A guy brought this revolver into my shop for repairs and I'm at wits end trying to identify it. It looks like a model 36 but it has a flat main spring, the only identifing marks is SW on the right side and made in the USA. It is nickel but that could have been done at a later time. I have some pictures here and the serial number is V701653. Any help from you guys will be greatly appreciated.

Its a pre-war Military and Police that has had its barrel cut off and has been refinished. The "V" beside the serial number would most likely make it a Victory model that was made during the war.

Welcome to the Forum.

S&W built Military & Police revolvers for the British Commpnwealth countries before and during WW II. The majority of these revolvers had 5" barrels and were chambered in .38 S&W, which is NOT .38 special.

Since .38 S&W was not that popular here in the US of A, many of these revolvers were rechambered to .38 special, had the barrel cut to "snub nose" length, often eliminating the barrel lug that is supposed to be located under the barrel, which latches onto the front of the ejector rod, and in addition, the half moon front sight was replaced with a ramp. The revolvers were then sent back to the States.

The proper grips would have been smooth service style walnut.

As bwade stated, the "V" prefix to the serial number shows that it was produced during the war. The lanyard loop has been removed and the hole pluged.

Depending on what issues this gun has, it may not be worth fixing.

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It is a Victory Model that has been butchered. A paperweight in my opinion. I would never shoot such a gun.

This is what it looked like before it was ruined.

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Welcome to the Forum. As said above the gun is a Victory Model made & shipped in Sept. 1944, probably to the British in original caliber .38 S&W, and has been converted to .38 Special by reaming the chamber to take the longer cartridge. It's basically a Model 1905, 4th change. K frame. It has been refinished from it's wartime dull blue finish and the barrel chopped to it's present length. Some say these are unsafe to shoot because the chamber diameter is for a 38 S&W ( 38/200 in Britain) and a .38 Special round is slightly smaller, allowing the case to expand when fired in a .38 S&W chamber. Personally, I have shot thousands of rounds through these converted gun with no problems or spit cases. Granted the cases become fire formed to a .38 S&W chamber and cannot be reloaded to .38 Special specs. Whats left of the gun is still S&W quality. I don't know what it is that needs repair on this gun, but it's a standard K frame parts wise of it's period, so repairs are not rocket science. If you have been to S&W's Armorers school it will be duck soup! Good Luck, Ed.

Thanks guys for all the info. I thought the gun had been modified at some point and I should have known when I saw the V on the bottom of the hand grip. Definite brain malfunction on my part. As for repairs, it has a little hiccup in the DA pull. Just a lot of dust and **** in the box. The customer wanted to have it re-nickel but I can see that would cost more than the gun is worth. Thanks again guys.

Just my humble opinion but the customer would be far better off to find a used but not abused M&P or Model 10 in good mechanical condition which will be safe to shoot. If he spends $300 on it, he will have a gun that is worth $300 or more as long as he takes reasonable care of it.

What that thing is worth, I have no idea. But what is the point of putting money into it? It's not collectable, it's no target gun, and who would want to bet their life on it in a home defense / self defense role?

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