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DG45 · October 11, 2010, 05:31 PM

I own one of the flat-top Brazillian Contract S&W 45's. The finish is well-worn, but is definitely commercial blue; not parkerized. Nevertheless it has military-type smooth walnut handgrips. The only other thing that looks military is the butt swivel.

This gun has mismatched serial numbers. I've always considered it a "mutt" and believed it was made by taking the frame from one revolver and the cylinder from another. Nevertheless, it was handfitted perfectly. If you look closely, you can tell where one place on the lip of the forcing cone was worked on with a file, and a couple of other areas were worked on too, but whoever did it knew exactly what he was doing. The marks are almost (but not completely) imperceptible. After all this handfitting, the gun is perfectly tight, with an action smooth as silk. It shoots to point of aim with 230 grain ball, but shoots slightly higher with heavier loads. It's not quite as accurate as my 6" 38 Special Colt OP revolver is, but is certainly "acceptably" accurate. It's certainly both accurate enough and powerful enough for close quarter work like HD.

Serial number 195xxx is stamped both under the barrel, and on the metal buttstrap of this revolver, but the serial number stamped on the back wall of the cylinder is 186xxx. Both 195xxx and 186xxx fall within the serial numbers of the guns sent to Brazil in 1938 but not WWI guns.

There is some kind of tiny mark (it may be a double oval?) about a quarter of an inch in front of the serial number that's under the barrel. I have no idea what this mark is or what it signifies, but would like to know.

The only other markings that I can see on the gun appear to be sub-assembly numbers. The number 29006 is on the inside of the part of the frame where when the cylinder is closed, it meets the inside part of the swing-out crane. Another marking or number is inside the swing-out crane. This looks like it may be a 4 or possibly some other mark, followed by 7690.

Does anyone on the forum have any idea whether this gun was originally made at the S&W factory from an inventory of stored parts with mismatched serial numbers, or if it was made later from parts salvaged from two different guns?

PS Zippy 13,

The primary consideration in the design of ammo meant for auto pistols is that the ammo feed and eject reliably. That places limitations on the kind of bullets and powder loads that can be used.

However, except for price, the only considerations you have to worry about when buying revolver ammo is that its not too powerful for your gun, that its accurate in your gun and its terminal effect on your target.

Thats why I use Black Hills 45 Auto Rim cartridges for HD in my Brazilian contract 45; ie., its not because I don't like moon clips. I do like 'em. In fact, I keep a couple of them in my bedside table drawer all the time, loaded with 45 ACP ball for speedy reloading. But I can't find factory-made 255 grain LSWC's in 45 ACP and thats the 45 Auto Rim load I prefer. The Black Hills concoction pushes a LSWC out of my gun at something over 800 fps muzzle velocity.

October 11, 2010, 05:31 PM	#36
DG45 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Posts: 904	I own one of the flat-top Brazillian Contract S&W 45's. The finish is well-worn, but is definitely commercial blue; not parkerized. Nevertheless it has military-type smooth walnut handgrips. The only other thing that looks military is the butt swivel. This gun has mismatched serial numbers. I've always considered it a "mutt" and believed it was made by taking the frame from one revolver and the cylinder from another. Nevertheless, it was handfitted perfectly. If you look closely, you can tell where one place on the lip of the forcing cone was worked on with a file, and a couple of other areas were worked on too, but whoever did it knew exactly what he was doing. The marks are almost (but not completely) imperceptible. After all this handfitting, the gun is perfectly tight, with an action smooth as silk. It shoots to point of aim with 230 grain ball, but shoots slightly higher with heavier loads. It's not quite as accurate as my 6" 38 Special Colt OP revolver is, but is certainly "acceptably" accurate. It's certainly both accurate enough and powerful enough for close quarter work like HD. Serial number 195xxx is stamped both under the barrel, and on the metal buttstrap of this revolver, but the serial number stamped on the back wall of the cylinder is 186xxx. Both 195xxx and 186xxx fall within the serial numbers of the guns sent to Brazil in 1938 but not WWI guns. There is some kind of tiny mark (it may be a double oval?) about a quarter of an inch in front of the serial number that's under the barrel. I have no idea what this mark is or what it signifies, but would like to know. The only other markings that I can see on the gun appear to be sub-assembly numbers. The number 29006 is on the inside of the part of the frame where when the cylinder is closed, it meets the inside part of the swing-out crane. Another marking or number is inside the swing-out crane. This looks like it may be a 4 or possibly some other mark, followed by 7690. Does anyone on the forum have any idea whether this gun was originally made at the S&W factory from an inventory of stored parts with mismatched serial numbers, or if it was made later from parts salvaged from two different guns? PS Zippy 13, The primary consideration in the design of ammo meant for auto pistols is that the ammo feed and eject reliably. That places limitations on the kind of bullets and powder loads that can be used. However, except for price, the only considerations you have to worry about when buying revolver ammo is that its not too powerful for your gun, that its accurate in your gun and its terminal effect on your target. Thats why I use Black Hills 45 Auto Rim cartridges for HD in my Brazilian contract 45; ie., its not because I don't like moon clips. I do like 'em. In fact, I keep a couple of them in my bedside table drawer all the time, loaded with 45 ACP ball for speedy reloading. But I can't find factory-made 255 grain LSWC's in 45 ACP and thats the 45 Auto Rim load I prefer. The Black Hills concoction pushes a LSWC out of my gun at something over 800 fps muzzle velocity.