I bought this at a gun show and would like to find out some information and if I over paid. From what I can tell it's a victory revolver in 38 special with 4 inch barrel. I'd really like to know a ball park on the date, where it may have been sent, and if it has been reworked. Can add anymore pictures if needed.

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Welcome to the Forum.

One of our experts will be along soon. My guess would be 1943 and that's all it is, is a guess.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Dates to 1943 (someone here will get you closer to the month, but I believe it would be in the last quarter of the year).

Most of them went to the Navy. You're not likely to get anything more than that. A letter would tell you to which depot it shipped.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Yes, later 1943, maybe October, would be the ballpark for the frame’s V 437078.

From what I can see, the finish is original.

But your gun has an unusual feature for a .38 Special Victory: On the butt next to the V the word ENGLAND seems to be stamped, as well as some other letters I can’t make sense of.

And the cylinder’s serial does not match the frame: It appears to be V 45330. What serial is on the flat area on the barrel’s underside?

It is likely that it was originally a British Service model that had the cylinder and the barrel switched out.

There is no number on the underside of the barrel. Which I find odd because everything I've found said there should be one.

That does indeed indicate that my suggestion is correct.

Your Victory was assembled after the war from the frame of a re-imported British model, the cylinder salvaged from a US Victory, and a factory-new replacement barrel (unless someone scrubbed the barrel serial, but that makes little sense).

So the gun has little collector value, but the good news is that it should be a solid .38 Special shooter, certainly better than the many Victory re-imports from Britain that were simply bored out to fit Special. You basically bought a standard M&P with Victory finish

I agree with Abslom on the barrel/frame issue. I have one that was definitely a BSR originally, but similarly has no serial number on the replacement 4" .38 Special barrel. I imagine replacement barrels were cheap and easy to find after the war. I can't be positive, but your cylinder doesn't look to have been reamed from the picture. Someone probably had the barrel and cylinder swap done by a local gunsmith or did it themselves. I'm not aware of any importers that did this in any large number.

Just curious - are there any U.S. Property markings on the top strap? Mine had the markings scrubbed for some reason. Probably when the barrel was swapped. Definitely a DIY job in my case.

Even if not "collectable", I still think it is an interesting piece of our history. As long as you didn't spend a fortune on it, you will definitely enjoy your purchase. The manufacturing quality is excellent, even for wartime production, and they usually make great shooters. Have fun with it!

I do not see any property Marks or any sigh they where scrubbed off.

"and would like to find out ... if I over paid."

Which begs the question ...

From everything I'm finding I feel like I definitely did. I paid 600.

Well, 600 for a sweet K frame that has some character and not a true victory is probably high. But any good K frame 4" with a tapered barrel in good shape is going to be right around 5 bills give or take some money.

I think you're in the ballpark. You see people getting super good deals sometimes. But everything up in my neck of the woods if it's a Smith and Wesson revolver seems like it has gold on the insides according to the people selling them.

I would agree...but some years ago I passed on a German military issue Saur 38H with original holster and capture papers because $75 was just too much to pay. At least you won't be telling THAT sort of story down the road. Keep it long enough and you will eventually get your money's worth.

Well Mr Dylan ,

A while back I got stars in my eyes when I came upon a revolver - I just had to have it. Coincidentally , I paid $600 for it , a S&W model 15 in nickel. In hindsight I did not know what to look for ... turned out to be refinished and kinda loose. It was a nice shooter though , and I learned a lot from the experience.

The case hardening on your Victory looks much better than on my 15 , and I’ll bet that yours has better mechanics too. I eventually sold my overpriced revolver at a pretty steep loss. If I had your WWII mixmaster I’d keep it as a classy shooter that still has historical value.

One more comment - I own a non-matching P.38. It is not original , but it still is a WWII German weapon. I get great enjoyment from shooting it.

I am happy with my purchase. It is definitely a learning experience like you said.

It's a good gun with a good story. If you like it then don't worry about the price. Someday it will be worth what you paid.

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No life story has happy end.