s&w 38 or s&w 38 special ammo?
Just aquired a older s&w revolver serial# 685xxx (no model #) and it says 38 s&w ctg on the barrel, also on the barrel is stamped NP.38'.767' 3.5 TONS. A 38 special cartridge will fit, but don't know if I should fire it or not. Could someone tell me the aprox. age and what ammo I should use for this gun?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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With the British Proof Marks, the serial number points to one of the "Victory Models" sent to England during the early 1940's.
Many have been either rechambered or have had .38 Special cylinders fitted.
Best to take it to a qualified gunsmith for inspection and test firing. If you don't choose to do this, only fire it with standard .38 Special ammo, not plus-p's.0 -
is it a swing out cylinder or a top break. the special ctg will be longer than the S&W. with the shorter cylinder the lead from swc may stick out beyond the cylinder. a 38 S&W should not fit in a 38 special cylinder but nothing is for certain. it should be a 38 S&W but with a better description I will look it up for you. 0 -
it could be an early hand ejector 1905 to 1906 I have seen many come back that have been proofed. 0 -
Thanks for the replies, it is a swing-out cylinder and a 38 special cartridge fits just fine and dosen't stick out of the cyl. If I can figure out how I will post some pictures. 0 -
(With the British Proof Marks, the serial number points to one of the "Victory Models" sent to England during the early 1940's.)
So, could this revolver possibly have been a WWII era firearm?0 -
victory model will have a prefix of V or VS prior to the serial number. 38/200 and victory models in 38 S&W cal should have a cylinder length of 1.56". A 38 S&W should not fit in a special cylinder. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by clyco303
(With the British Proof Marks, the serial number points to one of the "Victory Models" sent to England during the early 1940's.)
So, could this revolver possibly have been a WWII era firearm?
From Sept. 1939 the limeys were up to their necks in war with Germany. They needed all the guns they could get their hands on, specially after France went belly up in May 1940. #685xxx dates from that period. Actually it's a pre Victory Model, it would be considered a 4th change, Model 1905, Military & Police.0 -
It does not have any letters in serial #. The cyl. is 1.565" long, don't have any 38s&w ammo on hand to try. 0 -
NP = New Police? It could be a 38 S&W that was rebored to 38 Special...could explain why a 38 Special case would chamber. Please look in the cylinder at one of the chambers...does it have any ridges in the chamber area? The 38 S&W is bigger diameter than the 38 Special. 0 -
Some pictures 
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As said, this is a British service revolver originally built in calibre .38-200 which is the same as the US .38 S&W but with a 200 grain lead or 178 grain jacketed bullet instead of 146. (There was a US load with 200 grain bullet known as the Super Police which is very close to the British service load.)
The cylinder has been reamed out to accept .38 Special cartridges for easier surplus sale to gullible Colonials in the post WW-II era when Great Britain was going from revolvers to the Browning pistol.
Firing .38 Special in such an altered revolver will lead to bulged brass and we are warned of an occasional split case. I have not heard of one being demolished by the practice but would not use .38 Special +P ammunition.
It will still shoot .38 S&W with some loss of accuracy in the lengthened chamber.
I hope you "acquired" it cheaply, it is a good lesson in Caveat Emptor.0 -
I THINK the NP stamping is not "New Police" but the British proof mark for "Nitro Proofed", meaning proof tested with smokeless powder cartridges. And yes, agree with Hawk on the likely history of your exported/re-imported revolver. 0
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