[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

.38 M&P - .38/200 British
Caliber: .38 S&W - The 200 referred to the 200 gr. bullet loaded for the British Service Revolver.
6" Barrel (uncommon as most were 5", also 4" were available).
Commercial Blue Finish with Checkered Grips.
Serial No: 724673 (Stamped on Butt - Bottom of Barrel - Rear of Cylinder - Extractor Star - Back of Crane - Back of Right grip panel)
Matching No: 58075 on Crane & Crane Recess
Marks: On Butt - C with arrow inside - P beside it.
Marks on Grip Frame:
Right Side: "B O" - In front of Main Spring cut.
"26" punched in very small size below & behind grip pin.

Left Side: "G1" At very front & bottom of frame.
Are these marks Canadian? There are no British Proof Marks on the revolver.
Cleaning Rod is stamped: HWC inside circle.
No Markings on Holster.

Manufactured 1938-1945 - Serial No. Range 700,000-1,000,000 - V1-V800000 - SV800001-850000. Additional revolvers were manufactured from 1947 to 1960s for a total of 568,204. Manufactured for Britain & British Commonwealth countires.


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[jacobtowne]

C arrow is a Canadian property stamp, to the best of my knowledge.

Looks like an early one, given the SN and blued finish.

Very nice find.
JT

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

JT

Thanks for the info. I got this along with the 42/byf I posted and it is in very good shape. Also picked-up a couple of boxes of S&W 146 gr. ammo, which I'll reload with 200 gr. bullets, if I can find out what the loading specs were.

 

[Heinrich]

Walter,
Have a similar one. However the C broad arrow is on the left side of the frame above the grip.
Original Canadian made .38/200 WWII ammunition is often to be found at European cartridge shows.
The label are marked 380" DC MK IIZ.

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

Heinrich;

The C-> stamp is only on the butt of my revolver. I guess it could be stamped anywhere according to Canadian regulations?

I am sending a request to Smith & Wesson for their historical letter and will post copies of it as soon as I receive it. I want to know when it was shipped from the factory & to whom.

Thanks for the info on the ammo, I'll start looking for it at the gun shows.

 

[Heinrich]

Walter,
The Canadian inpection instruction is not familiar to me, but on the WWI S&W MKII in calibre .455 the inspection stamp was struck, as on your .38 gun, on the butt.
At that time it was a crown with a number below.

 

[jacobtowne]

Walter:
The following loads duplicate the .380 Mark I service cartridge, as well as the Super Police. (200 grain bullet at about 650fps.)
The loads are from Handloader Magazine Dec. 2002.

Green Dot 2.3
Unique 2.4
Herco 2.7
SR-7625 2.3
SR-4756 2.7
International 2.1
Universal 2.3

Personally, I far prefer shooting 150 grain cast bullets with WW231.
JT

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

JT;

Thanks for the info.I don't plan to shoot too much 200 gr.loads. I just want to to see how they shoot out of my revolver. Unique is my powder, so that's the route I'll go.

I did pick-up 2 boxes each of Winchester 145 gr. & Remington 146 gr. RN Lead bullets in .38 S&W, so I've got lots to shoot!

 

[jacobtowne]

Walter:
That's a nice looking holster. Is there no flap on it? Any markings?
I just last week bought a really nice British issue khaki web holster for my No. 2 Mk 1 revolver. It is stamped 1944, has a standard full flap, and two wire hook thingies on the back for attachment (I assume) to holes in a pistol belt. It was only $18 from Mark Kubes.
JT

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

JT

As you can see from the attached photo it has no flap, And I checked everywhere but could not find any markings whatever. It has a belt loop only, no wire hooks. In taking this picture I just realized that this is a LEFT-HANDED holster!!!

I have to admit that I've not seen another like it. Every military holster I've seen to date is right-handed.

I will be getting another holster that was part of the deal, but it got packed away, as the seller is moving this week. I can't wait to see what type it will turn out to be.



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[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

I just found out that there are many places to find markings on holsters & in the case of the holsters for this revolver, the marks are on the bottom of the snap fasteners.

On the left handed holster:

N.B. LTD. (the T & D are smaller than the L & are underlined.)
Opposite to the N.B. LTD. Are 3 flower emblems consisting of 5 diamond shaped petals each.

The new Right Hand Holster & the Ammo pouch I just received (See Photos) are marked identically:
This holster has a slot inside for a cleaning rod, but it's missing
and the one that fit's the other holster is too long.

UNITED CARR
Opposite to above
CANADA

I also received 30 rounds of .38 S&W Jacketed, (the jackets appear to be steel?), ( See Photo) Ammo head stamped as follows:

R {arrowhead with tail} L 41 - 14 Rounds
380 II Z

R {arrowhead with tail} L 42 - 11 Rounds
380 II Z

DC 42 - 4 Rounds
380

ORBEA 42 – 1 Round
380 II

I understand that England was forced by the Geneva Convention to replace it's 200 gr. Lead RN Bullet with a 178 gr. Jacketed Bullet for the .38 S&W Service Revolver. Is the above ammo the 178 gr. load?

Can anyone advise who manufactured the above holsters, ammo pouch & ammo?


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[45Auto]

I never knew that left handed tanker holsters were ever made. The one you have would be a MK II, English made. I wonder if it is an un-official private purchase item. At any rate, it is a nice find.

The DC headstamp is Canadian. Orbea is a name found on Spanish made revolvers. The other ammo appears to have been made in England.

Best regards,
Greg

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

Greg;

Thanks for the info!

I've written to Smith & Wesson to get their letter on this revolver, 2 weeks ago. As soon as it's received, I'll photo & post it.

 

[BJD SASS 2548LTG]

Here is the detailed letter I received from Smith & Wesson regarding this revolver. I hope you find it interesting.



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[jacobtowne]

Nice catch. There aren't many BPC revolvers around that I know of.
JT