[Tanawei]

This is a useful site. I appreciate you folks posting.

I received my grandfather's S&W 38 many years ago I never really paid attention to it, but now I am curious. It was supposedly used in an attempted burglary of a bank in the 50's or 60's. The pistol was confiscated and then wound up with my grandfather.

The SN is 733XXX.

I am curious as to the Model and when it was made. Thanks!!

[Jim Watson]

It is a Smith & Wesson Military & Police, what is often called a "pre-model 10" because that is the number assigned in 1957, long after this one was built.

I don't have the serial number database, but the illustrated revolver was probably made during WW II and used either as substitute standard by the USA or furnished to England to supplement their Enfields and Webleys. Does it have any markings other than the serial number and trademark? A British issue gun would have a number of foreign proofmarks. The British service revolver caliber was .38/200, equivalent to .38 S&W. Many were rechambered for .38 Special for surplus sales, see below. A USGI weapon would have been .38 Special to start with.

Many of these guns were sold surplus in the 1950s and up until GCA 1968 stopped mailorder sales. Yours is typical in that its barrel was sawn off (losing the front ejector rod latch and lug) to take advantage of the detective fiction "snubnose .38" fad, nickel plated, and given plastic fake stag grips.

Resale value is low. Be nice if you could find a newspaper account of that bank robbery.

[Ron James]

1940-1945

[Oro]

Looks like an "Oswald Special" - a British .38/200 re-chambered and shortened just as Mr.Watson described. That s/n should be late 1944/early 1945, but that's not a guarantee. Should be a "V" on the butt, also? That is part of the S/N, unless it is actually a pre-WWII commercial model that was later altered.

[Mike Faires]

If there are no letters ( V or S) associated with the serial number and on the but there may be a noticable seperation you have a 38 Military & Police mOdel of 1905, 4th change. Your serial number makes it about 1940 - 1941. Values run from $75 and $300. Yours if original needs tobe evaluated by a S&W expert because if the nickle finish and 2" barrel are original it will command a premium to the values given. Can you provide better pictures also pictures and description of any markings? Your gun should be marked on the barrel "Smith & Wesson" on left side, "38 Special CTG" on the right; Made in USA on right side of frame. If you have any other questions contatc me at
dmfservices@sudenlink.net, also send any better pictures you have to that address.

Mike Faires

[Jim K]

The V was not added until April 1942, when the original, non-prefixed serial numbers went over 999999. A prefix was needed since S&W's numbering machine only went to six digits. So that gun, if the serial has no prefix, was probably made early in 1941.

Jim

[Mike Faires]

You are of course correct Jim, I have 912411, 38 S&W, 5 inch, lanyard ring, marked USP on top strap, Marked on the back strap NZ (New Zealand), the serial number and a what I presume is a rack number. Marked on the bottom of the butt serial number, "WB", Ordanance bomb, and "P".

MF

[Tanawei]

Thanks for the info. I have some more pictures. There seems to be a very faint "P" to the far right of butt of the gun. I do not know if that is significant. The only other markings I have attached. There are no markings on the barrel. Thanks again for all the help!

[Ron James]

It's really too bad you couldn't make the pictures any bigger.;)

[Oro]

Well that does clear it up. The absence of a "V" on the butt or the cylinder face means it's as was guessed/hedged above - a .38/200 model for the British made in probably 1941, and before the "V" serial range started. The plugged lanyard swivel hole in the butt means it was a military gun most likely; the loop wasn't standard or offered on commercial models of the M&P.

.38 specials may fit a little loosely in the chamber but most people shoot them w/o a problem. Some have reported bulged cases; I don't have a .38 S&W model so haven't tried this or know first hand about it.

Either way, it's definitely an "Oswald Special" variant of the surplussed British K-200s.