Hi all Newbie here , have been left a gun as part of recent bereavement here in the UK . From what I understand it’s a Smith and Wesson victory model serial no V74124 ..and that’s about all I know about it in relation to its history and how it found its way into the family items kept .

I am sure you guys are much learned in these items than I so perhaps you could give some more information if you can spare the time ...kind regards Paul


Ps have tried to upload pics but the iPad doesn’t seem to like the link button to do this ...I will try later with a pc

Now managed to get some pics up now hopefully these will help

From what I was told last night the late father in law fought in India and wondered if this is where it was used ... we also have some medals also that seems to support the story in some way

Any idea of a guide value as we intend to put the item into a collectors auction?

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You have posted in an incorrect section, the Victory mod was made between 1940 - 1944. Also, please look above for a "sticky" that gives you the information from the revolver we need to properly identify the gun.

I've requested the question be moved to the Hand ejector 1896 - 1961 section, where you will get lots more accurate information.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Since you are located in the UK, your gun is almost certainly a British Service Model of the Victory which was shipped to Britain under Lend-Lease. The serial would place production around early fall 1942.

Since many of these were modified post-war, both in Britain and elsewhere, confirmation and further comments as to condition and originality will have to await pictures.

As usual, Absalom is on target. I'll offer some additional information for you benefit.

If it is an original BSR, it will have a 5" barrel and the cartridge designation on the right side will say 38 S&W CTG. The latter indicates what people on your side of the pond called the .380 Revolver Cartridge. BSRs were chambered for that round because it was the standard for British military handguns during the war. Stateside Victory Models were chambered for the .38 S&W Special.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

On my list are two having very close SNs, both of which shipped in 8/1942. Here is a good overview of the Victory models, both American .38 Special and BSRs. http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/v...and_wesson.htm

If it is in England, how can you legally keep it?

Thank you for the support ..kind regards Paul

Welcome to the forum.

You may want to make some discrete inquiries as to the legality of owning that in the UK. It may have some sentimental value, but it’s not worth being prosecuted for and you’ve already posted on a public forum.

If you can legally keep it, it’s worth doing a thorough cleaning. If it was mine, I’d remove the stocks and give it a good soaking with penetrating oil. Some here swear by a 50/50 moisture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone, but I haven’t tried it. Soaking for a week or more may be in order. After it’s soaked, scrub the outsides with stiff nylon brushes, wipe it off, blow out the insides with compressed air and lightly oil it. It will look a lot better than it does now and will help preserve the remaining finish. It’s missing the lanyard ring (butt swivel), but those are available.

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"I also cook."

Hi Thanks for the posting , yes agree about the security but we have passed the item to someone who holds a Gun licence and he will then take it to auction for us so in that respect we are safe but thanks for the precaution anyway Liked the idea of the clean up so I pass this information on and ask if he would give it a clean as suggested


Thank you again for all the information to date It’s appreciated

Apparently they had revolvers in India but no hammers.

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No life story has happy end.

I think the gun would qualify as a dug relic here in the US. Does it function in any way? No one has commented on the serial number yet, but it looks like V74124 to me???? The first character is certainly not a number and so what type of serial number is it if not preceded by a V, maybe a "Y"???

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Gary
SWCA 2515

That poor old warhorse needs someone who will give it tender loving care.

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Only a cold warrior

I think that the condition of the butt of the stocks is more a result of being buried rather than use as a hammer.

Where was the gun found? Sometimes the back story is as interesting as the piece itself.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Actually, the OP gave us that and we cleared the gun’s identity right at the top

And given the added photos, there’s not much to add. It does indeed look like the gun was buried or otherwise exposed to corrosive influence all around, maybe in some damp basement, since the war. Probably still “all original”

Not to mention that someone thought the stocks were a hammer head at some point.

Why do people DO that???

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

JP@AK:

People do that because they are in dire circumstances and need to drive something, They have no hammer and (for example) the hanger for the explosives has to be placed ASAP.

