Information on Bavarian Municipal Police revolver

[bhansell]

Hello,

Out of curiosity, I am looking for history on my wife's Bavarian Municipal Police revolver. I've read the "to identify your gun" thread and I'm hoping the below information is what you need:

Serial Number: V 662002 (on butt of the gun and the cylinder)

"Bavarian Municipal Police" on left side of gun.
"MADE IN USA" on right side of gun.
"38 S&W CTG" on barrel
Barrel Length: 5"
Hand ejector fixed sights.

I'm also hoping this is useful information for the "victory database" that I have seen referenced on a few posts. Thank you very much for any information you can provide!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Howdy from South Carolina, and welcome to the forum.

Don't know what you have, except it's upside down.

 

[shouldazagged]

Out of curiosity, was the "Bavarian Municipal Police" inscription in English or German?

 

[thadheth]

It's hard to tell from your photograph if the finish is original. It appears to have been reblued (it would have had a matte original finish). The stocks/grips are not correct - although they are nice diamond magnas. The original stocks/grips would have been smooth walnut, no checkering. There were both .38 S&W and .38 Special variations.

 

[bhansell]

Bavarian Municipal Police is written in English. Thanks for asking!

 

[bhansell]

Thank you all for the good information!

 

[Absalom]

This website is probably the most exhaustive resource on Bavaria and its Allied weapons. The guy's main focus is on the M1 carbines, but there is a section on the Victory models issued to Bavarian police. Occasionally, some limitations in the author's German language ability lead him to misinterpretations (former native speaker here, so I'm qualified to judge ), but generally, he did a very impressive amount of research.

U.S. Carbines in Germany and Austria

Just a few more detail questions about your wife's gun: Have you ever tried to insert a .38 Special load in the chamber? It started its life as a British Service Revolver in .38-200/.38 S&W, as it says on the barrel, but many were converted after becoming surplus post-war. If yours was indeed refinished, there's a chance the conversion happened also. I don't see any other proof marks besides the P on the frame; is the flaming bomb and US PROPERTY G.H.D. on the left top strap still present? If not, it's definitely refinished; there were US Victorys without this marking, but no BSR's in that serial range.

 

[raljr1]

Was your wife a Bavarian police officer?

 

[bhansell]

Thanks for the additional info and website link!

It does say "US Property GHD" on the top. I will check out if a .38 special fits sometime soon. I learned about getting a factory letter from this forum and just sent off for one -- really just because I think it would be cool to have since the weapon has been in the family for some time, and will stay with the family even longer.

Thank you for all the responses!

 

[DWalt]

I learned about getting a factory letter from this forum and just sent off for one -- really just because I think it would be cool to have since the weapon has been in the family for some time, and will stay with the family even longer.

Don't get your hopes up about the letter, as it will not provide much information of value. It will likely will show to have been shipped to the Hartford Ordnance depot, and it will provide the date of original shipment. Beyond that, nothing of historical significance regarding where it may have gone later or how it got into your family's possession is likely to result. Regardless, when you receive it, please post it here as there are those of us who track them.