Came across a Lend Lease 38 S&W (38/200).
Serial V422XXX which I think is pre-hammer block safety.
Probably between 1941 and 45.

Can anyone let me know if $499. is way to high or reasonable for a gun with minimal wear.
The gun is blued, not black magic. 5 inch barrel.
Some blueing loss around barrel and some slight wear next to grips.
Grips with lanyard ring were in good condition as well. I'm pretty sure it is a consignment gun.
(sorry no pics).

If the gun is blued it is probably a refinished gun, did you check to determine if has been converted to 38 Special as many were and refinished post-war. If this is the case it has no collector value and if converted not even a shooter.

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John. SWCA #1586

I don't believe it's refinished.
I read where the overseas British guns were often blued.
I attached a copy of an article I read on another link.
The gun I looked at is similar to the one in the article but not in as nice of shape.

Casehardn, I think perhaps that article is referring to the pre-Victory guns sent to the allies which were often blue with checkered stocks. The gun you are looking, at based upon the serial number, was produced when the phosphate finish was being used for wartime production. Perhaps Ed, Steve or Charlie will chime in, I am not an expert on these guns but have a few with the phosphate finish and other pre-Victory guns with the standard blue finish.

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John. SWCA #1586

hsguy,
Thanks for the tip. I've been trying to read as much as I can on these V serial numbered guns and I certainly don't want to pay for a refinished gun. I'm going to head back tonight and double check the serial number. The store owner gave me the first 3 digits over the phone and I assumed it was a 6 digit number, but I can see where it would make a huge difference if in fact it was a 5 digit number.

The chances of a V serial numbered Lend Lease 38-200 revolver being original polished blue finished and not the dull Sand Blast Blue, are infinitesimal, in my experience. Ed.

Ed, Thank you for your advice. I will approach this with some scrutiny when I head back there to check the gun out again.
In your opinion, is there anything I should look for on the gun in particular that would tip me off to this being refinished?

If it does turn out to be refinished, does this reduce the value by a certain percentage?

Just look for the normal signs of a refinish, weak logos, dished screw holes etc.. A refinished gun normally starts at 50% of an original gun price wise in my mind.

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John. SWCA #1586

Finally discovered why my info was off...
When I had called the gun shop to get the serial of the gun I had remembered seeing in the shop, he provided me with the serial of another gun.
That's why things just didn't match up. 2 different guns. One was a blued 5 inch 38S&W and the other was a 4 inch Victory 38 special with the matte black finish.

So after stopping in last night, I put the Victory on lay-away.

The gun has all matching serial numbers throughout with the original smooth wood grips, and the original lanyard. The gun has wear in a few areas (I read about this finish being more delicate than regular blue) but overall is in very good condition.
Bore is shiny. After I pick this up next week, I'll post pics.

Glad you got things sorted out and I look forward to the pictures.

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John. SWCA #1586

We'll here's the pics...

When I went to pick up the gun, the store owner told me that the woman who had the gun on consignment said it was her husbands when he was in the Army.

When he died, she took the 4 guns he had and put them in a box and tucked them away in her damp cellar. It wasn't until recently that she wanted to sell them.
Well..as you can see the outside has some wear and minor pitting, which the gun shop owner admitted he tried to clean up a little.

The grips look almost like new and the bore is Minty.
I really don't think it was shot much due to the great condition of the bore and the nice tight lock up.

All serial numbers match, even the grips.

The owner said that was the original lanyard too.

I'm still green when it comes to Victory guns, so I've got some reading to do. But I am glad I have a nice piece of history here and can't wait to shoot her.

Attached Images

	Victory1.jpg (109.8 KB, 32 views)
	Victory2.jpg (117.2 KB, 32 views)