Help ID my FIL's gun- Might be a 64-x 5 screw?

[Jerry-Rigged]

Howdy gang-

I inherited a gun from my FIL, and am trying to buy a new grip. I though it was a 64-x, K/L, but I am not sure. I have seen some pics on line of 64-x's that look close, but there is always small differences.

The info -
(no model on yoke, only the assembly #)
1-Hand ejector
2 - SN - No letters, 729xxx
3 - 38 S&W (not special)
4 - Barrel - 2.75"
5 - fixed sights

Also, 5 screw, no butt swivel or lanyard ring. (Edit - lanyard cut off - ring is visible on butt)

Also, it is marked 38 S&W, but 38 spl fit and fire. FIL told me he even shot 357 out of it a few times, and never shot 38S&W. Gun guys I work with tell me that this should be impossible, as 38spl won't fit in a 38 S&W and the gun will probably explode with higher power cartridges...

Help?

Let me know if you need any more info, and Hopefully pics work-

Jerry

 

[MajorD]

Looks to be a chopped and refinished old British service revolver which were so modified when imported back to the U.S. in the 50’s/60’s. It was also common to deepen the chambers to allow common 38 special to fire in them. I would DEFINITELY NOT fire 357 even if it fits.
Yes it is a standard K frame

 

[JP@AK]

Welcome to the S&W Forum, Jerry.

The Model 64 is a stainless steel revolver and they all had three screw frames.

MajorD has correctly identified your carbon steel revolver. It is a relatively early British Service Revolver that has been modified and refinished in nickel. The stocks are aftermarket also.

 

[Jerry-Rigged]

Thanks guys!

I did know that it was carbon steel with nickel plating, but I didn't know that SS was a part of the 64 spec. Never though someone would nickel plate a gun that was purchased as blued gun.

I googled British Service Revolvers (BSRs?) and noticed they all seem to have lanyards, where mine does not. Then I saw a thread here where someone was showing some BSRs with the lanyard cut off. I checked mine again, and sure enough, under the nickel platting is a ring, right where the lanyard should be.

Also, I see a lot of chatter about other markings on BSRs for which military branch purchased / accepted them, and my gun does not have any of these marks. So maybe it never left the crate, or was delivered after the war ended? In a thread on serial numbers, there was info that lead me to think this gun may have been manufactured around 1940 or 41.

Also also, I have not see any BSRs with short 2.75" barrels, (am I measuring it wrong?). Would this have been swapped as part of the 38SPL conversion? But if so, why swap in a barrel marked 38S&W? odd...

Thanks again!

Jerry

 

[JP@AK]

They did not swap the barrel. They cut it and re-attached the front sight.

The swivel hole has been plugged. That was a common modification.

 

[MajorD]

A BSR. With that early S/N would have been delivered when Britain was desperate for just about anything to defend against an imminent German invasion so it just didn’t sit in a crate. Most guns of this era were not unit marked or anything. Often AFTER the guns were released from British service, they were, in accordance with British laws, “proofed” - fired with a heavily charged round to ensure safety, then marked as such. They will often also sometimes have “ sold out of service” marks among other marks but this would vary greatly from gun to gun. If your ruler in the one photo is any indication the barrel looks. To be roughly 3&1/4-3&1/2 inches, as you ensure barrel length from front of cylinder not where the barrel exits the front of the frame.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Barrels are measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.

 

[cmansguns]

Welcome to the Forum from Virginia,

Your gun is most assuredly a BSR (British Service Revolver) from the 1940-1941 Lend Lease but the British proof marks are as said above after the War when the guns were made available commercially. Originally chambered for the 38-200 cartridge (not 38 Special) but if a 38 Special chambers then it has been reamed out. ALL of these guns originally shipped with 5" barrels, so yours has been cut and it appears not really recrowned that well, and of course refinished.

Below are 5 pics of what your gun originally looked like. The first one I am posting is 5 pics of serial number 888081. It was returned to the USA at some point. Please note this gun has all of the British proofs. The next 5 pics are of serial number 337660 and this one has no British proofs whatsoever because it was given to a friend of mines Father-In-Law who was US Navy and commanded a LST off Normandy Coast during the D-Day invasion June 1944 by a wounded British officer who was very happy to be evacuated on this LST. It came back to the USA in a US Navy sea-bag and remains in my friends family to this day.

 

[cmansguns]

pics of serial number 337660

 

[reddog81]

Are the serial number on the barrel flat and cylinder the same as on the frame? It’s not too hard to swap out a barrel or a cylinder. It was common to chop the barrels down for the US market and ream the cylinder out for .38 Special. It take an extra second or 2 to of reaming to get to .357 length