Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this amazing double/single action revolver today for a penny-start auction, this is the Smith & Wesson .38/200 British Service Revolver!
This particular example was converted by Parker Hale in England to accept .38 Special loads!
This particular example was converted by Parker Hale in England to accept .38 Special loads!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: .38/200 British Service Revolver
Serial: 887885
Range of Manufacture: 1940-1945
Caliber: .38 S&W converted to .38 Special
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4" pinned barrel
Optics/Sights: Ramp front with Square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered walnut grips
Action: Double/Single Action
Markings: Standard / The front sight is stamped "PARKER HALE ENGLAND". The barrel, cylinder, and frame are all stamped with a British crown over "BNP" proof marks. The butt is stamped with a flaming ordnance bomb and a "W.B." inspector mark.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Model: .38/200 British Service Revolver
Serial: 887885
Range of Manufacture: 1940-1945
Caliber: .38 S&W converted to .38 Special
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4" pinned barrel
Optics/Sights: Ramp front with Square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered walnut grips
Action: Double/Single Action
Markings: Standard / The front sight is stamped "PARKER HALE ENGLAND". The barrel, cylinder, and frame are all stamped with a British crown over "BNP" proof marks. The butt is stamped with a flaming ordnance bomb and a "W.B." inspector mark.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Caliber-38 S&W is a double-action revolver built on the square butt K frame with 5 screws, featuring a 200-grain bullet. It is identical to the 38 Hand Ejector 1905 4th model and the Victory Model, with the only difference being the caliber. The revolver is available with 4-inch, 5-inch, or 6-inch pinned barrel lengths, with a 6-shot fluted cylinder having a nominal length of 1.56". It is offered in bright blue, sandblast brush blue, or sandblast Black Magic finish. The revolver has a 1/10" round blade front sight and notch cut rear service sights, along with a square butt frame with checkered diamond walnut grips with S&W monograms for the commercial version and smooth walnut without monograms with a lanyard ring for the military service version.
It is reported that 110,379 K-200s were sold to the British with Black Magic finishes using both the carbonia and Black Magic processes, starting at around s/n 680,000. The serial range continues within the M&P series 1905 4th change, in a range of about 700,000 to 1,000,000. Then the revolver was numbered with a V serial prefix (for Victory) in the same serial number range as the .38 Special Victory Models, starting over from V 1 to about V 769,000. Early Lend-Lease guns were marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY or "U.S. Property" on the top strap. "Made in U.S.A." appears on the right side of the frame in front of the trigger guard, with the S&W trademark on the sideplate. Usually, they have "G.H.D." or "W.B." inspector marks. Later production guns were marked the same as those in the Victory Model. When a new style hammer block was introduced in December 1944, due to an accidental discharge aboard a naval ship when a gun was dropped, killing a sailor, the serial prefix was again changed to SV to indicate this new change in the hammer block.
It is recommended to have a competent gunsmith check out any non-factory conversion to .38 Special, as some of these conversions are poorly and unsafely done. Please note that the 38 Special cartridge is slightly smaller in diameter than the .38 S&W (38-200), and a 38 Special will usually crack or bulge the case if the conversion was not properly done. Many of these conversions were done by "Parker Hale" in England.
It is reported that 110,379 K-200s were sold to the British with Black Magic finishes using both the carbonia and Black Magic processes, starting at around s/n 680,000. The serial range continues within the M&P series 1905 4th change, in a range of about 700,000 to 1,000,000. Then the revolver was numbered with a V serial prefix (for Victory) in the same serial number range as the .38 Special Victory Models, starting over from V 1 to about V 769,000. Early Lend-Lease guns were marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY or "U.S. Property" on the top strap. "Made in U.S.A." appears on the right side of the frame in front of the trigger guard, with the S&W trademark on the sideplate. Usually, they have "G.H.D." or "W.B." inspector marks. Later production guns were marked the same as those in the Victory Model. When a new style hammer block was introduced in December 1944, due to an accidental discharge aboard a naval ship when a gun was dropped, killing a sailor, the serial prefix was again changed to SV to indicate this new change in the hammer block.
It is recommended to have a competent gunsmith check out any non-factory conversion to .38 Special, as some of these conversions are poorly and unsafely done. Please note that the 38 Special cartridge is slightly smaller in diameter than the .38 S&W (38-200), and a 38 Special will usually crack or bulge the case if the conversion was not properly done. Many of these conversions were done by "Parker Hale" in England.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
