S&W - Royal Air Force Issue

[DGNY]

Thanks to all who research, assemble and share this fascinating knowledge of those early, dangerous days of WWII.

A fascinating subset of this information regarding soon to be weapons of war is the post facto destruction of their utility - out of some aim of achieving peace through neutralization of their essence.

 

[Sergeant_Pilot]

R.A.F Issue .38

Hello Alan,

Apologies for the delay in response. I've had a look over my example (699756) and cannot find a broad arrow marking. Did mine fall into the Egyptian shippment?

I've been slowly working on my set, acquiring a box of Royal Arsenal made .38 rounds, dated 1941. Plus 24 .38 rounds dated 1940, also Royal Arsenal manufacture. I've also acquired a nice 1941 dated 1925 Pattern holster. I will be restoring and packing the rounds into reproduction cartons and acquiring the correct ammo pouch, belt and lanyard. I'll post some photos once complete.

 

[AlanDavid]

Sergeant Pilot

Given the serial number, 6" barrel and R.A.F. hand stamped markings, yours is almost certainly one of the of the 2,500 that went to Egypt.
look forward to the photos when you completes your set of accessories and accoutrements.

Regards
Alan

 

[PJGP]

I've also acquired a nice 1941 dated 1925 Pattern holster.

Experimenting with my RAF 6" S&W M&P and several Army Pattern '37 and RAF Pattern '25 holsters revealed that the former will not close on the 6" gun. However, the seam behind the trigger guard area on th P'25 is open farther down than that of the P'37. This allows the M&P to tilt back and in turn allows the flap to close.

Perhaps someone knew what he was doing when the 6"s were issued to the RAF?

Peter

 

[Sergeant_Pilot]

Hello Peter, here's 699756 in an RAF 37 Pattern, made by MW&S Ltd in 1943. This is a photo supplied by the previous owner. I have a both the RAF 37 and 25 Patterns in my collection, both 1941 dated. I will try both when able.

Hello Alan, did the remaining 17,500 guns of A-429 ship to England?

It's a shame that I'm refused contact the family of the original owner, apparently they don't wish anything to do with their relatives pistol. All the information I have is that he is thought to have flown Wellingtons, first operationally and then as an instructor. Wellingtons were operating in the western desert, this could be where he picked up the pistol 1940/1941?

 

[AlanDavid]

"Hello Alan, did the remaining 17,500 guns of A-429 ship to England?"

Not necessarily, I have a note of another 400 6".38/200 revolvers going to the R.C.A.F in Canada. There may be other orders that I missed or are missing from the file.

Regards

Alan

 

[Sergeant_Pilot]

RAF S&W

Thank you Alan, I can begin working on my set soon. Here's a 1941 dated 25 Pattern holster, a 1941 dated 37 Pattern, a 1940 build revolver and a carton of twelve 1941 dated rounds by Royal Arsenal.

 

[AlanDavid]

For those interested in British holster, both web and leather and all things relating to web accoutrements, I highly recommend Karkee web

Karkee Web

Regards

AlanD

 

[Waveski]

It'll make the Americans cry but here's the basic low-down as I understand it.

*Barrel cut open, all the way through to the chamber with a hardened steel rod welded in.
*Cylinder walls cut open and cylinders blocked.
*Mechanism between trigger and hammer destroyed.
*Firing pin and hole ground away.
*All major components welded/pinned together to prevent disassembly.
*Major components marked with the deactivation proof house stamp.

Luckily, this one was done very cleanly. Some deacts are absolutely butchered.

Better to process such a fine piece of machining through a grinder or toss it into a live volcano than to abuse it so.