.38 S&W
| .38 Smith & Wesson | ||||||||||||||||
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A box of modern .38 S&W rounds | ||||||||||||||||
| Type | Revolver | |||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||
| In service | 1922–1963 | |||||||||||||||
| Used by | United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||
| Wars | ||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Smith & Wesson | |||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1877 | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson | |||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1877–present | |||||||||||||||
| Variants | .38/200, .380 Rim, .38 Colt New Police, .38 S&W Super Police, MKE 9.65 mm Normal | |||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed straight | |||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .361 in (9.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | .350 in (8.9 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .3855 in (9.79 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .3865 in (9.82 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .440 in (11.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .055 in (1.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case length | .775 in (19.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.240 in (31.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small pistol | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 14,500 psi (100 MPa) | |||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
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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.