2" Victory help

[freightdog]

All.. I know this is not original and relize it has a different barrel but curious if anyone has seen anything like this? I have seen the British return cut SW38 to Special cylinders but this one is an original 38 Special. All numbers do match (Frame, Cylinder and Grips) the Star does not have a number on it. Frame is P proofed as well as cylinder and barrel. That is where I am puzzled. Could this be one of the military rebarrels I have read about on other posts? Story, and I know not to buy the story but the gun, - Older Gentleman selling at a gun show, says his son in law has just passed and was a Vietnam Veteran. Knowns nothing about the gun but daughter needs the money. I am curious and should have asked what the man did in the military but everything looks right but the barrel. SN: SV 795588 and the S is also stamped on the right side cover.

 

[john traveler]

The underside of the extractor star should also be stamped with the serial number.

What I see is a late production VS model rebarreled with a 2" non-S&W barrel and a shortened extractor rod and center pin.

In that condition, it could be restored to 4" Victory configuration, but as it is now, has strictly shooter value only.

 

[mikepriwer]

As noted, that is a replacement barrel.

I don't know that there is any reason to want to restore this gun.
There are lots of good all-original Victories available, at fair prices.

Mike Priwer

 

[bettis1]

Check to see if the barrel has rifling.

Bob

 

[freightdog]

Yes there is rifling in the barrel... and as noted it does have a P proof mark on the bottom but not the serial number.

 

[SASABERANGER]

Unless the family is asking an unusually large amount of money I would just accept it as a shooter and not worry about a pedigree. If the price is reasonable for a shooter or really attractive buy it, shoot it and enjoy it.
If were offered to me at an affordable price I would have bought it and let it go at that.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

 

[DCWilson]

I concur with the other observations and would add that an SV serial number just below 800000 probably shipped in mid-1945.

 

[Art Doc]

"...curious if anyone has seen anything like this?"

Unfortunately, many times. Uncounted Victory Models were butchered after the war.

I would not shoot the gun without the front lug.

It would probably not be cost effective to fix it unless you find a proper barrel cheap and can do it yourself.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Freight:

Your cut down Victory is a little bit different than the ones we usually see being asked about here. Your Victory is not one of the .38 S&W examples that was crudely converted but, rather, your Victory was always a .38 Special gun which originally had a 4 inch barrel. Why the barrel was cut down is lost to history, but lots of guys preferred a short barrel to a longer one.

You can find a 4 inch replacement barrel, with no serial number on it, on Gunbroker or Auction Arms. It would always be a gun with a replaced barrel but it would sure look better than what you see now. The barrels are not expensive. Getting the work done right will cost you more than the part will.

HTH.

 

[freightdog]

Thanks all for the info all. Just still puzzled why the replacement barrel has the P proof on it. Why would it not be safe to fire without the front lug? I know Colt never had them on their Comando model for example?