Help identify.

[Freightman]

Traded for a S&W revolver today and I can't find a picture that matches HELP!!
The extractor rod has no housing at all it is just below the barrel with a indintion on the barrel to make room for th head of the rod.
It has no modle number wher most of them are it looks like a M10 except for th extractor rod, it has a square butt on it holds 6 rounds and has a 2 1/4 " barrel. A man down the street said that he thought it was a pre M10 M/P revolver.
the S.N. is 7411XX and the cylinder ans barrel are numbered also
Has anyone got an idea when it was made ane what it is?
Thanks
PS I looked under the gripps and it has 4 screws in the side plate and the plate is on the right side.

 

[SDC]

Any more information? Calibre, sights, barrel length, frame size, and especially a digital picture would be useful.

 

[Freightman]

It has a 2.25" brl fixed sights and I do not know which frame it looks exactley like a M10 38 Special except for the extractor rod.
It is a 38 special. the gripps have it to be a M/P if that helps.
I wish I could get you a picture it is nickle coated but I would bet this is not the origional finish it is to perfect for a gun of this obvious age.

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm going to stick my neck out ...

I think what you MIGHT HAVE is a S&W .38/200 revolver that was chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge (not .38 Sepcial) and made for the English during World War Two. It originally had a 5" barrel. During the middle 1950's many of these were rechambered to .38 Special and the barrels cut to around 2 1/4 inches. The front sight was then remounted. In the process the underlug on the barrel was eliminated - not a good idea. The referbished (?) revolvers were then exported to the United States. If I'm right the gun was made around 1940 or 41.

Look at a chamber and see if it has a "step" in it about 3/4 of the way down. I recommend that if this is the case you don't shoot it because .38 Special cases are likely to split. Under no circumstances shoot any kind of +P ammunition in it.

All of this is speculation without a picture, and of course I could be wrong.

 

[Freightman]

This is right informatiom
n as I got the same information from the S&W historian. Thanks.
I have fired the gun and it has not been a problem with the brass and the cylinder measures 38 spec.
Thanks for the info, this is a great place fof information. Here is the content of the letter I got from S&W.
"the revolver in question is a .38/200 British Service Model and it was sold in Febuary of 1941. The barrel has been cut to 2.5 inches as that is not the origional barrel length. Roy G. Jinks, Historian, Smith & Wesson."
PS I did have it cked out by a comptent gunsmith and he said it was fine and in good shape. I never use +P ammo, or load to the max.
Thanks again for the information apriciate your time.