At a LGS today discussing things about guns. Owner took me in the back to show me something unrelated and there on his desk was a S&W M&P 38 S&w. I asked if I could look. Oh man. British stamps everywhere. The words NOTENGISHMADE stamped twice I could see. He said he had had it for 20 years and did not know the history. I said I know a guy. He was very gracious and He let me take pictures. It is not for sale. I assumed WW2 V model but I think maybe WW1 lend. What do you think?
S&W M&P 38 S&W cartridge
- Thread starter Rigmar
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Looks to be a standard British Service Revolver from (before US being in) WW II. All the extra proof and other stampings were placed when it was sold into the commercial gun market in the mid-1950s. The original stocks were smooth walnut but otherwise it looks pretty decent.
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shovelhead
Member
Correct me if I’m wrong but unless your gun had a V as a prefix in the serial number it’s not a Victory Model.
Guns made for Lend Lease were marked U.S. PROPERTY as we retained legal ownership of that material.
I have one, ship date of February 1941 that was sold to a agency of the British government. Coincidentally it had a set of those same Franzite grips but mine were shrunken. As there no import stamps it came back to the U.S. prior to the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Guns made for Lend Lease were marked U.S. PROPERTY as we retained legal ownership of that material.
I have one, ship date of February 1941 that was sold to a agency of the British government. Coincidentally it had a set of those same Franzite grips but mine were shrunken. As there no import stamps it came back to the U.S. prior to the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Rigmar
As Alan stated, it is a British Service Revolver (BSR) from the early part of WWII. These revolvers were transferred from S&W to Great Britain to satisfy a large debt that S&W owed to the UK for an unfulfilled contract. They were NOT Lend/Lease guns.
The serial number sequence that started in 1899 was used on M&P revolvers (including the BSR) up until April 1942, when the new V prefix series began. By that time, the BSR was being transferred under the Lend/Lease Act, so those would have the U.S. Property stamp on the top strap, unlike the earlier British contract guns.
Your friend's revolver was originally chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, not the .38 Special. The stamp on the side of the barrel should indicate that cartridge.
The P is just a proof mark and, unlike the other proof marks added when the gun was transferred to civilian ownership, the P is original.
As Alan stated, it is a British Service Revolver (BSR) from the early part of WWII. These revolvers were transferred from S&W to Great Britain to satisfy a large debt that S&W owed to the UK for an unfulfilled contract. They were NOT Lend/Lease guns.
The serial number sequence that started in 1899 was used on M&P revolvers (including the BSR) up until April 1942, when the new V prefix series began. By that time, the BSR was being transferred under the Lend/Lease Act, so those would have the U.S. Property stamp on the top strap, unlike the earlier British contract guns.
Your friend's revolver was originally chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, not the .38 Special. The stamp on the side of the barrel should indicate that cartridge.
The P is just a proof mark and, unlike the other proof marks added when the gun was transferred to civilian ownership, the P is original.
DWalt
Member
The Lend-Lease BSRs began shipping around October 1941. They did have the US property stamping on the topstrap. Many war materiel items besides BSRs were shipped under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941.
