I'm looking at a pre Victory in 38 S&W cal. 885xxx s/n range, 5" barrel, United States Property top strap, flaming bomb and WB on butt. A couple of oddities though, there are no British Commonwealth proof marks of any kind and it has the smooth Victory grips that are numbered to the revolver. Can someone shed a little light on this?

Can be all good. A very early Lend-lease version of the British Service Revolver. The property stamping and the smooth stocks started around that time in the winter 1941/42, and if it all numbers to the gun, that is likely original.

Lend-lease guns did not receive any British property marks or service stamps. The absence of British post-war proofs just means it made its way into retirement and back over in some “unofficial” manner. Maybe a war bringback?

What kind of finish does it have?

Brushed blue. I'd like to thank you and the others on the forum who have been kind enough to share their knowledge with me.

Perfect. That’s the right finish, too

Yes, you do have a lend lease revolver. The British insisted on 5" barrels in 38 S&W with a 200 grain projectile. Please note that .38 S&W is not .357" like .38 Special but instead, .361". Look closely and see if you can find a mark any where that's a D with an arrow on each side. If you find it, your revolver went to Australia. These show no British proof marks as do some from other parts of the Commonwealth.

Chief:
The Australian mark is actually the reverse, an arrow with a D on each side

I'm working off of pictures right now but neither the seller or I can find any stamps except what was mentioned in the original post.

178 grain jacketed bullet. The 200 grain lead load was declared obsolescent in 1938.

Peter

Australian marks would be obvious, either the D^D or alternatively A^F quite prominently on the left frame, or a set of marks as on the attached photo on the right frame. There is no way you or the seller could miss those.

Attached Images

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