S&W wartime revolver?

[old tanker]

Just found this four inch M&P covered in post war Birmingham proofs, but free of any US import marks. Chambered in .38 S&W and the cylinder has not been reamed to accept .38 Special like so many were in the Fifties. Not stamped " Not British Made " which I believe they quit doing about 1954.

Serial number is 685087 which I am pretty sure predates Lend-Lease. I have a Lend-Lease BSR that bears a serial number in 880000 range. There are no apparent military acceptance marks, but it has a lanyard ring. Trademark on the right side and the "38 S&W CTG" is flanked by Maltese cross dingbats.

All the numbers match, including the grips

British Purchasing Commission gun? Pre-war commercial sale? Officer's private purchase? As it is chambered for the British service cartridge, what are the odds it saw wartime service?

No clue how it came to orphaned on the bottom shelf of an LGS in Kentucky.

Information

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