WW II RAF Handgun

It appears the 5 inch barrel was replaced with a proper 2inch. I have the history of the gun provided by Roy Jinks the Smith and Wesson historian ( provided for a fee ). The gun shoots fine and is accurate at 25yds which is all I expect for handgun engagements. I carried a former German Army P-38 when an aircrew in Vietnam and it was only for up close and personal situations in case I was down and in the escape and evasion mode. I am presently searching for a replacement 5 inch barrel of the proper age to make the gun ” correct”.

My take on this is that it is a civilian mod. I can’t see any RAF use for such a short weapon. Also I would question why fit a lanyard ring on what has become a pocket weapon. I feel that it would be much better restored to a 5″ barrel as a more authentic service gun. I seem to remember that the “Snowdrops” were issued with these as well as the .38 Enfield revolver.

John

A short barrel doesn’t mean an inaccurate weapon.

My father is a retired railroad police officer, and in the State of Utah that automatically made him a reserve Sheriff’s Deputy.

When he went to the police range for his annual qualification, he always got “regular” police officers miffed. With his Smith&Wesson .357 magnum with a 2 1/4″ barrel, he normally shot a perfect or near-perfect target (50′ range)… far better than most of the “real” officers.

With regard to aircrew carrying handguns, when my pilot and I were posted to the Suez Canal Zone in 1952 we were told on arrival on the squadron that we had to carry a revolver whilst flying. No doubt to fend off the bed bugs.
We duly collected our .38 revolvers and 12 rounds from the armoury, but on asking in the “stores” for holsters were informed that they were out of stock. So we carted our weaponry about loose in our pockets, not comfortable when one wears only underpants and a lightweight flying overall.
Still it was comforting to sleep with it under the pillow after a good session in the mess, to ward off any “klefti wallahs”. I used to only put 4 rounds in so that there was not one turned up on the first pull of the trigger, nor one directly under the firing pin. Happy days

Is it a chopped barrel or a proper 2″ barrel screwed-in? Are there any markings on the barrel that might indicate that it is original?

…my thought was that since it is a large frame revolver a shorter barrel made it much easier to carry in a tight cockpit.

Thanks for posting the photographs.

I have to say that with the short barrel it looks an extremely unbalanced weapon and I would have thought such a modification would be more suited to concealment and a quick-draw than to space considerations in a cockpit. If it were carried by aircrew what use would such a weapon be on the ground as it would hardly be likely to out-range any armed opponent?

Out of interest how do you know it was originally fitted with a five inch barrel and who it was sold to, do S&W have these sorts of records? Also can you tell me how the barrel is fitted to the frame; is the rear part threaded?

My gut feeling is that this is a post-service modification.

However, RAF aircrew were more likely to ‘carry’ out in the Far East (also just because it’s RAF doesn’t mean it was issued to aircrew) and out there there’s a more likely chance of ‘local mods’ being inflicted on service/issue equipment……also makes it turning up where it has perhaps a bit more likely…??? :confused:

The attached photo is the weapon in question. When I received it the grips were plastic which I replaced with the correct period checkered walnut and it was missing the lanyard swivel attachment so I installed a period correct part. If I can’t find any compelling info that the barrel was modified by an RAF user then my next step will be to install a period correct 5 inch barrel so I will at least have a “correct” WW II colectors firearm.

Very unlikely to have been modified in Service use. Many found their way into the hands of private users post-WWII and were gunsmith-modified (a famous example being one shown on the cover of one of the early James Bond novels).

This one?:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=185270&stc=1&d=1275688383

The cut off barrel could have been post war but my thought was that since it is a large frame revolver a shorter barrel made it much easier to carry in a tight cockpit. It was professionally done and I don’t think any enterprising mafioso would bother cutting down a .38/200. I have found elsewhere that a firm in London, Cogsweil and Harris, converted the .38/200’s to .38 specials. I just find it intriguing that agun sold to the British Purchasing Commision, prior to the Lend Lease Act came into effect should show up in all places Anchorage Alaska USA. I just thought it would be great to get more info than I now have on it. Thanks for the replies.

Very unlikely to have been modified in Service use. Many found their way into the hands of private users post-WWII and were gunsmith-modified ( a famous example being one shown on the cover of one of the early James Bond novels ).

The S&W .38 Pistol No. 2 had considerable ‘cachet’ and was a favourite among RAF aircrew as wel las Commando and Parachute units.

Could the mod be post service? Perhaps some nice local Italian family business in New York?

I have in my possession a Smith & Wesson Military and Police Model in .38/200 caliber that was sold to the British Purchasing Commission in New York City in Sept. 1941. It left the factory with a 5 inch barrel but now has a 2 inch. It has RAF stamped on the right side along with a crown over CP which is also stamped on each flute of the cylinder. Can anyone tell me where the modification could have been made?

The ‘crown over CP’ are Proof Marks from the London Proof house.

All firearms have to undergo proof testing, which is basically putting and over-pressure round through it to see if it fails.

UK has two proof houses, London and Birmingham

Moggy