'Nother Bull-Dog Question

[Hard Mouth]

So, feellin' the need for a Bulldog, I picked up a Forehand & Wadsworth "British Bull-Dog" (on topstrap). Looks to have been somebody's nightstand revolver (like some plywood, nickle is  "Good One Side", lilttle flaky on the other). Very clean bore and chambers. Told is is .38 S&W ('tis .38).

Called a local shop that carries one=off stuff to see if he could get me some ammo for it. (He's already gettin' me some .38LC BP carts.) He asked "Long or Short?" (I don't know; cylinder is about 1-1/4"long.) He asks "When was it made?". (I don't know, s/n 66xxx, it appears). Barrel about 2-3/8". He says, "Aw, h***, bring it in, let's see what ya got.", which I will next week.

In the meantime, anybody got some info to cure my iggerance? I'm thinkin' BP loads, but might it be capable of downloaded smokeless. Anybody know a source for BP loads?

Anybody know a source of info to date this?

Thanks for your time and trouble...

[Bob R.]

Post an image.

Forehand and Wadsworths are tough to date, the factory records are gone. The factory became Harrington and Richardson, and nobody knows what happened to them.

I can tell you it is pre 1891, and Wadsworths retirement.

[Captain John Jarrett]

It's chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge (not to be confused with .38 Special), not .38 Long or Short Colt.

[St. George]

There's a current thread on reloading for that round - look a little more on this forum.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!