WWII mystery. .38 S&W revolver

[BornHereS&W]

Hello. I have this revolver with no 'V' stamp. 38 S&W, not a Special, parkerized, wood grip, no lanyard ring. I found this in a shop when an old-timer dropped off his estate collection. Is this is pre-war British revolver? The barrel, cylinder, and lower back strap SSN: 981756. The yoke in the inside frame SSN; 29323. The grip SSN handle bottom has a light stamp on the right side with B. Frame has the "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" with the quotes. top of barrel says SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PATENTED FEB. 06, SEPT.14 08, DEC. 29 14. Left side of barrel say SMITH & WESSON. Right side of barrel says 38. S&W CTG with beginning and ending with small 3 markings
Anyone know the story?

 

[DARE]

Sounds like you have a British Service Revolver. You start seeing them around serial number 700,000. When S&W got to 1,000,000 they added the V which we call a Victory model. The guns for the British were in .38 S&W (38-200) and the guns for U. S. forces were .38 Special. Also most of the British guns had 5-inch barrels while the U. S. guns were 4-inch.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I am no expert. I'm sure one will be along soon. I believe it is a BSR, a British Service Revolver, produced and shipped before they were marked with the V for Victory. The US Property marking on yours might mean it was part of a Lend Lease shipment. The British service cartridge at the time was the .380-200, dimensionally the same as our 38 S&W. Not the same as 38 Special.

 

[JP@AK]

It is a BSR from the first quarter of 1942. The property stamp indicates that it was part of the Lend/Lease Act shipments. No surprise, since by that time the L/L was well along in service. It has the by-then-standard 5" barrel and the smooth stocks, which were also standard by that time.

The swivel is gone, but the hole is still there (not plugged). You can replace the swivel if you wish. They are available from several aftermarket sources.

BTW, it wasn't Parkerized.

 

[Retired W4]

I do not see any import marks so we don't know how it made it's way back to the U.S. That will likely be a forever mystery. They are pleasant to shoot so have fun.

 

[MelvinWalker]

It looks almost like my New Zealand Victory...The lack of British commonwealth stampings is somewhat telling.

If you look very closely, does it have a miniscule import mark under the barrel? It may be in plain view, but it might be very tiny...Almost like a scratch...It may say something like ...NAC RIDGEFIELD NJ, or something similar.

 

[AlHunt]

Since nobody mentioned it, the yoke cutout is an assembly number, used during manufacture to keep fitted parts together during assembly.

 

[Goony]

First off, welcome to the forum. I'd remark that the stocks (grips) appear to be a poor fit, so I suspect if they're removed any stamp inside will not match the serial number. I'm intrigued by the circular discoloration behind the cylinder latch, perhaps indicative of a defaced/removed marking. I'd like to see a closeup shot of that.

 

[BC38]

First off, welcome to the forum. I'd remark that the stocks (grips) appear to be a poor fit, so I suspect if they're removed any stamp inside will not match the serial number. I'm intrigued by the circular discoloration behind the cylinder latch, perhaps indicative of a defaced/removed marking. I'd like to see a closeup shot of that.

Goony, If you right-click on the image and open it in a new tab and then zoom in ( [ctrl} [+] ) you can see that "spot" is just missing the original finish - with a few rust spots/pits. I'm not seeing any indication of markings or removed markings. That "spot" may be from a drop of blood or some other liquid that stripped the original finish.
BornHereS&W, that one looks like it may very well be an unmolested original that HASN'T had it's chambers reamed for 38 special, since it doesn't seem to have any re-import markings. It may be a "bring back" from someone who actually served in WWII - rather than a post-war re-import that has been modified for resale in the US.
Only one way to be sure.
Can you open the cylinder and take a picture looking down the cylinder bores, then post it here for us all to have a look?

 

[Retired W4]

That spot is exactly where the Canadians put their "ownership mark" on guns of that era. Broad arrow inside a C.

 

[RebCop]

If it had been British there would be proof marks all over it.

 

[MelvinWalker]

If it had been British there would be proof marks all over it.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

… since it doesn't seem to have any re-import markings. It may be a "bring back" from someone who actually served in WWII - rather than a post-war re-import that has been modified for resale in the US.

I'm thinking the same thing.

 

[BC38]

That spot is exactly where the Canadians put their "ownership mark" on guns of that era. Broad arrow inside a C.

When I zoom in tight on that spot the photo gets a bit grainy, so it is certainly possible that there could be a small mark there.
Your suggestion of a more close-up high-res photo would be the only way to tell for sure without having it in hand.

 

[jemo4570]

First off, welcome to the forum. I'd remark that the stocks (grips) appear to be a poor fit, so I suspect if they're removed any stamp inside will not match the serial number. I'm intrigued by the circular discoloration behind the cylinder latch, perhaps indicative of a defaced/removed marking. I'd like to see a closeup shot of that.

I have "Victory", v112xxx, with a grind mark in the same area. Only mine has a partial semi-circle and partial left leg of the broad arrow remaining. I believe yours would have had the same.

 

[Retired W4]

Photo from the Imperial War Museum, London. Canadian "ownership" mark.

 

[BornHereS&W]

Hi again; thanks everyone for chiming in. I found no more stampings and the chamber is NOT a Special. The factory process of finishing was sand blasting and parkerized; someone said no? Also, the chamber is NOT pitted, as it was oiled and had lint in the old zipper case!

 

[Major 2]

There is but one decent gun show here each year, Mid Winter Snow bird collector/dealers attend (99% of the others are black gun & Kitch shows)
In 2020, before covid, my late sidekick and I attended the show.
I saw a nice Victory, just about to spring for it, when the guy pulls a NICE Lettered
Commando.
The Commando came home, and I'm happy, but I'd like a Victory to go with.
I do have a very nice S-Prefix circa Oct-Nov 1946 M&P.
The quest for Victory continues.

 

[BornHereS&W]

Hello. I have this revolver with no 'V' stamp. 38 S&W, not a Special, parkerized, wood grip, no lanyard ring. I found this in a shop when an old-timer dropped off his estate collection. Is this is pre-war British revolver? The barrel, cylinder, and lower back strap SSN: 981756. The yoke in the inside frame SSN; 29323. The grip SSN handle bottom has a light stamp on the right side with B. Frame has the "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" with the quotes. top of barrel says SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PATENTED FEB. 06, SEPT.14 08, DEC. 29 14. Left side of barrel say SMITH & WESSON. Right side of barrel says 38. S&W CTG with beginning and ending with small 3 markings
Anyone know the story?

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• #17

Hi again; thanks everyone for chiming in. I found no more stampings and the chamber is NOT a Special. The factory process of finishing was sand blasting and parkerized; someone said no? Also, the chamber is NOT pitted, as it was oiled and had lint in the old zipper case!

 

[Retired W4]

According to Charles Pate the W B on the butt belongs to Waldermar Broberg (Chief Of Ordnance office) who inspected S&W 38 revolver from serial numbers 800000-V142000. At the time your gun was produced they were transitioning from checkered walnut with medallion to smooth walnut. I really like the gun. It's too bad the Canadian mark was defaced. Butt swivels (lanyard loops) are available for your gun.