RAF 38/200 BSR

[handejector]

A rather early RAF marked British Service Revolver.
Of course, RAF stands for 'Royal Air Force'.
6 inch, caliber 38 S&W.
No other military marks or proofs anywhere on the gun besides the broad arrow and RAF.
All numbers match including the grips.
The gun shows the lesser polished blue normally seen on the early WW II contract guns.
The serial number shot shows the case colors on the swivel well.

Probably in Britain for the Battle of Britain!
Edited to add-
It missed the BoB. It shipped Sept, 1941.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hey Lee:

That is a neat one. Very few RAF marked pre-Victories are seen these days. Plus it has not been defaced with the post-war UK commercial proofs so often seen on the British guns. I like it!

 

[moosedog]

Thats a nice one. I don't see many WWII Smiths with 6 inch barrels.

 

[Texas Star]

My brother had one once, but with just the Broad Arrow, no RAF marks.

The finish was normal commercial blue. It did have a lanyard ring.

I've seen a photo of RAF pilots in N. Africa wearing these six-inch barrels. The holsters were the usual M-1937 webbing, for five-inch barrels. The guns hung well out of the holsters!

T-Star

 

[handejector]

Another example of ship dates and serial numbers.
I thought this serial number seemed early for a ship date of Sept, 1941 and asked Roy about that.
It seems this revolver was in a group that was ready to ship in Jan, 1940, but for some reason the group got held back till Sept, 1941.
Ya never know about S&W numbers!

 

[1Aspenhill]

Yes, tell me about it!!!!

 

[victorylarry]

Lee,
Great gun! These six incher's seem to get overlooked yet were some of the first contract guns going overseas. I have RAF marked 701106 which shipped in Jan 41'.
Larry

 

[rduke]

Right on

Another example of ship dates and serial numbers.
I thought this serial number seemed early for a ship date of Sept, 1941 and asked Roy about that.
It seems this revolver was in a group that was ready to ship in Jan, 1940, but for some reason the group got held back till Sept, 1941.
Ya never know about S&W numbers!

Yes, I have one with serial # 736XXX and Roy tells me it shipped in Feb 1941... thanks for clarifying this one as it had me puzzled.