What is it?

[bronsonjohnson]

Picked this up today, have searched and can not find any info. It appears to be a nickel plate Military & Police, caliber 38SC, fixed sights, five screw, has the strain screw, a five screw, the serial # is 8628XX I had until today when we tried to load it with 38 specials never heard of 38 short colt. My friend used it as his tractor gun loaded with 38 snake shot, it is pretty nice condition, original grips. I am not a collector just wondering what it is. Would post pictures if my wife was still awake.
Thanks, Brian

 

[opoefc]

You're probably correct - it's a .38 Spl. Model 1905, 4th edition, Military & Police made about 1941. original grips would be checkered walnut square butt, with the gun's serial number stamped on the back of the right grip. Ed

 

[bronsonjohnson]

Not a 38 spl.

It will not accept 38 specials, leaves about a 1/4 inch of the back of the cartridge sticking out of the cylinder. The barrel says 38SC, I assume that is 38 short colt, had not even heard of it until tonight. Is it worth anything?

 

[bronsonjohnson]

38SC

It does not have any serial numbers stamped on the grips unless you are talking about on the inside of the grips. Has absolutely no markings on the left side, the right side has the S&W logo, made in USA, and on the barrel 38SC. Their is no underlug on the barrel, the ejector rod is unprotected and has a knurled knob on the end. I will post a picture in the AM.
Thanks!!

 

[hkcavalier]

Sounds like a British Victory in .38 S&W (different than .38 Special) to me. If it won't accept .38 Specials, how is your friend loading .38 snake shot?

I can't help you on the .38 SC designation. I've never heard of a S&W marked as such. Looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[Absalom]

I think there is something fishy about the .38 SC inscription.

Other than that, it sounds like a former British Service M&P in .38 S&W that was cut off behind the underbarrel lug, leaving the rod unsupported. Most M&P’s in 1941 around that serial were made for the British.

 

[merl67]

It is chambered in 38 S&W which as you found out it is a shorter and also just a bit fatter. It is available at some gunshops I have found it at Cabelas

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. How about some photos to end the speculation. Posting images of the gun, the serial number, the barrel stampings will tell the story for sure. Yes, the serial number on the stocks are found on the inside of the right stock.

Easy to do, just follow these instructions. Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures

 

[gwpercle]

I suspect it's not a S&W but a copy ... S&W would not have marked it 38 Short Colt .
Photo's a worth a thousand words... I'm betting it's a copy .
Gary

 

[Absalom]

A Spanish copy is always a possibility. When the BSR is shortened beyond the lug, no caliber stamping remains, so that could be a clue. The Basques made S&W-type guns in .38 Long Colt and .32-20; I’ve never heard of one marked .38 SC, but a lot of these were “handmade”. Some like Trocaola also made them without front lug.

 

[bronsonjohnson]

S&W

Pictures, it will only let me load 5 files.

 

[bronsonjohnson]

S&W

The rest of the Pics.

 

[rocknroad]

Looking at pic #2 of post 12, you posted, that is not .38 Sc, it is the front half of the ampersand that would have said ".38 S&W".

The rest was cut off when the barrel was shortened.

As you can see here, S&W had a pretty wide ampersand roll.

 

[DWalt]

Definitely a chopped and plated pre-Victory BSR, ca. late 1941. It's strange that it has not been rechambered to accept .38 Special ammunition. Grips are not original either.

 

[gwpercle]

The photo's don't lie...38 S&W , cut down bbl.
Kinda neat it is still in 38 S&W .
The photo of the butt shows where the lanyard swivel was removed and plugged ... just in front of ser. #'s .
All in All a nifty little snub from days gone by ... Cool !
Gary

 

[Absalom]

Indeed. They usually buffed off the rest of the caliber stamping when they cut the barrel; I can't remember seeing one where the remnant was just left dangling like this. If this one is indeed not bored for Special, it appears to have been an amateur job; we've seen converted but not cut; cut and refinished but not converted is odd.

...., original grips....

These aren't S&W grips, by the way, they're aftermarket copies. I think the eagle medallion was used by Sile.

 

[bronsonjohnson]

S& W

Thanks for all the info, never would have found out all that! Is it worth anything or just a shooter?
Brian

 

[bronsonjohnson]

S& W

Thanks for all the info, never would have found out all that! Is it worth anything or just a shooter?
Brian

 

[JP@AK]

Sure, it is worth "something." But not much. Personally, I would not give $175 for it; in fact, I wouldn't buy it for any price. But, it would probably bring no more than $175 on the market. Too many decent, unaltered revolvers out there for it to compete with.

 

[DWalt]

As it has been severely modified (as many of the BSRs were), it has no collector interest and certainly no value premium. It was used as a tractor gun, and that is probably its highest and best use - someplace where if it is lost or stolen, no big deal.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Since 38 SPL. rounds would rattle around in the chambers, shot ctg.s would be the best bet for it. If you can find 38 S&W shot shells

 

[Hondo44]

Brian's friend was using shot shells; so apparently hand loaded them.

It's at least 1942 production:

• 1942 Serial # on the butt change: the actual change transition period in the M&P series from right reading to left reading serial #s is the high end of the original M&P serial range #1,000,000 since M&Ps were made all thru the war. In general for all other models the Pre war serial # on the butt reads with barrel to the right and centered w/o a lanyard swivel, including I frame and single shot serial numbers which have the # on the forestrap. After WW II it reads with barrel to the left with # offset to the rear of the butt; except for serial numbers on the fore strap until they ended in 1957.