Need HELP ... 6" Pre-Victory in .38 S&W

[MGWLLW]

Hi guys. This gun is my third WWII-era revolver in .38 S&W, but the one that I know the least about. My first was a 5" barrel V-prefix that had BNP stamps on it. Pretty easy to figure out that it spent some time in England. My second was a 6" pre-V with a Canadian proof mark stamped on each side of the frame. This 6" example (all matching except for the grips), however, has no markings that would give me a hint as to its provenance or history. There are no import marks and there is an American social security number scratched into it, which leads me to believe that it's a bringback from the war?

If anyone could help me date this revolver and shed some light on where it most likely ended up, I'd greatly appreciate it. I plan on eventually getting this one lettered, but was hoping that someone might know something in the interim. Thanks!

Mike

 

[MGWLLW]

More pictures

 

[MGWLLW]

More pictues

 

[DWalt]

That SN would indicate ca. early 1941 shipment, before the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Remember, at that time the British were buying all they could get their hands on from S&W and also even buying some retail stock, allegedly converting some .38 Specials to .38 S&W. Not too surprising that many sent to England were not given any property stampings in the rush to get them to the troops. Great that someone scratched their SSN or DL# on the front grip strap. That makes it worth easily twice as much.

If you lettered it, it would probably come back as being sent to the British Purchasing Commission, New York.

 

[lamarw]

The serial number on yours is 9,915 lower than my 4" barrel Pre-Victory.

Mine has the Union of South Africa identification on the back of the grip frame plus British markings on the frame, cylinder and barrel to include the crossed swords with a "B" on the right of the swords and a "4" below the swords. Like yours, it also has a "P" on the butt. The question is where it went to first (South Africa or England). I have a letter request in and hoping it will clarify the original shipping point.

The serial numbers also match on the inside of the wood right grip, barrel, cylinder face and the butt of mine. Your revolver appears to of had a better life than mine or at least more caring owner(s).

 

[Skeetr57]

I have a 5" example with no ownership marks, and no import marks. I once briefly owned an example with a 6" barrel that was stamped RCAF on the right side with no other markings. You find all sorts.

 

[PJGP]

Mine has the Union of South Africa identification on the back of the grip frame plus British markings on the frame, cylinder and barrel to include the crossed swords with a "B" on the right of the swords and a "4" below the swords. Like yours, it also has a "P" on the butt. The question is where it went to first (South Africa or England). I have a letter request in and hoping it will clarify the original shipping point.

The British markings you describe are commercial and the South African marking is WW II military. All pre lend lease South African S&Ws came direct from the factory. Clearly the gun came here (SA) first and somehow ended up in Britain later.

Please let me know the full serial number and the South African number on the backstrap for my research records. A PM is fine if you do not want to publicise the SN.

Thanks
Peter

 

[lamarw]

Thanks Peter for the additional insight. The serial number is 720730.

The number below the U with broad arrow is 8933, and the marking above it are harder to identify but are similar to 1CB11745 (the C could be a 6 and the 11 could be almost anything else to include a ") (Actually it could be a "B"745). They are deep markings but hard to distinguish.

 

[PJGP]

Thanks lamarw. I see that I already had your pistol's info in my database! I have no idea what the other backstrap markings are, but they will not be South African.

Peter