U.S. Service Cartridge Barrel Marking

[epj]

I was at a pawn shop this morning looking to see what might turn up. There was a pre-war K frame .38 with the subject marking underneath the usual .38 S&W Special marking on the left side of the barrel. I'm not very savy about older Smiths, but I had never noticed this mark before on a S&W. It seemed unusual to me that the .38 special would be refered to as the "U.S. Service cartridge". Is this a common marking? Just curious.

 

[epj]

I was at a pawn shop this morning looking to see what might turn up. There was a pre-war K frame .38 with the subject marking underneath the usual .38 S&W Special marking on the left side of the barrel. I'm not very savy about older Smiths, but I had never noticed this mark before on a S&W. It seemed unusual to me that the .38 special would be refered to as the "U.S. Service cartridge". Is this a common marking? Just curious.

 

[ButchG17]

That's refering to the .38 Long Colt cartridge which was the 'US Service cartridge', the gun would fire either round.

It's the round that is credited with being a big failure in the Phillipines prior to the military going back to handguns in .45 caliber and then adopting the .45 ACP 1911 auto.

 

[mikepriwer]

That roll-marking was first introduced on the .38 Military Model 1899, and
carried over onto some of the Model 1902's . It was apparently more of an
advertising ploy than anything else. The chambering of the gun is for
.38 Special , which happens to accomodate this other cartridge !

If you revisit that shop, I'd like to know the serial number of that
revolver. Also, if possible, the sight configuration (target vs service )
as well as the barrel length and finish.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[epj]

Mike, the gun is a 4", service sights, and refinished in nickel. If I get by there again in the next day or two, I'll check on numbers.

 

[MikeyL]

epj: These are kind of neat old beaters...I have one in my collection, and bought it simply because of the barrel stamping....it was the first I had seen, too. I have fired mine with .38 Special ammo, and it's no better or worse than any gun that is over 100 years old (circa 1902). I use fairly low power wadcutters in it just to be safe.

MikeyL
SWCA #2010

 

[epj]

Would this be a Model 1902?

 

[mikepriwer]

epj

Need to know the serial number, and whether it has a lug under
the barrel, to engage the end of the extractor rod.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[epj]

It had a lug, as best I remember. I'll have to get back with the serial #. BTW, they're asking $260 for it. Probably can be had for less.

 

[texmex]

My very first firearm was a 5" RB non-factory nickle M&P. My grandfather gave it to me in 1960. The caliber marking is actually 38 Smith & Wesson Special & US Service Ctgs if I recall correctly. I'll take a look at it next time I'm in the safe.

 

[jjones33]

My 1899 number 285 has a round 6 inch bbl. My 1899 military has a flat in 5.5 bbl

 

[mikepriwer]

My 1899 number 285 has a round 6 inch bbl. My 1899 military has a flat in 5.5 bbl

TJ

Tell us a bit more about these two 1899's . Is the 6" an M&P, or does it have target sights ?
By round barrel, I assume you mean there is no flat under the barrel ?

The 5 1/2" is curious - do you have letter for it ? How long (length) is the flat under
the barrel ? And what is the full serial number ?

5 1/2" , if factory, would be a special order, as , of course, would be the 6". The
4, 5, and 6 1/2 were the standard lengths. I'm not aware of any made in 5 1/2 " .

Thanks, Mike Priwer

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:

My 1899 number 285 has a round 6 inch bbl. My 1899 military has a flat in 5.5 bbl

TJ

Tell us a bit more about these two 1899's . Is the 6" an M&P, or does it have target sights ?
By round barrel, I assume you mean there is no flat under the barrel ?

The 5 1/2" is curious - do you have letter for it ? How long (length) is the flat under
the barrel ? And what is the full serial number ?

5 1/2" , if factory, would be a special order, as , of course, would be the 6". The
4, 5, and 6 1/2 were the standard lengths. I'm not aware of any made in 5 1/2 " .

Thanks, Mike Priwer

Sorry, I lied, didn't mean to. The SN 285 gun is a standard 38 spl shipped in 1899 to Beakerts in Cali. It has a 6.5 bbl without caliber markings and is blue. Yes, there is no flat underneath the ejector rod. The other is a military contract with a 6 inch bbl. SN is 13461 and one of the thousand made for the army. It is of course in 38 service ctg. Never got a letter on it because they are document elsewhere.

 

[mikepriwer]

TJ

A 6 1/2" round barrel with no flat is surprising, but at serial 285, not out of the
question. It appears that several of the very early 1899's have no caliber markings.

Later, Mike Priwer