   the .38 smith & wesson special (commonly .38 special, .38 spl, or .38 spc, pronounced "thirty-eight special") is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by smith & wesson. it is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round. the .38 special was the standard service cartridge of most police departments in the united states from the 1920s to the early 1990s, and was also a common sidearm cartridge used by soldiers in world war i. in other parts of the world, it is known by its metric designation of 9Ã29.5mmr{{cite book|last = hogg| first = ian| title = jane's infantry weapons 1989-90, 15th edition | publisher = jane's information group| year = 1989| i
1902_introductions PhilippineaAmerican_War Pistol_and_rifle_cartridges