pre victory......

[gunut]

I recently picked up a pre victory 5in 38S&W with british proof marks and Chinese proof marks...do the chinese marks add any interest to war year Smith collectors...I know the South Africa proofs seem to peak the interest of most collectors on these pre victory guns but was wondering about the chinese marks....thanks

 

[Camster]

Sounds like a gun that ended up in Hong Kong post war.

 

[Ballarat]

As Camster says, could have gone to Hong Kong, or even Singapore in the early days. But without any martial marks it was a civilian purchase either way. British proofs for weapons issued to the Colonies was the norm. At the time we are looking at Webley revolvers during this pre war era were the norm for colonial police etc, however there aint no hard and fast rules. You have an interesting specimen. Perhaps a factory letter might enlighten you more. Later HK and Spore police S&W revolvers were usually stamped on the back strap.
Sometimes also with a rack number differing of course from the serial number.

 

[gunut]

Thanks for the responces....I just might order a letter on this one for the heck of it...

 

[TomcatPC]

Hello

Whilst I don't have a S&W Revolver that was used by either the Royal Hong Kong or Singapore Police force. I do have a Webley & Scott Mk. IV .38in Revolver that was used by the Singapore Police Force. It is a commercial post-WWII version, oddly enough it has a safety catch on it, I really don't know much about it other than that.

For the record, it is marked directly behind and below the hammer "S P F" and then beneath that it has a four digit number which I think is a badge/rack? number.

I have a friend who has a later (1970s era?) S&W Model 10 (-7, I think?) .38 Special revolver that had been used by the Royal Hong Kong Police, if you like, I could ask him how his is marked?
Thanks
Mark

 

[whitecoyote]