Priorities override the potential future collector value. I had an uncle who was on Iwo Jima who explained it to me very clearly.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

Again, I think that the stocks were damaged due to being buried and not by being used as a hammer. If used as a hammer wouldn't the metal on the bottom of the grip frame also be dinged? Perhaps it is my monitor or my failing eyesight but the metal looks unharmed to me beyond rust.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Regardless of the condition of this particular revolver, I was trying to respond to JP's last comment.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

And to address this part of your question:

Since you are in the UK, most of us aren’t going to be able to offer useful advice on that.

Here in the US, there are a lot of these British Service Models freely available, in all conditions, and you can get an all-original fully functional specimen without any rust for as little as 300 to 400.

So no auction house would even look at this unless there is a documented mega-story attached to it, like Lord Mountbatten himself carried it. Uncharitable souls might suggest a scrap metal dealer.

But the situation may be quite different in your country as to how such a relic would be valued.

After seeing your pictures, it would have only relic value in the USA - just something to hang on the wall as a decorator item. It appears to be far too gone for anyone this side of the Atlantic to spend time or money in rehabilitating it, as they can be found in much better condition at a reasonably low price - that is, unless as previously stated, it has some historical association that can be verified.

Burma was the closest combat zone to India. It may have seen battle there, maybe with Wingate's Chindits or been issued to John Masters, who moved to the US and became a bestselling author after retiring as a decorated Ghurka officer.


But you'd need proof, not speculation.


UK gun laws are a real pity, esp. since 1997.

Funny you should mention Lord Mountbatten ... it just happens that it was his gun.......Lol only joking .... I really don’t know it’s full history ...isomeone asked does it work ? Yes it does the barrel flips out with ease and appears quite oiled and rotates when fired with empty chambers It cocks ok, and everything seems to work ok The item was found in a brown paper bag in a bottom of a storage trunk which he kept in his bedroom this was covered with old papers going back many years, so was a complete surprise to find this to be honest ... We also found a knife in a sheath with like a antler type bone handle , but can’t think this was a relic of the war .. also some medals so maybe the medals and the gun went together ? Really not sure .....

Morning Quovadisuk,

Nice to see another Brit lurking here. Re your Victory model, when these come up at auction here in the UK, which is often as so many of them were kept after the war by the troops, they dont fetch a huge amount of money. One in decent condition would maybe fetch £100 - £200 at auction, and thats one in good condition. That is mainly because only a tiny percentage of people in the UK can own possess such guns, these guns are very common, not particularly rare, and therefore there is no collector market to speak of. At auction your gun sadly would not have any value to speak of due to its condition.

Your gun 'could' be owned (if you could show its rare and unique due to its manufacture, provenance, history etc) on a UK Firearms Certificate (FAC) under sec 7(3) of the Firearms Act but it could only be stored at a Sec 7(3) gun range and you would not be allowed to take it home. This is due to its date of manufacture and caliber. If it was made pre 1918 and in a not commonly available caliber like .455 then you could keep it at home under sec 7(1) of the Firearms Act.

Re the legality of your gun at the moment, its classed as a Section 5 prohibited weapon, and only a Section 5 gun dealer is allowed possession of it. A normal UK gun dealer, or someone in the UK in possession of a Firearms Certificate would not be allowed to have the gun and would be committing a crime having it, despite the fact they are allowed to own other types of guns. A Section 5 dealer could deactivate it for you and this would cost in the region of £100, with the deactivation and proof certificate to go with it. If its not with a Section 5 dealer and you dont want to spend the money deactivating it, probably the best course of action would be to hand it into the police and they will destroy it.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Hi from North Dakota

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John

With the music of "El Condor Pasa".

"I'd rather be an hammer than a nail, yes I would".

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Expect the unexpected

Welcome to the Forum.

I understand you are not familiar with firearms, but the part that flips out is the cylinder. The barrel is screwed into the frame has the front sight at the muzzle (front end.)

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!