M&P 1905 1st change question..

[digi-shots]

Today, I came across an early M&P, the barrel was marked .38 Special and U.S. Service Ctg. It's an M&P 1905, 1st Change (c.1906-1909).

Does this mean you can shoot either cartridge? The U.S. Service Ctg. meaning .38 Long Colt, right? (I think I read in one of the earlier postings that the "Long Colt" was actually shorter than the .38 Special?)
Sometimes I think the European markings with mm is so much easier.

What was the advantage or disadvantage between the 2 rounds?

Thanks so much!

 

[digi-shots]

Today, I came across an early M&P, the barrel was marked .38 Special and U.S. Service Ctg. It's an M&P 1905, 1st Change (c.1906-1909).

Does this mean you can shoot either cartridge? The U.S. Service Ctg. meaning .38 Long Colt, right? (I think I read in one of the earlier postings that the "Long Colt" was actually shorter than the .38 Special?)
Sometimes I think the European markings with mm is so much easier.

What was the advantage or disadvantage between the 2 rounds?

Thanks so much!

 

[handejector]

Does this mean you can shoot either cartridge? The U.S. Service Ctg. meaning .38 Long Colt, right? (I think I read in one of the earlier postings that the "Long Colt" was actually shorter than the .38 Special?)

All that is correct.

What was the advantage or disadvantage between the 2 rounds?

Well, the 38 Colt became known as a pitiful manstopper in the Phillipines after the Span-Amer War. The Moro rebels would bind their torsos with rope, smoke a little dope, and prepare to meet Allah and claim their virgins (I hope they were all UGLY). The story goes that more than one took six hits, and still managed to hack the GI to pieces with a big, ugly sword. They even pulled 45 SA's out and shipped them over, and this supposedly spurred the development of the 1911.

 

[mikepriwer]

Linda

What you came across was a carry-over from the model of 1899.
It was mostly a PR effort to roll- mark the barrel that way. They
were trying to cover all the bases with their brand-new 1899, and
they were trying to get the gun to appeal to as wide an audience
as possible.

Ed Cornett is more knowledgeable about exactly what was meant by
the US Service Ctg. And, there was a thread about this - maybe
within the past year.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[digi-shots]

Thanks, Lee...

Yes, I was aware of the lack of stopping power against the Moro's, hence the introduction of the .45 cal. Which .38 wasn't powerful enough, the .38 Long Colt/U.S. Service Ctg. ? Up until now I thought it was the regular .38 special.

Mike, thanks! I went back and re-read most of the posts on the U.S. Service Ctg. and got more confused as I read! Between lubricating rounds and heel seating... I never could figure out why they had a gun that could handle either round. Sounds like a great idea to me (similar to today's .38 Special/.357 guns).

I would imagine if the U.S. Service Ctg. was any good, they would have continued to use it in the K-frames.

thanks, Linda

 

[cgt4570]

Today you can still shoot a .38 Long Colt round in a .38 Spl or ..357 Mag chamber. It's just like being able to shoot a .44 American or .44 Russian round in a .44 Spl or .44 Mag. It will work just fine. It just isn't talked about because the earlier rounds are considered obsolete (just means you can't find them on the shelf at your local department store), and they're also pretty wimpy as loaded today.
Chris

 

[Deacon KC]

Linda, the .38 Special was brought out due to the lack of effect the earlier rounds had in the Philippines. Similar to the .357 being brought out to give the .38 Special more power.