Colt New Service 357 From England

[spencerhut]

So I won this in an auction lot with some other stuff and now I think it might be cool enough to keep rather than just sell.
It's a Colt New Service 357 mfg in 1939 with British proof marks.
I know the grips are wrong.
Anyone have any knowledge or history on us sending these Colt 357's over to England during WWII?

Anyone want to take a stab at this?

Information

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[fjruple]

The British Purchasing Commission bought just about anything that would shoot. Colt New Service, Colt Single Action Army, Smith & Wesson revolvers, etc. In the late 60"s early 70's I remember seeing engraved S&W M&P revolvers in three different grades of engraving being sold out of British Surplus through our local Rod and Gun club in Stuttgart, Germany. I wish I had the money to buy all of them. The one item on the revolvers that I remember the grips were plain Jane walnut, not commercial grips.

[Lee Enfield]

They call them the " Battle of Britain" Colts.

The British Gov't took every .38 cal and .45 cal handgun they could get.

Check to see if the cylinder has been rechambered to .38 S&W - most of the .38 Special/.357 Magnums had a .38S&W reamer run into the chambers.

To me it looks like the finish has been chemically stripped - leads me to think someone may have removed or tried to hide the .38-200 proof marks.

[browningautorifle]

it looks like the finish has been chemically stripped

Like lemon juice or some such...

It's a neat revolver, I'd like to have it.

[spencerhut]

British .357 Magnum proof mark on the barrel. How freaking cool is that?
Bore is minty. Action locks up tight as a bank vault.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/tact...attach/jpg.gif

[Lee Enfield]

British .357 Magnum proof mark on the barrel. How freaking cool is that?
Bore is minty. Action locks up tight as a bank vault.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/tact...attach/jpg.gif

The way I see it, you ran hit a home run with the bases loaded -

It's not rechambered to .38 S&W
It's a .357
It's a 4"
It's a "Battle of Britain" gun

[spencerhut]

The way I see it, you ran hit a home run with the bases loaded -

It's not rechambered to .38 S&W
It's a .357
It's a 4"
It's a "Battle of Britain" gun

Yeah, I agree. I may request a letter on this one.
It shoots so well. Recoils like a .22 with .38 Special loads.
I'd like to think the finish was blasted off by sandstorms in the desert of N. Africa. Will likely never know.

[fjruple]

The pistol should have a provision for a lanyard loop on the butt. All Colt New service revolver except the Shooting Master should have a lanyard loop.