I just bought my first S&W. The top strap is marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY. By the lanyard there is a W B and a flaming bomb. The barrel, cylinder and frame have matching #s.(911015). On the back strap there is an N Z and some more #s that don't match anything (3 66 7). Lastly there is a very very light mark under the barrel that I cann't read. I am new to the .38 S&W. Can you use .38 spl. dies for reloading? Any reloading help you be great.
Help with .38 S&W
- Thread starter skywagon
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I just bought my first S&W. The top strap is marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY. By the lanyard there is a W B and a flaming bomb. The barrel, cylinder and frame have matching #s.(911015). On the back strap there is an N Z and some more #s that don't match anything (3 66 7). Lastly there is a very very light mark under the barrel that I cann't read. I am new to the .38 S&W. Can you use .38 spl. dies for reloading? Any reloading help you be great.
digi-shots
Member
Skywagon,
Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like your "first" S&W is a nice one... and a little unusual !
It's a "Lend Lease" .38 S&W that was shipped to New Zealand (N.Z.) and the 4 digit numbers, I believe, are rack numbers applied by New Zealand troops.
These New Zealand S&W's don't turn up very often and highly sought after by collectors. I let one slip through my fingers here recently and I'm still kicking myself.
There should be some more knowlegeable folks here soon that will give you a little more info.
My guess is that it was shipped in early 1942.
Post some pics if you can!
Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like your "first" S&W is a nice one... and a little unusual !
It's a "Lend Lease" .38 S&W that was shipped to New Zealand (N.Z.) and the 4 digit numbers, I believe, are rack numbers applied by New Zealand troops.
These New Zealand S&W's don't turn up very often and highly sought after by collectors. I let one slip through my fingers here recently and I'm still kicking myself.
There should be some more knowlegeable folks here soon that will give you a little more info.
My guess is that it was shipped in early 1942.
Post some pics if you can!
Congratulations! I have one of the NZ Victory Models and have been very pleased. These guns are great shooters, although there's probably some variability based on an individual guns history.
The .38 S&W is a different cartridge from the .38 Special - the dies and brass are not interchangeable. I reload the .38 S&W with Lee dies (very reasonably priced and readily available). The nominal groove diameter of this cartridge is .360, but I've used a variety of .358 bullets without any problem. I've used bullet weights from 125 to 200 grains. Loading data is available in the current editions of the Speer and Lyman manuals.
One of my favorite loads for the Victory model is the Hornady 148 grain HBWC with 2.5 grains of Bullseye and an overall length of 1.11 inches. This load looks a bit weird because the bullet is only half seated into the case (unlike .38 Special WC's), but it's very accurate in my gun. The hollow base expands on firing to fill the .360 groove diameter.
New brass is available from Starline or you can buy some factory ammo to generate brass.
There have been many threads on reloading this cartridge in the Reloading Forum of this site - just do a search. One last thing - make sure your gun hasn't been converted to .38 Special. Some of these were poorly done and may not be safe to shoot.
The .38 S&W is a different cartridge from the .38 Special - the dies and brass are not interchangeable. I reload the .38 S&W with Lee dies (very reasonably priced and readily available). The nominal groove diameter of this cartridge is .360, but I've used a variety of .358 bullets without any problem. I've used bullet weights from 125 to 200 grains. Loading data is available in the current editions of the Speer and Lyman manuals.
One of my favorite loads for the Victory model is the Hornady 148 grain HBWC with 2.5 grains of Bullseye and an overall length of 1.11 inches. This load looks a bit weird because the bullet is only half seated into the case (unlike .38 Special WC's), but it's very accurate in my gun. The hollow base expands on firing to fill the .360 groove diameter.
New brass is available from Starline or you can buy some factory ammo to generate brass.
There have been many threads on reloading this cartridge in the Reloading Forum of this site - just do a search. One last thing - make sure your gun hasn't been converted to .38 Special. Some of these were poorly done and may not be safe to shoot.
The only way to ascertain the shipping date is a factory letter from Roy Jinks. It's only $30.
The WB on the butt is the Ordnance inspector's stamp - Waldomar Broberg.
The stamp on the underside of the barrel is most likely an import stamp - Navy Arms, probably.
JT
The WB on the butt is the Ordnance inspector's stamp - Waldomar Broberg.
The stamp on the underside of the barrel is most likely an import stamp - Navy Arms, probably.
JT
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