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The .38 S&W: THE LITTLE ROUND THAT REFUSES TO DIE

BY DAVID J. LAPELL

1942 Vintage Smith & Wesson .38-200 British Lend Lease revolver.

It has been known by many names throughout its long life: the .380/200, the .38 New Police, the Belgian 9mm revolver, but it first started off as the lowly .38 S&W.

In 1876 Smith & Wesson began producing their new First Model “Baby Russian” revolver chambered in a new cartridge, the .38 S&W. Given its nickname because of the resemblance to the larger Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian, the First Model was a five-shot single action revolver that was offered with either a 3-1/2 inch or 4-inch barrel and was ideal for concealing in a vest or pants pocket. Both the revolver and the new .38 caliber cartridge proved to be an instant success. All of the small, concealable handguns prior to that were chambered mostly in .22 and .32 rimfire, leaving much to be desired in the realm of stopping power. The Smith & Wesson First Model and the .38 S&W bridged the gap between the little underpowered pocket guns and the larger, more powerful revolvers that were too difficult to conceal.