Pre-victory (?) 38/200 ID help

[gitargeezer]

Hi ... first post, hope this is the correct sub-forum.
I have an S&W Model 10 style 38/200. From reading through the forum I believe this may be a "pre-Victory" model, or at least I can find no V stamping with the serial numbers. It is stamped "Converted by Cogswell and Harrison London".
I purchased the piece about 25 years ago at a gun shop in Oregon, and was told it was chambered for 38/200 ammo but would accept S&W 38 Special. I've not fired it a great deal over the years, but have used 38 Special rounds without mishap.
Ser.#980856 if this is of interest to the Victory model database.

Any comments and/or info would be welcome, especially with respect to year of manufacture.
Thanks, Neil

 

[gitargeezer]

Hi ... first post, hope this is the correct sub-forum.
I have an S&W Model 10 style 38/200. From reading through the forum I believe this may be a "pre-Victory" model, or at least I can find no V stamping with the serial numbers. It is stamped "Converted by Cogswell and Harrison London".
I purchased the piece about 25 years ago at a gun shop in Oregon, and was told it was chambered for 38/200 ammo but would accept S&W 38 Special. I've not fired it a great deal over the years, but have used 38 Special rounds without mishap.
Ser.#980856 if this is of interest to the Victory model database.

Any comments and/or info would be welcome, especially with respect to year of manufacture.
Thanks, Neil

 

[m-1911]

It was probably a 5 inch barrel Lend Lease gun in 38 S&W and was converted to 38 Special and the barrel was shortened

 

[mikepriwer]

That front sight is not exactly factory , either.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[reddogge]

The proofs on the barrel say it was mustered out of British service and into civilian use and then converted by Cogswell & Harriaon in London.

 

[LWCmdr45]

Neil,

You do, indeed, have a "pre-Victory." In addition to the American-applied markings on the butt and the postwar British civilian proofmarks at the right side of the barrel, it would have originally had the Lend Lease "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking at the left top strap. Since you didn't mention this, it was evidently ground off before the "customization" and refinishing were done by C&H, not an uncommmon situation.

You may have noticed that some of your .38 Special cases were split on firing, a side effect of firing in the slightly larger diameter .38 S&W chambers (which were simply lengthened to accept the longer .38 Special rounds). It is generally recommended that you stick to shooting the original .38 S&W (not .38 Special).

The barrel was undoubtedly originally 5" long when it left the factory. Shortening of barrels and "rechambering" these guns to .38 Special were common means of marketing these surplus revolvers and making them more attractive to American buyers.

Your gun was made in 1942 and probably shipped from the S&W factory in May of that year.

Steve

 

[gitargeezer]

Thanks for all the information.

Steve, as it happens I've not had any problems with cases splitting, or even any trouble ejecting the spent casings using 38 Special ammo. Odd ...

I was given considerable misinformation when I purchased the gun, along the lines of "The conversion stampings are from when it was converted for .38/200".

In any event, I think I may retire it ... have been keeping it as a backup piece in the house (5 in the cylinder) but between the poor condition and dubious modifications, it may be time to just put it away.

Neil

 

[walnutred]

Is the cylinder serial numbered to the frame? My former 38/200 was converted in England to 38 Special by replacing the cylinder with a 38 Special cylinder.

 

[Mk VII]

Cogswell & Harrison were, at one time, owned by Sam Cummings of Interarms. They altered quite large numbers of surplus revolvers for the US market (also the domestic one where exchange controls meant that dollar imports were both scarce and expensive)

 

[gitargeezer]

Is the cylinder serial numbered to the frame?

Yes, the cylinder serial number is the same as the frame.

Neil