Police S&W 38 - German?
 

I bought this at the same auction I went to last week, it had a dark blue on the barrel and 1/2 of the frame, the other half looked like it had been dipped in something.

So, using vinegar, it stripped the bluing in about 20-30 mins!!! Keep that in mind! :eek:

So, did a search and on the rear grip strap is this marking, a search of the internet showed that it 'might' be post war police marking?

comments?

Any other markings? On the barrel maybe? It could have been captured during the First World War and then re-issued to the German forces. Just a guess.

Ed, I think that this is commonly referred to as the Victory Model... .38 S&W, not .38 Special right? They made lots of them during the war, and I am sure they were pressed into civilian service after the military disposed of them...

I think I remember that the serial number is inside the crane on the frame, and perhaps also under the grips? Herman Goering was carrying a S&W revolver when he surrendered. This gun is post WW1... 1940's timeframe. or later.

Looks like the trigger has been machine knurled?

If my memory serves me(now that is always a question), all of the victory models had a "V" in the serial number. A large number of these were purchased from S&W by England, and were in 38S&W caliber which was their .380/200 caliber. They were considered the M&P series, that later became the Model 10 S&W. I believe the majority of the pistols sent to England had 5in bbl. and the Victory models made for the U.S. had 4in bbl. I am not sure what other countries purchased these pistols, but I imagine, quite a few.....S&W made a huge number of them.

Yes Jerry, The trigger has been "jewelled." A custom touch by a previous owner...

BTW, these pistols can only be converted from .38 S&W to .38 Special by replacement of the cylinder. The .38 S&W case may be shorter, but it is larger at the head than the .38 Special. Some of the guns so-called "converted" to 38 Special just had a chambering reamer run through the cylinder but I don't recommend anyone fire a .38 special in them unless the chambers have been measured by a competent gunsmith. Case head separation can be harmful to your health...

Ed,

Does the bottom of the grip strap say "U.S. Property"? under the lanyard loop?