The .38 S&W, also commonly known as .38 S&W Short (referred to as such to differentiate it from .38 Long Colt and .38 Special), 9×20mmR, .38 Colt NP (New Police), or .38/200, is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. Versions of the cartridge were the standard revolver cartridges of the British military from 1922 to 1963, in Webley, Enfield, and Smith & Wesson revolvers. Though similar in name, it is not interchangeable with the later .38 Special due to a different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter.
History
thumb|left|Revolvers chambered for .38 S&W (Colt New Police). Colt Police Positives L&R- Iver Johnson Hammerless Safety Front.
thumb|right|British [[Enfield No.2|Enfield No.2 Mk I* DA-only service revolver in .38/200]]
thumb|left|A box of WWII-dated .380" Revolver Mk IIz cartridges (and separate cartridges)
The round was first introduced in 1877 for use in the S&W .38 Single Action.
The Cartridge S.A. Ball Revolver .380 inch Mark II and Cartridge S.A. Ball Revolver .380 inch Mark IIz cartridge were theoretically phased out of British service in 1963, when the 9×19mm semi-automatic Browning Hi-Power pistol was finally issued to most British and Commonwealth forces.
Variants
The .38 Colt New Police was Colt's Manufacturing Company's proprietary name for what was essentially the .38 S&W with a flat-nosed bullet. Commercially, only Ruger makes limited runs of revolvers (e.g., Service Six) in this caliber for overseas sales, and only a few companies still manufacture ammunition.
See also
- Colt Official Police Revolver
- Colt Police Positive Revolver
- Enfield No. 2 revolver
- List of rimmed cartridges
- Smith & Wesson Model 10
- Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
- Webley revolver