Family heirloom

lasertacdef

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First, hello to all members.

First photo is my father, fought in the Pacific including the Battle of the Phillipine Sea. Second is of the S&W he "scrounged" (his word) and restored in the field. It was rusted with no grips and being a bit of an amateur gunsmith he fabricated the grips from Plexiglass that came from a downed zero. It looks like at one time it had a lanyard as there is a hole in the butt. Heres the kicker...what is NOT on the butt is a serial number. Every other stamping including the logo is crisp, and it does not look like the strap was filed down much. Ive gone through the threads on serial numbers etc...and at some point Ill probably have an attorney deal with it. Given that there was apparently a lanyard at one point, any chance of identifying a period for the age?

Thanks in advance



rs=h:175,m

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First, hello to all members.

First photo is my father, fought in the Pacific including the Battle of the Phillipine Sea. Second is of the S&W he "scrounged" (his word) and restored in the field. It was rusted with no grips and being a bit of an amateur gunsmith he fabricated the grips from Plexiglass that came from a downed zero. It looks like at one time it had a lanuard as there is a hole in the butt. Heres the kicker...what is NOT on the butt is a serial number. Every other stamping including the logo is crisp, and it does not look like the strap was filed down much. Ive gone through the threads on serial numbers etc...and at some point Ill probably have an attorney deal with it. Given that there was apparently a lanuard at one point, any chance of identifying a period for the age?

Thanks in advance QUOTE]


Welcome to the Forum. There is a "sticky" about posting pictures. Not too hard to do.

As to the SN, it should be on the bottom of the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder and a couple other places but you can check those and with it we may be able to tell you more.

Lots of military guns had the SNs on the butt removed, especially those with US Property stamps. Not sure what folks who did that were thinking given that the SNs appear in several other places on the guns. Happens though and they still turn up. Technically a problem for the ATF folks but they've got better things to do (we hope) than worry about SNs on old military pieces.

Grips made from plexiglass during WWII show up occasionally. Any pictures with your Dad and the gun or other provenance? Many we see are 38 S&W or 38 Special Victory models, many converted from 38 S&W to 38 Special. Could be a 1917 though; what is the caliber.

Again, welcome to the Forum. Lots of good information and folks willing to share it here.

Edit: I can see the pictures now.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
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I only see two tiny pics...We need larger more detailed photos...Show us the bottom of the barrel flat, the rear face of the cylinder, both sides of the grip frame with the grips off and the butt where the S/N should be...And welcome to the forum...:D...Ben
 
Impossible to tell from the photo but with a lanyard hole, most likely it's a Victory from the 1942-45 time period or 1917 Army from earlier. Look closely on the back of the cylinder, the back of the ejector star and the ejector housing for numbers. Look for a tiny ordinance stamp. Look for any sign of government property - it could be several including USA. The serial number might have been ground off the bottom of the frame, where the lanyard hole is and parts may still be visible.


First, hello to all members.

First photo is my father, fought in the Pacific including the Battle of the Phillipine Sea. Second is of the S&W he "scrounged" (his word) and restored in the field. It was rusted with no grips and being a bit of an amateur gunsmith he fabricated the grips from Plexiglass that came from a downed zero. It looks like at one time it had a lanuard as there is a hole in the butt. Heres the kicker...what is NOT on the butt is a serial number. Every other stamping including the logo is crisp, and it does not look like the strap was filed down much. Ive gone through the threads on serial numbers etc...and at some point Ill probably have an attorney deal with it. Given that there was apparently a lanyard at one point, any chance of identifying a period for the age?

Thanks in advance



rs=h:175,m

rs=h:175,m
 
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Thanks to all for the responses! Had a bit of problem with photos, had to move to a better server. Will look in all places mentioned for additional numbering and if the sun ever comes out here will take additional detailed photos . Caliber is .38 S&W.
 
Thanks to all for the responses! Had a bit of problem with photos, had to move to a better server. Will look in all places mentioned for additional numbering and if the sun ever comes out here will take additional detailed photos . Caliber is .38 S&W.

What unit was your father in? Is his picture from WWII or later, 1950s or 1960s.
 
What unit was your father in? Is his picture from WWII or later, 1950s or 1960s.

US Army WWII. He wrote it all down in a big photo book, has a photo of his platoon on the plane he took the plexiglass from. Kept his discharge papers and even a letter from the War Department inviting him to "Make a career in the Army":D Have to dig it all out of storage one of these days. All I remember off the top of my head was Infantry attached to a Railhead Battalion, that he was a DM, and his uniit was scheduled to be one of the first to land if the invasion of Japan had gone forward. Part of the occupational forces, my Aunt still has a tea set he sent back. Also brought back a Type 99 Arisaka and Bayonet .
 
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Had scanned these for my aunt but no unit information unfortunately. I do remember he acquired the S&W in the Phillipines. The letter from the War Department is classic. Right address...wrong middle Initial. :D
 
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If it has a 5" barrel (measured from the front face of the cylinder) and is caliber stamped 38 S&W CTG on the barrel, as it appears to be, it is highly likely to be a British Service Revolver, or BSR. .38 S&W ammunition is somewhat difficult to find these days. Not the same as .38 S&W Special. A bit unusual to find a BSR in the PTO, but certainly possible.

Fieldmade plexiglass grips were fairly common findings at gun shows years ago, not so much today. Often seen with a photo of a wife or girlfriend beneath, so they were called "Sweetheart Grips."
 
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If it has a 5" barrel (measured from the front face of the cylinder) and is caliber stamped 38 S&W CTG on the barrel, as it appears to be, it is highly likely to be a British Service Revolver, or BSR. .38 S&W ammunition is somewhat difficult to find these days. Not the same as .38 S&W Special. A bit unusual to find a BSR in the PTO, but certainly possible.

Fieldmade plexiglass grips were fairly common findings at gun shows years ago, not so much today. Often seen with a photo of a wife or girlfriend beneath, so they were called "Sweetheart Grips."

Thank you very much and great information! Ammunition was indeed tough to source, found a box at an old gun store in the middle of the Nevada Desert..and more recently found an online supplier. Purchased a few boxes to have on hand. I was a bit hesitant to fire it at first..but cylinders tight no signs it is shaving lead etc..actually groups great at 20yds.
 
US Army WWII.

... and his uniit was scheduled to be one of the first to land if the invasion of Japan had gone forward. Part of the occupational forces, my Aunt still has a tea set he sent back. Also brought back a Type 99 Arisaka and Bayonet .

On his Service Cap I don't recognize the insignia.

The youngest of my Uncles was drafted and was on the way to invade Japan when the Atomic Bomb was dropped. He did two years of Occupation Duty in Japan. The others were in the Philippines or in Germany.

My Father in Law send back two Arisaka rifles.
 
On his Service Cap I don't recognize the insignia.

The youngest of my Uncles was drafted and was on the way to invade Japan when the Atomic Bomb was dropped. He did two years of Occupation Duty in Japan. The others were in the Philippines or in Germany.

My Father in Law send back two Arisaka rifles.

I didnt recognize it either and couldnt find a reference. Plus it looks like hes wearing a white shirt and black tie instead of standard blouse and tie..I suspect this was taken after the war. Asked a bunch of vets online and they nailed the insignia. Its a Bandsman insignia which makes perfect sense. I pulled his enlistment, and he enlisted June '41 . I knew he was in the band at Camp Callan, and when Pearl Harbor was bombed, looks like was reassigned to the 43rd Infantry Division. Before I kick off too, I need to pull his AGO Form 53-55 and get all the details, regiment etc so my Grandsons have the history.
 
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