Victory Model

[Tim E]

I have a Victory Model Serial #V460861 Nickel with 3 1/2 inch
barrel, smooth wood target grips, lanyard hole is plugged, any info would help. Also Grips are smooth coke bottle type with S&W gold disc

[Art Doc]

A 3.5" barrel and nickel finish would not be correct. The U.S. guns were 4" and the ones made for Great Britain were 5" and all were in the "Black Magic" finish (like parkerizing). If it actually measures 3.5" I would bet a dollar it started as a British model in 38 S&W (not Special) and has been chopped and reamed as so many were after the war.

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Form. Odds are almost certain you have an after market altered British Service Revolve, barrel cut to 3 1/2 in. from original 5 in. and refinished in nickel. The gun may, or may not, have British proof marks depending on whether the alterations were done here or in England. Try chambering a .38 Special round in the cylinder.. If it goes in all the way, it's been bored out to accept the longer cartridge. The original chambering was for .38S&W ( 38/200 the brits called it ) and it will still fire that round OK. Ed.

[Absalom]

It likely shipped originally in late 1943. A couple of pictures showing both sides and any markings including the sides of the barrel would allow confirmation of the (highly likely correct) assumptions already made.

[DWalt]

A great many people have such chopped BSRs, as they are extremely common. Unfortunately, the only value they have is as a shooter, there is no collector interest in them as they are nowhere near their original condition. Yours originally left the factory in the late 1943-early 1944 period, went to the British military, declared surplus by them after the war, and imported in huge quantities by US surplus arms dealers in the 1950s and 1960s. Most of them were mutilated by the importers to sell better on the US market. Back in those days they were mostly sold by mail order at prices around $30.

[Muss Muggins]

Even the chopped ones are hard to find around here. Last one I saw was at a LGS that I frequent regularly, chopped down to 2", and I couldn't get the owner, who is a dear friend of mine, to drop below $300 . . .