Inherited it with a pach grip thing attached. Just trying to get model and age. No model num behind yoke. 4 screws on the plate and one on the guard. Stamped .38 special serial number V. 397461 I've tried to attached pics but it's being difficult.image.jpg

Welcome to the forum.

That is almost certainly a modified WWII Victory model that originally had a five-inch barrel and was chambered in .38 S&W, which is an older and slightly different cartridge from the .38 Special. It is also known as the British Service Revolver. S&W produced hundreds of thousands of these guns for the Commonwealth allies during WWII. The serial number suggests manufacture in early 1943.

After the war, many of these revolvers were reimported to North America with their barrels cut to two inches (which involved loss of the front locking lug for the ejector rod) and cylinders bored out to accept the longer .38 Special round. There is no collector value to the gun because of the modifications, but these can be reliable shooters. One warning: because the .38 special round is of slightly smaller case diameter than the original .38 S&W, brass may swell slightly in the cylinder when fired. Some conversions involved overboring the chambers and sleeving them for .38 Special. Such guns don't have the swelling problem.

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David Wilson

From what I can see of the frame, by holding my iPad upside down, I would venture to say that it is a victory model that was originally chambered for 38 S&W, for the British during WWII, then converted to 38 S&W 'Special' after the war by simply reaming out the chambers a little bit to allow the insertion of the longer (but smaller diameter) 38 Spl cartridge. Hence the non factory stamping on the frame. Many land lease revolvers were converted in this fashion after the war, some in England by Cogsworth and Harrison and others. This may result in split cartridges if you attempt to fire 38 spls in them. (That is if my guess as to what you have is correct in the first place). Some folks recommend using the 38 S&W cartridge that it was originally chambered for, which it should still handle, although this will leave a space in dront of the shorter cartridge case that the bullet will have to jump before entering the barrel. Hopefully some real experts, of whoch there are many on the forum will be along shortly to give us a hand, though.

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I am a slow typer. While I was typing, David Wilson, one of the folks I was thinking about beat me to it...

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Welcome to the forum.

Unique family heirloom! Shoot and enjoy it.

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Jim
S&WCA #819