an effort to understand and educate myself, can you tell me why you say that, not that I doubt, but I have no clue and I’m having a hard time w some of the things I turned up in my search.

The first clue is the cut barrel and an unsecured ejector rod. Many of these BSRs still have the "38 S&W CTG" marking on the barrel. A soldered on front sight is another indicator, especially a tinny looking ramp sight. Some will be stamped on the frame ".38 special".

A check of the chambers will show two "rings", one for the original .38 S&W chambering and then a second "ring" closer to the front of the cylinder. This second "ring" is where the cylinder was reamed for the .38 special cartridges.

 

[541T]

Man gentlemen, this has all been good info and thank y’all for sharing it. Am fighting being disappointed in the fact that is been modified. I love the history as I am a big WWII history guy. That part is very cool. I’m going to shoot it and see how it does. Bottom line is, it’s is still a cool older S&W revolver and mechanically it is in fine shape. So I’ll shoot it and see about cases afterwards.

 

[541T]

I put about 75 rds through it this evening, two cracked cases and the remainder were only slightly deformed. Shot as accurate as any Smith I have. I’ll keep it and only shoot standard pressure through it. Has a sweet double action trigger.

 

[Legendarylawman]

I would get some 38S&W ammo for it and shoot it again. You will like it. A bit less recoil.

I would own it,

Carl

 

[bpd303]

Not all WWII BSR revolvers were only chambered for 38S&W aka 38/200 I happen to have 2 that are chambered for 38S&W special.
One is a cut down and the other is unmolested but all the British markings.
Hand Ejector model 1905 4th change. BSR unmolested. The barrel is serial numbered to the frame 6870XX




Then the 38 special Victory model Serial number V38423 chambered in 38 S&W Special, molested but still shoots good.

 

[bpd303]

Oswald supposedly used to shoot the Dallas cop in the theater after the JFK assassination

That Cop has a name Officer J.D. Tippit Dallas P.D.

 

[Muley Gil]

Not all WWII BSR revolvers were only chambered for 38S&W aka 38/200 I happen to have 2 that are chambered for 38S&W special.
One is a cut down and the other is unmolested but all the British markings.
Hand Ejector model 1905 4th change. BSR unmolested. The barrel is serial numbered to the frame 6870XX
View attachment 873703
View attachment 873704
View attachment 873705

Then the 38 special Victory model Serial number V38423 chambered in 38 S&W Special, molested but still shoots good. Neither revolver will chamber the 38S&W
View attachment 873707
View attachment 873708

bpd303, what is the caliber marking on the side of the barrel of the blue revolver in post #20? On my monitor, it looks .38 S&W, not .38 SPECIAL.

 

[bpd303]

bpd303, what is the caliber marking on the side of the barrel of the blue revolver in post #20? On my monitor, it looks .38 S&W, not .38 SPECIAL.

You are absolutely correct, my bad.
I just had to dig it out and check it is chambered for 38S&W or 38/200 the 38 special will not chamber.
Now all I have to do is find the right other BSR that is chambered for the 38 spec.
My mistake, I had this one entered in my inventory as a 38 Spec not 38 S&W The other BSR that was chambered for 38 spec. I traded it off years ago and I don't have any pictures of that one, but it's barrel was not chopped off..

 

[bpd303]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle.
I just checked the Victory model and it was also originally chambered for the S&W 38 and re-bored for the S&W 38 special. I have shot hundreds of 38 special's through it and never had a case split or bulged, hence the thought it was chambered for the spec and not the S&W 38. I took a S&W38 and it dropped right in the chamber. If it was chambered for the special the 38/200 would not go in as they are slightly larger in diameter.
S&W 38 38/200 is 0.3865
S&W 38 special is 0.379
It is the original cylinder as it is serial numbered to the base serial number. Whom ever rechambered it did a smooth job, no tell tale step for a chamber reamer makes.
A thread I started about it.

Thread 'Victory Model with modified cylinder to accept S&W Special cartridges.'

Mar 9, 2026

I posted in another tread about how I acquired this M&P Victory model revolver. The chambers have been reamed to use 38 S&W special ammo. It is either chrome or nickle plated and has some holster wear because when I joined the PD, my chief was carrying it on duty. Needless to say several trades later and it was mine.
It is serial number V38xxx the crane and frame is stamped 85989 with a V above the number. Any thoughts on it, I have owned it since 2010.

• bpd303
• Replies: 24
• Forum: S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961

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[JD3006]

I like guns with history. Your snubby was manufactured by Smith and Wesson to support the British war effort, then traveled overseas as evidenced by the British proof marks. We can only imagine what its wartime service was, it was then decommissioned sold and modified for sale back in America. Where has it been for the last 70 years?
I like it!
I'm glad you were able to shoot and enjoy that old war dog.