Inherited S&W 38. History unknown.

[500yearoldmonster]

Hello all. I inherited this revolver without knowing the history.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
SN on bottom of handle is V446xxx
Single line - made in usa
Chambered 38./200
Back of handle marked HKP 0394

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

HKP = Hong Kong Police

V Serial Number is a "Victory" Model made during WWII 1942-1945. The grips are not original to that revolver.

 

[sceva]

I remember back in the day when a lot of the Hong Kong police revolvers were be imported and sold mail order in the magazines.

 

[Inkgardener]

That’s cool, I like it!

 

[DARE]

Your gun was originally what is called a BSR British Service Revolver. S&W made them in .38 S&W (.38-200) for the British and in .38 Special for U S forces.
A lot of them were repurposed after WWII. Why your gun is marked HKP.
It has been nickel plated and might have been reamed to accept .38 Special. Many of them were. You can check by seeing if a .38 Special round will chamber.

 

[500yearoldmonster]

HKP = Hong Kong Police

V Serial Number is a "Victory" Model made during WWII 1942-1945. The grips are not original to that revolver.

Excellent information thank you. Not sure how to feel knowing that it has been to china and back.

 

[500yearoldmonster]

I remember back in the day when a lot of the Hong Kong police revolvers were be imported and sold mail order in the magazines.

Thank you for your reply. I’m not sure how this affects the collector value that it has been to china and back.

 

[500yearoldmonster]

Your gun was originally what is called a BSR British Service Revolver. S&W made them in .38 S&W (.38-200) for the British and in .38 Special for U S forces.
A lot of them were repurposed after WWII. Why your gun is marked HKP.
It has been nickel plated and might have been reamed to accept .38 Special. Many of them were. You can check by seeing if a .38 Special round will chamber.

Excellent information thank you. It appears this revolver has been around the world.

 

[JP@AK]

Not sure how to feel knowing that it has been to china and back.

Well, we don't know whether your revolver was ever in China. During the time that this gun served with the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong would have been a British Protectorate. It wasn't part of China.

Just a little history lesson for your benefit.

 

[500yearoldmonster]

Well, we don't know whether your revolver was ever in China. During the time that this gun served with the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong would have been a British Protectorate. It wasn't part of China.

Just a little history lesson for your benefit.

Excellent thank you.

 

[VASCAR2]

I like old police revolvers and your S&W BSR has a unique history and I would prefer the chambers had not been reamed to accept 38 Special cartridges. 38 S/W aka 38/200 ammunition can still be purchased and is easily reloaded. The 38/200 is not commonly encountered in self defense guns today but is a fine shooting historical revolver. I would’ve loved inheriting such a revolver.


I hope you enjoy your new S&W.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Excellent information thank you. Not sure how to feel knowing that it has been to china and back.

Being to China and back means far less than being nickeled and having the wrong grips installed.

 

[Farmer17]

I think it looks awesome the way it is and would shoot the heck out of it.

 

[DWalt]

Well, we don't know whether your revolver was ever in China. During the time that this gun served with the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong would have been a British Protectorate. It wasn't part of China.

Just a little history lesson for your benefit.

Until 1997, Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony. It reverted to China then, but it has a limited independent self governing status, unlike the rest of China. It is not presently a country separate from China but does have some governance characteristics of one.

 

[RebCop]

Hong Kong eventually went to the .38 special. I had a Colt Police Positive Special marked HKP on the back strap and they were never made in .38 S&W.