Another S&W .38 Victory

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kingsbrew

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Here are some pictures of a S&W .38 revolver I inherited from my dad. I don't think it is any thing real special. I would like to know where people buy ammo for this and what ammo will fit in it. It seems to be in pretty good shape.

I really don't like the handle. I haven't seen any others with that type of handle. The SNs on the butt and the barrel match. BNP with a crown on the barrel and on the cylinder. I would like to know about when this gun was made.

SW38VictoryRevolver.jpg

SW38Ser.jpg

SW38buttSer.jpg

SW38barrel.jpg


Leroy
 
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kingsbrew, your little victory revolver has british proof marks on the bbl.The crown over the letters BNP stands for british nitro proof, plus the caliber, proof test pressure and case length. So I guess its ok to say your revolver served with the british armer forces at sometime in its life. Frank
 
The original chambering of your revolver was to fit the British .38-200 military cartridge, dimensionally equivalent to the .38 Smith & Wesson.
Many of these revolvers have had their chambers deepened to accept the .38 Smith & Wesson Special. It will be well worth your time to show it to a gunsmith and find out whether it has been rechambered. If so modified, the pistol will still fire .38 S&W, but accuracy will probably suffer, If .38 Spl. ammo is used, the cases will swell upon firing and may split, as the .38 S&W is slightly larger in the case.
Hope this helps.

Larry
 
From the SN, it likely shipped in early 1944. Several members track Victory Model SNs and can tell you for sure.
 
Leroy,

You should be proud of your revolver, not just because it belonged to your father, but it is also an excellent example of a British used Victory Model. Thanks for sharing it.
 
You have fake stag (plastic) grips on it. The originals were smooth walnut. You can learn more about these guns in the correct forum, S&W 1857-1961. They are often asked about there. Someone can suggest a source for original grips.

Yours seems to have seen very little use, and those in that condition are getting less common every year. It is a historically important gun, with over 568,000 being furnished to Commonwealth forces from 1940-1945.

Any gun dealer should be able to order .38 S&W ammo, but do see for sure if it has been converted to .38 Special. Such guns are usually so marked.

This gun should be passed down in your family, with an explanation as to why it is significant.

The US issued basically the same gun, but in .38 Special, and with four-inch barrels. They went primarily to Marine and Naval aviators and to shore patrols, PT boat crews, etc. JFK was armed with one when his PT-109 was sunk by a Jap destroyer.

T-Star
 
If you want to return your Victory to it's original configuration grips show up fairly often on E-bay. You will also find the lanyard ring that goes in the plugged hole in the butt. Just be sure to get one with the retaining pin if you decide to reinstall one.
If you want to shoot, 38 S&W is a little hard to find but occasionally pops up at Bass Pro. Gun shows are another source. Expect to pay around $30 for a box of 50.
Nice looking Victory, I'd be proud to own one like it regardless of the grips, especially if it came to me from my dad.
John
 
Thanks for all of your replies. I thought I wanted to shoot this thing. I will probably shoot it a few times just for grins and then set it aside. Hopefully one of my daughters will marry someone who will appreciate the gun. I'm not sure they will.

I had no idea the gun was that old. I actually talked to a customer at Wally World last night who gave me a lot of information. Thanks again. I will cherish this a little more now. I wish I knew who my dad bought it from. I am sure he got a deal on it.

Leroy
 
kingsbrew said:
Thanks for all of your replies. I thought I wanted to shoot this thing. I will probably shoot it a few times just for grins and then set it aside. Hopefully one of my daughters will marry someone who will appreciate the gun. I'm not sure they will.

I had no idea the gun was that old. I actually talked to a customer at Wally World last night who gave me a lot of information. Thanks again. I will cherish this a little more now. I wish I knew who my dad bought it from. I am sure he got a deal on it.

Leroy
Click to expand...


At one time these sold for under $30. They now sell for three times that, or more, if in good condition.
 
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