Just got a victory . 38 nickle plated s# v261xx can any give anymore info on this gun thank you

We really need a few more details to provide much information. Is it 38 Special or 38 S&W? Does it have a 4 inch barrel, or a 5 inch barrel? What markings are on the top strap? What markings are on the butt of the frame, etc. Photos would also help.

Steve

Welcome to the forum. If your Victory has been nickeled, it has been refinished at some point. A five-digit numerical portion after the V points to early production in the series -- probably Spring of 1942.

Does the gun say .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG on the barrel, or just .38 S&W CTG? The .38 Special was the standard round for Victory revolvers destined for American service, but the Commonwealth guns, available under lend/lease, were in .38 S&W.

How long is the barrel? Many British service revolvers were modified for export and sale in North America after WWII. Common changes are shortening of the barrel from five inches to two, and deepening the chambers so .38 Special rounds could be inserted in the cylinder. These changes are not always in the best interest of the gun or its shooter for reasons we can get into if yours is a converted British specimen.

Can you post photos?

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David Wilson

As long as we are here, the trading post has a very nice Lend/Lease Victorty in the case on consignment. It is nearly perfect condition. It is chambered for the .38 S&W. The money is a little steep, I think.

the barrel is 4inch and the barrel says 39 s&w ctg. its the s&w 38 at bottom of the gun is just the # v261xx no other markings

Shaun, pics would really help here because the lend/lease guns in .38 S&W almost all had five-inch barrels. Are you measuring from the muzzle all the way to the face of the cylinder? That's how barrel length is determined on S&W revolvers.

Do you see any unusual stamps on the steel? The British revolvers usually have a mix of acceptance and proof stamps on them in addition to the expected factory stamps. You might not see them if they were polished off in preparation for the new nickel finish.

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David Wilson

As I've found out, anything is possible with the Commonwealth victories. Mine had the original 5" barrel replaced with a poorly installed standard 4" 38 Special barrel, the cylinders bored out to fit the 38 Special case, and had the U.S. Property markings ground off (by an unscrupulous importer most likely). Add Magna grips and you have a fake "model 10" for an unsuspecting buyer (or someone who impulsively buys old firearms without doing their homework because they are really cool and appear to be mechanically sound and if they don't buy it right now someone else will come along and it will be gone forever - not that I know anyone like that).

The .38 S&W is not the same cartridge as the .38 Special.

Here are Shaun's photos:

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David Wilson

Now that we have seen pictures, what I have to say about this gun pretty much confirms earlier suspicions. It has been refinished for post-military use in the civilian market. The lanyard loop has been removed, and some British acceptance and proof marks have been almost polished away. I think I see part of a crown proof stamp under the MADE IN U.S.A. rollmark, and possible on the butt of the gun as well.

I can't quite read the serial number in the flash glare. That first character could be a partially obliterated V, as reported, or it might be a 7. If the latter, this gun would still be a British or Commonwealth contract gun, but produced earlier, say in 1940 or 1941. It would be considered a Pre-Victory and the serial number would not have a V prefix. There were in fact some four-inch guns produced for Commonwealth countries, so the barrel length is uncommon but not inherently suspicious; South Africa received several.

Let me invite the OP to look at the flat underside of the barrel and the rear face of the cylinder to see if the serial number is repeated there. On the cylinder a V number would probably be divided, with the V on one side of a charge hole and the numerical portion on the other. A six digit number without a letter prefix should lie entirely between two charge holes. Also try to read any numbers on the underside of the ejector star. The marks there are the least likely to have been disturbed by repolishing.

The stocks are not original. I don't recognize the design or manufacturer. They would have been added to dress up the the gun's appearance when it was nickeled after retirement from military service.

I believe we have not yet heard if the gun now chambers .38 Special. Short of trying a round, you can possibly tell by just looking into the chambers from the back of the cylinder. If there appear to be two milled rings in the steel, it has probably been modified. A single milled ring about halfway down would indicate that it still chambers only .38 S&W (or .38/200, as the British called the military load of that round).

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David Wilson

Thank you for the info

FYI - This is what re-bored cylinders look like. You can see the ring where the original step was and where it was cut deeper to chamber .38 Spl.