ID Request - painted hand ejector .38

[wildrover]

A family friend inherited this firearm from someone who passed away, and I agreed to help them ID it. Really they are just interested in info on the firearm; with the condition it's in I can't imagine it can be worth much. They were offered $500 for it by a local gun shop and I imagine they should jump at that offer. On to the info and pics...

I think you can see everything in the pics, but it's a .38 caliber and the serial is V582XXX. I didn't have a ruler handy but I believe it's a 5" barrel and it has 5 screws and butt swivel. The serial number in the cylinder matches that on the butt but we were afraid to remove the grips in this condition. The friend had to take the gun back but I took as many pictures as I thought necessary while I had it.

Everything I've read leads me to believe it's a Victory model from the mid- to late-40's, but thought that someone here might have some additional insight. After seeing so many beautiful examples of these hand ejectors it's a shame to see this one in this condition.

[JP@AK]

Pretty rough shape, as you said.
It is a British Service Revolver (BSR), dating from 1944. The cartridge (.38 S&W - not .38 Special) and the barrel length both suggest its BSR identity.
The stocks may be original.
If I had this gun and someone offered me $500 for it, I'd take it and run. Of course, then I'd probably use the money to buy another S&W revolver!

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

You have a British Service Revolver aka a British Victory model.

Yes, if they were offered $500, JUMP ON IT! This one is in very poor condition.

These were built from 1942-1945.

Others with more knowledge will be along soon.

[wildrover]

Thanks for the replies so far. I was surprised about that offer as well, even knowing almost nothing about firearms. Who knows what the dealer saw in it.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by wildrover

Who knows what the dealer saw in it.

Probably nothing. He was guessing.

[Jim Watson]

Well, it has five screw HOLES.
The cylinder matches only because it has been "force numbered" with the original serial number struck out and the frame number applied.
Black paint of a consistency we call "stove enamel" is a pretty common firearms finish in some armies. The British used a brand called Suncorite when refurbishing Inglis BHPs and Enfield revolvers. Not surprising to see it on a Smith that would have served alongside them.

$500 is VERY generous. Unless the revolver was inherited from somebody very near and dear or moderately famous, I would take the money and run.

[DWalt]

Probably shipped in May 1944. It is (or was) a .38/200 Victory BSR. $500 would be an amazing windfall for a seller. It's junk.

[mikepriwer]

Maybe the offer wasn't really $500.

Mike Priwer

[bananaman]

That gun looks like it went through a WAR!!! sorry, (and lost) Bob

[wildrover]

I was told "four ninety-five". Maybe they meant "$4.95".

[handejector]

Originally Posted by wildrover

They were offered $500 for it by a local gun shop and I imagine they should jump at that offer.

WHOOSH!
/\ That would be the sound of my right hand grabbing the money.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!!!!
/\ That would be the sound of me runnin for tha door!

[DWalt]

As mentioned previously, the black paint could be Suncorite, but I have never seen or heard of it being used on a Victory .38/200 revolver. But certainly there is no reason it couldn't have been. The Brits used Suncorite paint as a finish on many of their small arms of all kinds (rifles, pistols, SMGs, and MGs) as it was cheap, fast, and worked well enough. Some Enfield .380 revolvers which were painted are stamped "Wartime Finish." Suncorite is still available.

[arjay]

Maybe the $500 was trade in value on a $2000 Model 10