Mauser lover
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This time, does anyone know what handgun he used? It’s definitely not a Colt, but doesn’t really look like any S&W I know of. Thanks.
Click on that link JohnKSa posted (post # 3 this thread). When I first read the OPs post, the first thing I thought of was Jack Ruby's pistol too. Then when I read the link JohnKSa posted, I remembered Oswald also had a pistol that he shot a police officer with when he was apprehended.Never heard about his pistol, just a 6.5 Carcano rifle is the only firearm I've ever heard associated with LHO.
Yes, but...A Wiki search on Ofticer Tippett states that he was murdered with a S&W Victory .38spl snub nose
For reference, the S&W Victory, as issued to the British, is at the bottom in this picture. The British contract ones were all in .38 S&W, with 5 inch barrels. The middle gun, below, is the U.S.-issued version, with 4 inch barrel and in .38 Special. The top gun is a Colt Commando, also a WW2 contract gun. All 6-shot guns.That doesn't look like any S&W Victory I'm aware of. It appears to be a 5-shot? Also, note the lack of an underlug. I hadn't thought of it being sawn-off. Still, it looks like a 5-shot!
If you look at the pictures in the second link I provided, photo #41 shows a picture of the opened cylinder taken from the rear. It is definitely a 6 shot.That doesn't look like any S&W Victory I'm aware of. It appears to be a 5-shot? Also, note the lack of an underlug. I hadn't thought of it being sawn-off. Still, it looks like a 5-shot!
Very interesting pistol.A Wiki search on Ofticer Tippett states that he was murdered with a S&W Victory .38spl snub nose
There we go! Mystery solved. I missed the second link and had only seen the same photo from Wikipedia, which now looks like it’s just not locked, rather than being five shots. Maybe?If you look at the pictures in the second link I provided, photo #41 shows a picture of the opened cylinder taken from the rear. It is definitely a 6 shot.
National Archives NextGen Catalog
The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.catalog.archives.gov
There is also at least one photo showing that the gun is stamped .38Spl.
Interesting. The .38 Special has a slightly smaller base diameter than the .38 S&W, but its case length is longer. As a result, these rounds normally won't fit in each other's chambers. But when a .38 S&W chamber is lengthened to accommodate a .38 Special round, then that chamber can use either round (after a fashion). Strangely, the .38 Super will also fit, even though it's a semi-rimless round. (It won't fit in either a .38 Special or a .38 S&W unmodified chamber.)I was told once that Oswald's revolver was found to be loaded with a strange collection of rounds, like 38 S&W, 38 Special, 38 Super (or maybe 38 ACP)
I also heard that when he was arrested he tried to shoot but the gun didn’t go off. Maybe this is an explanation?I was told once that Oswald's revolver was found to be loaded with a strange collection of rounds, like 38 S&W, 38 Special, 38 Super (or maybe 38 ACP), as if he had been buying ammo one round at a time from assortments of loose ammo and just bought anything marked "38". I used to see boxes of odd rounds at gun shows, and I imagine gun stores used to have them too. Oswald had very little money.
Anyway, mystery solved