I just bought a 38 S&W victory in great shape for $350 so I'm happy with it. My question is it lacks the stamps I see on other models such as 3 1/2 half tons. At the end of each flute on the cylinder is marked with a crown and three letters that are hard to make out. At the base of the cylinder the word, "England" is stamped. The US Property stamp on the top strap is missing and may have been ground off. On the bottom of the barrel on the flat there is no serial number. The grips are numbered to the gun as is the cylinder. S/N V7631xx. Any info would be appreciated.

Until one of the Victory gurus responds here's my guess. Likely the barrel was replaced after the revolver was proofed for export. The stamps on the cylinder are proof marks. Could we get some pictures please.

Could also be a GI bringback. Not too unusual. The lack of a SN on the barrel would indicate it is a replacement. S/N V7631xx would date the original shipment to around late 1944-early 1945. It would have been among the last Victories shipped to the British.

The crown-and-three-letters marks on the cylinder can really only be the BNP proof from Birmingham. The other proofs could have been on the barrel that was replaced, although there should be another crown/BNP on the frame, as well as a view mark around the trigger guard on the left. And the ENGLAND is not standard either, although I seem to remember this has come up before. But that’s different than the pre-1955 NOT ENGLISH MAKE.

What is the cartridge stamped on the barrel? Likely it is: 38 S&W Special CTG.

Since the British Victory models are chambered for the 38 S&W CTG, not 38 Special. The change of barrel was because it's likely changed to 38 Spl by the importer once imported back in this country.

The cyl is likely re-chambered from 38 S&W to 38 Special since the cyl is original with the serial # matching the gun.

Both are very common modifications for re-imported Brit 38 S&W service revolvers. Although the barrel is not as often changed to the correct 38 Spl bore size. So yours is a cut above the majority or the barrel could have been changed later by an earlier owner.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Second the motion.

FWIW - I have SN V491755 (early 1944?) BSR which has exactly the same markings and lack of markings. BNP & crown and "ENGLAND" on the cylinder and no property stamp on the top strap. I think I can see a slight difference in the bevel where it might have been ground or buffed off. You can see where it was obviously refinished at some point.

I my case I know the barrel was swapped to a 4" .38 SPL (DIY) and the chambers bored out. At least the barrel looks to be period correct.

(The Bubba thumb latch has long since been replaced)

Attached Images

franken victory.jpg (62.5 KB, 29 views)

lHondo, the barrel is marked .38 S&W and a .38 special will not fit in the cylinder.

So I presume it is 5” and an original BSR replacement barrel.

I haven’t had much luck finding anything about the ENGLAND stamp. I’ve found references to several in various forums in all shapes, from .38 Spl re-barrels to 2” nickel, and they all seem to have that combination of BNP/crown near the flutes and ENGLAND stamp but missing other standard stamps. One re-blued specimen had a random BNP without crown stamped where the view mark usually is.

But nobody has an explanation. Most web searches lead to guns with the pre-1955 NOT ENGLISH MAKE stamp.

Well that's nice, still in the original cartridge chambering. The reason for the barrel swap now becomes a mystery.

Could have been a Brit arsenal replacement during the war or owner replacement because a previous owner had cut or bulged the barrel.

We'll never know the true reason.

Shoot and enjoy!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Absalom, thanks for info, where is the view mark you refer to?

Picture is attached. The Birmingham view mark consists of crossed sceptres or swords (depending which source’s interpretation you accept) with letters and numbers, and is located on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard, either in front (most common) or behind the trigger.

Attached Images

A603790E-1281-479F-9058-5814173A4439.jpg (36.8 KB, 13 views)