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Colt. .380 Shanghai Municipal Police – 2 MORE !

5K views 32 replies 16 participants last post by  ei8ht 
#1 · (Edited)
I previoulsy had 11 of those Colt .380 made for Shanghai Municipal Police

I have recently acquired two more (out of the first batch of 1925)

S/N 88332 # 299
S/N 88601 # 173

Both are all-matching (frame, slide, barrel)
As expected, they come with their special grips, double-holed mags, lanyard

Firearm Gun Trigger Starting pistol Everyday carry
Firearm Gun Trigger Starting pistol Airsoft gun


Firearm Gun Trigger Gun accessory Gun barrel
Firearm Gun Trigger Gun accessory Gun barrel


Interestingly, 88332/299 has a weapon property number on fore strap : U3130
If you have any idea what this marking refers to, please help

Product Bicycle part Carbon


For your consideration, fellow gentlemen (namely ei8ht !)
 
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#5 ·
Recently I was the high bidder on one of these right up until the end. I was outbid by a fellow forum member. I decided not to run it up anymore. It sold at a real good price. I'll remember who you are and get even sometime down the road. Just kidding. Don't blame you a bit for bidding. It was a real good buy. Glad you got it.
 
#6 ·
FYI

Those two SMP's (as all the others I bought in the past years) were acquired in Canada. Since they are considered "prohibited" under Canadian law, one must be grandfathered to acquire and own them. Because of a low demand, they sell for a fraction of their price in USA. That's why I can afford buying them. Unfortunately, because they don't meet BATF standards, they cannot be exported south of the border.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Most Excellent addition Bruno.
You certainly have the Canadian advantage!
I have no idea about the property number on fore strap.

I recently added a SMP hammerless for a total of 9 now for me.
Hard to find and getting expensive.

A couple of new made 1903's for me but that is all.

Have a cigar!

Jim


Sent from my mPhone using 1903power Pro II
 
#11 · (Edited)
Nope not a Clue.
Except it is the one right after U3129.
And:
A year later it is still a total of 9 for me.
Because they are still hard to find and expensive.

M1908 380 SMP 88304 # 915 1925
(close to your
88332)
Gun Firearm Trigger Gun accessory Wood


All-matching (frame, slide, barrel)
with special grips, double-holed mags, lanyard loop.



Close but no Cigar Bruno...


ei8ht®

 
#12 ·
I have two comments. The "U" number on your SMP pistol appears similar to ones that were put on pistols for which concealed weapons licenses were issued in Shanghai. In at least a couple of cases SMP .380s were given (issued) for important foreigners living in the Concession. It is possible that is one that was given to an important personage, who was then issued a concealed carry license for it. Some SMP M1908 pistols may have made points to come into the USA by having an extended barrel put in them. Once in the USA these barrels were replaced by the proper barrel. I bought one of these pistols once that had the extended barrel still.
 
#14 ·
I have seen two pistols with markings such as this that were accompanied by the concealed carry license--one was an FN 1910 and the other was a Colt 1903. the FN1910 was from the French Concession and the 1903 from the International Concession but they were both marked in the same way. I have a photo of hte 1910 and the license somewhere in the photos for one of my books on the SMP. If I can find it, I'll post it.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Forgot to mention in regards to the SMP giving pistols; the SMP holster pictured in my WORLD'S FIRST SWAT TEAM book came from an SMP M1908 presented to a Scandinavian diplomat.
Firearm Gun Trigger Starting pistol Airsoft gun


Most Excellent Book.
Anyone that Collects SMP Marked Pistols Should Have a Copy.

ei8ht®
 
#18 ·
Sorry, I don't know how the numbering system worked. There were actually quite a few CCLs issued in Shanghai but I agree not enough to merit such a high number if they were just numbered sequentially. The SMP allegedly purchased a few Colt .25 autos but they may have been FN M1905 autos. I have one of these that reportedly W. E. Fairbairn carried after he became a high ranking member of the force. When he left Shanghai in 1940 it was reportedly given to his driver who took it with him when he left Shanghai. WEF's daughter did confirm to me that he had a "small pistol" that he carried in his pocket. Of course, when he commanded the Reserve Unit he also kept a Thompson leaning against the wall in his quarters. The FN also bears Alcock and Pearce retailer markings, as well as "S.M.P." and a number. It is pictured in Anthony Vanderlinden's book on FN pistols. The comment about the longer barrels was addressing the point that the pistols could not be exported to the USA. If I remember some of the Colt 1911s and 1911A1s that were taken into SMP service, when recovered from the streets or otherwise acquired had such numbers added. I have seen posts on this forum about these non-Colt roll marked guns, which were with issue numbers above the standard SMP 1911A1s.
 
#20 ·
I think this is just a happy coincidence, there was a block of CZ-27's with the "U" prefix that supposedly indicated they were for training purposes, or possibly test articles.
They didn't have factory-stamped S/N's as far as I know, just the electro-penciled numbers.
Unlike the regular production CZ-27's, had Eagle/4 proofs in addition to the "standard" WaA76 proofs (or police proofs).
They are highly sought after; I haven't found one yet :)
here's two more:

"http://www.p38guns.com/U2505.htm"
"http://www.p38guns.com/U3045.htm"
 
#29 ·
Based on the prices I've seen lately I'm impressed that some of you who fancy SMP .380s keep adding to your collection. I was fortunate to buy a lot of mine when they first came in and before their prices rose so high. I would be interested in knowing how many were imported into Canada. There were also some imported into the UK along with some SMP Webley revolvers. A gun shop in Aldershot had some of them, but I'm assuming that most got turned in when the stricter UK gun laws were passed.
 
#30 ·
The person from whom I acquired my Shanghai had a bunch of replacement parts specifically for the Shanghai pistol. I would assume he still has them. I was tapped out $$ after purchasing from him 7 M’s (3 in boxes), Audrey holster... that I didn’t have him take the extra parts out to even look at - might have owed him my left nut along with the gun money allotment I forked over to him.
 
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