Probably pre 10, lend lease

[remusn]

I'm considering buying a 5", S&W revolver, with some oddities. The barrel is stamped 38s&w, but it's stamped 38 sp on the frame near the trigger on the left . The s&w logo is stamped on the right frame rear and "Made in USA"is stamped on the right side frame front of the trigger. It is fixed sighted and "united states property" is stamped on the left side top of the sighting groove. There are several proof stampings on the left side of the barrel near the bottom and in front of the frame. Each cylinder has a proof mark but they are too small to tell what the are. Front top of the trigger guard is a small circle with what looks like crossed tools with n 3 p stamped there also. Left side frame behind the barrel is a crown with bnp underneath it. On the bottom of the grip frame is a square lanyard attachment with the letter W stamped on the front side as well as an American flaming bomb with a P in front of it. behind the lanyard gadget is a serial no. 882xxx. No letters at all. The grip panels are smooth with the serial number stamped into them. Gun is in good functional shape with wear and use marks.. It is a .38 spc. cartridge gun.

Anyone know when the was made. I do think is was part of the lend lease program of WWII.

Thanks.

 

[DWalt]

I suggest you do not buy it unless it is really cheap and you are not interested in its collectibility. Appears to be a rechambered pre-Victory .38/200, probably from late 1941-early 1942.

 

[Hondo44]

If the cyl was replaced or the chambers sleeved, it was converted properly. If it's the original cyl with the chambers just lengthened for 38 spl, they'll be a little loose for 38 spl, but still able to properly chamber and shoot the 38 S&W cartridge as well, and the serial # on the rear face will match the gun and barrel #s.

The accuracy will be the best with the 38 S&W since the barrel bore is properly sized for its larger bullet diameter.

 

[Absalom]

While I agree with DWalt's identification, I wouldn't be quite as harsh on the gun's collectibility. Your description indicates a post-war Birmingham proofed ex-British Service Revolver which, besides the caliber conversion, appears original with finish, barrel, and markings intact and matching original stocks. That's a lot better than can be said about the vast majority of re-imported ex-BSR's, especially of pre-Victory vintage. I wouldn't buy it as a shooter, but if it could be had for something below 300, I'd be interested as a historical collector.

 

[remusn]

Thanks all for the replies. I believe it is a totally original gun. The cylinder and frame numbers match and are stamped with the same little tiny numbers . The cylinder was bored out for the .38 spec. cartridge. I took it out and shot it this morning with some RP lead bullet 38 spec. stuff and it seemed to shoot well. Some light handloads with 148 WC bullet did shoot ok as well. I'll probably shoot it with the target bullet load and use it as a rabbit gun as do some plinking. Shoots to point of aim at about 50 55 feet. Didn't shoot it any further distance. It'll be a fun one to mess around with. It doesn't have any import stampings on it, don't know how it got back here into the U S but I'm glad it did. Again thanks for the info.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I believe it is a totally original gun."

"The cylinder was bored out for the .38 spec. cartridge."

Statement one isn't true due to statement two.

 

[Absalom]

...... The cylinder was bored out for the .38 spec. cartridge. I took it out and shot it this morning with some RP lead bullet 38 spec. stuff and it seemed to shoot well. Some light handloads with 148 WC bullet did shoot ok as well.....
Shoots to point of aim at about 50 55 feet. Didn't shoot it any further distance. It'll be a fun one to mess around with. It doesn't have any import stampings on it, don't know how it got back here into the U S but I'm glad it did. Again thanks for the info.

As you've found out, the conversion isn't a huge concern especially with standard Special loads and lead bullets. Some folks have a tendency to overdramatize the issue.

Most of the Birmingham-proofed BSR's were re-imported during the 1950s, before the GCA of 1968 required a marking identifying the importer, so relatively few of these actually have importer stampings, and those often come from other Commonwealth nations like Australia which continued to use them long after 1945 and didn't surplus them until after 1968.

 

[Hondo44]

It doesn't have any import stampings on it, don't know how it got back here into the U S but I'm glad it did. Again thanks for the info.

It may have been sold on the commercial market here in the states and never went across the pond.

 

[DWalt]

"I believe it is a totally original gun."

"The cylinder was bored out for the .38 spec. cartridge."

Statement one isn't true due to statement two.

I'll go along with that statement. If it is a pre-Victory BSR which has been rechambered for .38 Special, it is no longer totally original, and its collector value will be negatively impacted. It has also not been established whether it has been refinished (even though the original finish would have been blued), nor if the grips have a matching SN. As it has apparently already been purchased by the OP, none of this makes any difference at present. Hopefully, the price paid was right. Back to one of the earlier questions about whether it is Lend-Lease. The answer is yes, as the "United States Property" topstrap stamping establishes that. The first examples of that L-L stamping are seen in the upper SN 8xxxxx range in the waning months of 1941, but I don't know what the earliest known SN is. Does anyone else?

 

[remusn]

What I meant about all original was that all the parts were original. Cylinder, grip panels. The right grip panel was serially numbered to the gun as well as the cylinder. It has been modified and it is not considered a collectable by me. Just a shooter. The finish is original far as I can tell, not a reblue or refinished. It is a well used gun but not abused. Shoots well with standard .38 spec. loads and my target loads. It's just a decent old gun. I'm not a collector of valuable guns, I just have several that get shot with some regularity.

 

[rwt1405]

I'm curious to hear more about this gun and have enjoyed the comments thus far, thank you to everyone.

As for you, it sounds like you like it and enjoy shooting it, so I'd say it is a wonderful gun for you, with the potential of some nice history with it.

I'd say a win-win situation!