I recently picked this up at an auction. It is a Colt "Official Police" Revolver used by the British and Australians in World War II. There doesn't seem to be a ton of information about these, but I will summarize what I have been able to find.
The British were desperately short of arms following the fall of France so they sent a purchasing commission to the US in 1940. This preceded the lend-lease agreements that developed after the British ran out of money to purchase items with. It was the work of this commission that would lead to the development of the famous P-51 Mustang fighter among other things. Colt was one of the companies that the purchasing commission entered into agreements with and approximately 15,000 Official Police revolvers were purchased and delivered in 1940-41.
They are denoted by the proof mark of the Royal Woolwich Arsenal, a "W" inside of a crown, and also by the extra serial numbers applied on the butt. The regular Colt serial numbers, typically in the high 600,000 range, are also found on the frame and cylinder crane. If you are a soccer fan, the Woolwich Arsenal is what the Arsenal Football Club is named after.
My example was delivered in 1941 and also carries the "D - Broad Arrow - D" markings of the Australian Defense Department. I haven't came across any information that clarifies if it went straight from the US to Australia, or if it went to Britain first. It is believed that the Woolwich Arsenal mark was applied at the Colt factory by a British inspector, so either is possible.
The 38-200 caliber marking is for the standard British revolver cartridge of the period that was also used in the British #2 Mk.I revolver. I haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but the action is in excellent condition and the bore looks mint. There is some pitting in just a few places that is consistent with the points of contact with the top flap of the standard British holster of WWII. They were made of canvas and I would guess that this revolver was in a holster that got rained on while being carried.
The British were desperately short of arms following the fall of France so they sent a purchasing commission to the US in 1940. This preceded the lend-lease agreements that developed after the British ran out of money to purchase items with. It was the work of this commission that would lead to the development of the famous P-51 Mustang fighter among other things. Colt was one of the companies that the purchasing commission entered into agreements with and approximately 15,000 Official Police revolvers were purchased and delivered in 1940-41.
They are denoted by the proof mark of the Royal Woolwich Arsenal, a "W" inside of a crown, and also by the extra serial numbers applied on the butt. The regular Colt serial numbers, typically in the high 600,000 range, are also found on the frame and cylinder crane. If you are a soccer fan, the Woolwich Arsenal is what the Arsenal Football Club is named after.
My example was delivered in 1941 and also carries the "D - Broad Arrow - D" markings of the Australian Defense Department. I haven't came across any information that clarifies if it went straight from the US to Australia, or if it went to Britain first. It is believed that the Woolwich Arsenal mark was applied at the Colt factory by a British inspector, so either is possible.
The 38-200 caliber marking is for the standard British revolver cartridge of the period that was also used in the British #2 Mk.I revolver. I haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but the action is in excellent condition and the bore looks mint. There is some pitting in just a few places that is consistent with the points of contact with the top flap of the standard British holster of WWII. They were made of canvas and I would guess that this revolver was in a holster that got rained on while being carried.
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And a thumbs up to the previous owner who didn't just toss the lanyard ring! 
