Mr. Eisenberg. And was it always a .38 Special?
Mr. Cunningham. No, it was not. Originally this weapon was known as a .38-200 British Service revolver. In this country the weapon would be known as a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, Victory Model. However, the British gave the designation .38-200 to it.
Mr. Eisenberg. Was this revolver made in the United States?
Mr. Cunningham. It was.
Mr. Eisenberg. And has it been in England subsequent to that?
Mr. Cunningham. Yes.
Mr. Eisenberg. And how can you tell that, Mr. Cunningham?
Mr. Cunningham. Well, first of all, all weapons going into England have to be proofed. They are proofed at, usually, the Birmingham proofhouse.
Representative Ford. What does that mean?
Mr. Cunningham. They are tested for whether they will withstand a certain charge. They place in the cylinders overloaded cartridges, and they are fired, in the cylinder, as this one has been. It has been proofed to 3½ tons. Each chamber in the cylinder has been proofed.