S&W M&P 5 inch Lend Lease

[Garandrew]

SN on butt is 971471 with ordnance bomb, and WB inspection
SN under barrel is 971471
Assembly number on frame is 18462, and on crane
Number on rear of cylinder is V89295, replaced with .38 special from Victory?
Marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY", and "NOT ENGLISH MAKE"
One wooden stock is numbered 71585, pressed into wood, not pencil, not original
Has BNP's, 5 inch barrel. 38/380 originally, someone tried to convert it to .38 special?
Comments? I know its not minty, its got to be 1942 or so, been through WW2, and I wanted a representstive BLL revolver, its got no post war tonnage release proofs, or import marks, but the cylinder, and numbered stock are changed..

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

The caliber, case length, and proofing pressure was not required until the 1955 proof law, and the NOT ENGLISH MAKE requirement was dropped at the same time. Probably released in the early 1950's.

I believe you are correct that someone has converted it to .38 Special by changing the cylinder. Many in the original .38 S&W caliber were converted to .38 Special by reaming the cylinder to accept the longer but smaller in diameter .38 Special cartridge. The fired cartridge cases were somewhat swelled on the back end.

[browningautorifle]

So...have you checked to see if it's 38 spl or just guessing? When I changed them I used a mod 10 cylinder and did a straight change with a complete cylinder. This one could just be one of those parts guns that appears, although it's nice shape. As you say though, it could have been changed with a US issue cylinder in 38 spl.

[Garandrew]

I'm guessing, I just wanted a representative example.

[browningautorifle]

And an excellent example it is. I always liked the 4" bbl model myself but could never find one. I had a few of them and always changed the cylinder. Usually the barrel too, to a 2" 38 spl...made them a round butt...not much Victory model left after. My first practical handgun was a Victory in 38 S&W and a 5 inch. Learned to shoot revolver with that one.

[Johnny Peppers]

I'm guessing, I just wanted a representative example.

Just drop a .38 Special round in the chamber to see if it properly seats. Much easier to find than a .38 S&W round.

[Garandrew]

.38 special wad cutter drops right in sadly. Can an original unnumbered .38 S&W cylinder be had?

[Johnny Peppers]

Where would you find an original unnumbered .38 S&W cylinder in the correct finish?

[emmagee1917]

Remember , these were made in the USA off an assembly line set up for 38spl. revolvers. They were bored for .38spl spec bullets and .38spl pressures . If the cylinder is in time and gap is OK , it should be a fine shooter in .38 with 158gr .357 FMJs at the period fps.
You might check to see if your bbl muzzle was backbored. A lot of the early ones were due to a concern that the oversized ( for a .38 spl ) 200 gr LRN ( or the 178 gr FMJ ) of the 38/200 would exert too much pressure on the thin end of the bbl and crack it . Now just how the bullet , after being forced down in the forcing cone then traveling at least 4 inches of bore , was expected to expand back the few thousandth to original size is beyond me , but it was a concern at the time.
Now , if you find a spare cylinder or choose to ream this one to 38 S&W ( 38/200 ) and you want to shoot factory ammo , you can. If you want to reload , however , you'd prob'ly get better accuracy from the .358 sized 200 grainers. You will find then also that while you can shoot specials through it then , the cases expand giving very hard extraction and cases bulged beyond reloading.
All in all , my .02 would be to leave it as is ( uness a spare cylinder is found ) .
Chris