Recent content by Ballarat

That 1917 looks in excellent condition - nice aquisition. Not too many in that condition these days. My 1917 in the 15,000 range was made early January 1918 so yours would not have been too far behind that. Still has the early grips which changed at around serial 30,000. Note the acceptance mark...

Be mindful of the fact that the cylinder was originally designed for the 455 Eley cartridge, which military loading was a 260g hollow based LRN projectile at about 630FPS. There were other projectiles used also. It should be fine to shoot with 45AR brass, but keep velocity to the low 700FPS...

Picked this piece up a few weeks ago. Lowish serial number in the 15,000 range, however I believe she was refurbished in 1949 where the grooved hammer was replaced and a small P was stamped on the inside of the cylinder cut-out at the junction of the forward frame and base, where there is a...

If the piece is a martially marked US army model 1917 and it still carries its original grips then the right grip will be numbered to the gun written in pencil as per the photo of my example. The revolver may have undergone various refurbishment either factory or arsenal, in which case the right...

I have about 20 rounds of the WW2 manufactured ammo described above. So it even came to Australia. I will probably sell it to a cartridge collector as its probably way too old to shoot through my Colt OP 38-200. My modern day reloads will suffice.

The 38 S&W ctg or 38-200 is still shot quite alot in Australia in the military pistol disciplines. Mainly reloaded, the brass is quite plentiful also. Victory models, Webleys and Colt OP's mainly used, all of wartime vintage. The most common projectile being the standard 38 weight of 158g. Most...

As I understand things, the imperial eagle was supposedly the Russian inspectors final stamp of acceptance. Why this is missing on this example I cannot fathom. The inspectors were very meticulous. Definately points to ponder with this gun. Nevertheless a fine piece still shrouded in some...

David R Chicoine's book Antique firearms assembly/disassembly deals with this on page 212 to remove, and reverse to install. Its a book I swear by for older firearms, well worth buying. Pleased to hear everything turned out fine.

Ed is correct in every detail. The gun would have had an 8 inch barrel, where is the rest of the barrel. It aint no Smith for sure. There are just so many things wrong with the piece. The barrel latch for starters, That lump of swinging metal under the barrel??? Serial and assy number data have...

I have seen a number of these revolvers Australian martially marked that shoot the 357/358 lead projectiles without problems and with good accuracy, mostly using 158g projectiles. I own a Colt OP in 38-200 1942 vintage and also shoots 357/358 projectiles very accurately and of the 158g weight...

The guy who passed on the sale does not know what he has missed. Your is a fine example of a pre V model which is Austrlian martially marked. All correct butt markings apart from the 2 which was probably applied in Australia. The gun has been FTR probably at Lithgow, but that is where the...

The only thing I can see on yours Rute Boye and which you are no doubt aware of is the grips are not original to that gun. So again were probably replaced during the FTR at Lithgow in 1955, cannot shed any light on that F stamp though.

Mate, pull the grips off your pre Victory revolver and see what number the right grip carries, it maybe correct to that gun it may not. Usually the grips were very similar to yours but with the medallion. In any event do not put smooth grips on it, they are totally incorrect for that gun. She...

Thanks for the info Materpiece. Ya learn something new every day. I thought that all the Russian rejects had the Russian barrel lettering ground-off and restamped in English. No mention of that in Pates book either. Interesting.

Ben, beaut story, I hope everything turns out as you wish. Its a nice Victory all the same.