Radagast
Member
Dicki:
Your gun dates to late 1941 or early 1942. It will be a medium 'K' frame' gun and it is likely it started life as a 5 inch barrel .38 S&W British Service Revolver manufactured for the British govt. during World War II. After the war a large number of these had the cylinder bored out to fit the .38 Special cartridge and were sold as surplus in the USA. Many had the barrel cut down to make them 'snubbies', which meant the locking lug at the end of the ejector rod was cut off. Such guns are worth no more than $150. The bored out chamber means cartridge brass is prone to bulging and the lack of a locking lug means that using PlusP ammunition can spring the cylinder yoke - I damaged the yoke on a similar gun with 5 rounds. Even if the gun still has the original .38 S&W chambering remains it will not have much value as the round is semi obsolete and expensive. Such modified guns should be restricted to standard pressure lead loads only.
If the barrel is stamped .38 S&W Spl and has a locking lug then it may be a rare factory snubbie and worth a few dollars to an interested collector. Post some pics if you want an opinion.
Either way, the gun predates the internal positive hammer block safety introduced during WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. I would treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.
Your gun dates to late 1941 or early 1942. It will be a medium 'K' frame' gun and it is likely it started life as a 5 inch barrel .38 S&W British Service Revolver manufactured for the British govt. during World War II. After the war a large number of these had the cylinder bored out to fit the .38 Special cartridge and were sold as surplus in the USA. Many had the barrel cut down to make them 'snubbies', which meant the locking lug at the end of the ejector rod was cut off. Such guns are worth no more than $150. The bored out chamber means cartridge brass is prone to bulging and the lack of a locking lug means that using PlusP ammunition can spring the cylinder yoke - I damaged the yoke on a similar gun with 5 rounds. Even if the gun still has the original .38 S&W chambering remains it will not have much value as the round is semi obsolete and expensive. Such modified guns should be restricted to standard pressure lead loads only.
If the barrel is stamped .38 S&W Spl and has a locking lug then it may be a rare factory snubbie and worth a few dollars to an interested collector. Post some pics if you want an opinion.
Either way, the gun predates the internal positive hammer block safety introduced during WWII after a fatality with a dropped gun. I would treat it as a 5 shooter, leaving the chamber under the hammer empty.