Victory S&W 38/200

[digi-shots]

Muley, thanks so much for posting the pics!

Most of the stampings are post war commercial stamps (crown over BNP, tons on the barrel).

Same for the crossed swords with H,B over 2 which is the "view mark" - the B stands for the Birmingham Proof House; the H is for the year 1957.

My best guess is that the gun was a WWII Victory model used by the British and released from the military in 1957.

I'm not sure what to say about the holster and it's markings.

It's a very nice looking rig!

 

[digi-shots]

nsajorden,

Does the holster have a metal staple at the top and bottom of the sewn edge?

I've got a similar unmarked leather holster with these staples, and the metal belt hanger on the back. I think it was mentioned (by Lefty??) that the Brauer Bros. holster maker made similiar holsters and can be identified by these staples. I do know that Brauer Bros. was a government holster contractor during WWII.

 

[nsajorden]

Digi-Shots,
There are no staples on the holster.
From the picture,can you see the crown?
I gave the Englishman a name,"Harry Mick Smith".
Why not?...........
By the way, this gun shoots great. Two inch group, offhand at 7yrds, with my handloads.
I ware the gun crossdraw like the Limies.
Thanks to all you guys for your help.
DAVE..................

 

[Muley Gil]

Yep, sure did see the crown. Unfortunately, I know very little about Brit holsters from that era.

I have had many friends who worked for the NSA. I once lived with my grandmother in Severn, next to Ft Meade.

 

[Texas Star]

The holster and the belt look to be US items. I suspect they were never issued with this gun. The belt looks to be postwar issue. This is just some rig that someone got and used with that gun.

You need to go to the British Gun Pub forum at www.gunboards.com to ask to see official British holsters. They'll show 'em to you! Some are already shown in various threads there.

Many movies show the usual M-1937 Pattern webbing holsters for these guns, which were originally meant for the Enfield No. 2 Mk. I .38's. But they were used with ALL .38's in British service after 1940, when many Colt and S&W guns were also bought or obtained via Lend-Lease.

Two movies that I can recommend are, "The Guns of Navarone" and "Drums", the latter released in 1937. The web holster was already in use. Try video rental places that have a section for classic movies to see these.


T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

Here http://forums.gunboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31038&d=1198329355

is an open top webbing holster, meant for tank crews, although used by others. Note that the belt shows more wear than the holster in this case.

The gun is an Enfield .38, the DA only sort.

T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

Here http://forums.gunboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31756&d=1198613387 is the earlier selective DA Enfield, in the more common Pattern 1937 webbing flapped holster. This is the most common WW II British revolver holster.

Leather holsters do exist, especially from some Commonwealth countries, but this webbing form is by far the most common.

RAF holsters and belts were gray. Army ones were olive, except for some MP ones, which were white. I have seen white ones on members of the Royal Navy, but they may have had other colors, too. I seriously doubt that Naval pilots, for instance, wore white holsters!


T-Star

 

[nsajorden]

T-Star,
Thank you for your message,I will try that web .
The web belt is much to new to be the orig.
You are also right that someone put this rig together. I donot think the gun and hoster were use together.
Thanks again and have a great NEW YEAR.
DAVE...........................

 

[tjpopkin]

You guys are amazing........
There is this wealth of knowledge about the wartime guns....I found this one, but don't know if it ever went to British...no british proofs, only the US Property on top strap......

in the same collection was the 1917.....

Terry

 

[cxm]

That is a very nice looking 28/200... and as I would expect it shoots well too...

The belt is not contemporary with the gun... it seems to be a nylon web belt...which would be late Viet Nam era at the earliest... I could not see the buckle so can't say exactly what style it is, but it is certainly arpimd 1970s.

The holster also has the U.S. type pistol belt hanger on it, which would be correct for WWII... so I would say the holster could be British issue... though the in all probability not issued with the gun give the Birmingham proof marks.

FWIW

Chuck

 

[artu44]

That flap holster is the quite common US Navy holster for the Victory correctly unmarked. Its companion is the Navy web ammo pouch for six more rounds. Other martial US holsters for Victories are the half flap made in 4" and 5"(ultrarare) barrels.