38 ctg

[headhunter58]

i have this old smith 38 revolver it is nickel with faux pearl grips..4 inch barrel...6 shot number on frame is 80739 same number on swing out.....on but plate right side 240645 left side is a v with what looks like a t and a D also a round stamp like bomb ordinance would love to learn its history

 

[Forester]

It's a WWII era Victory model. Before that it was known as the Military & Police model. These days it's known as a Model 10.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Could be a Victory as Forester says. However, Victory revolvers were not nickeled and had plain uncheckered walnut grips. Does it have a hole in the butt frame between the V and 240645? What is the SN on the rear face of the cylinder and under the barrel? The V will be separated in those locations as well.

More importantly, will you post some pictures? You can upload up to 5 pictures per post by clicking Go Advanced, then scrolling down to Manage Attachments. Click the button and follow the prompts.

 

[headhunter58]

thanks forester.....any idea why it would be nickle with the faux pearl handles.....presentation? or just a after thought

 

[headhunter58]

reply

yes iy has the hole on butt between the v and the 240645 and under barrel is v 240645
the one on cylinder arm is 80739 and on frame 80739 soon as i figure out how i can add pictures

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It is definitely a victory model that has been refinished. The numbers from the Yoke and cylinder arm are assembly numbers. The grips are aftermarket.

Guy

 

[JP@AK]

If the OP has stated the chambering and the barrel length correctly, this is a chopped and refinished BSR. The nickel was probably applied at the time the barrel was shortened. By 1943, all the BSRs were 5" barrel revolvers.

 

[Arik]

Pictures would help.

People refinish guns for all sorts of reasons. Original finish gone, don't like the original, trends, rust removal, boredom, to help sell faster.... etc

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Jack Flash]

Note that CTG is simply the S&W abbreviation for "Cartridge". That is, it was originally chambered for the .38 S&W Cartridge or the .38 S&W Special Cartridge. The two are different so be sure which your gun is chambered for if you want to shoot it.

 

[headhunter58]

it reads 38 s & w ctg i inherited this smith from a old buddy...who had it for years....i have not fired it but it is in great condition to do so...i have some 38 spl ammo... it fits like a glove... shell slides in cyl easy dont wiggle.... should 38 special ammo fit so well in a 38 S&W gun... i dont have any 38 s&w to try.... what happens if you shoot 38 special...my buddy not around to ask what he shoot in it... thanks

 

[lebomm]

Your Victory (BSR=British Service Revolver) is safe to fire with factory .38 Special, but you will experience swollen cases, as the .38 S&W, while shorter, is slightly larger in diameter. The chambers were reamed deeper to accept the .38 Special to make them easier to sell in this country. It will still chamber and fire .38 S&W, but accuracy will likely suffer because of the longer bullet jump.

Larry

 

[headhunter58]

thanks larry... the cylinder is longer than i would expect for a 38 s& w my buddy prob shot special... guess i will never know....his wife threw away the ammo he had left...thanks i am not so nervous now with special ammo but i will buy a box of the other.....i doubt i will shoot it much

 

[JP@AK]

headhunter58
The cylinders on the BSR and the U.S. Victory Model were the same length. The difference was only internal.

 

[DWalt]

thanks larry... the cylinder is longer than i would expect for a 38 s& w my buddy prob shot special... guess i will never know....his wife threw away the ammo he had left...thanks i am not so nervous now with special ammo but i will buy a box of the other.....i doubt i will shoot it much

You will discover that .38 S&W ammunition can be difficult to find and expensive. Nothing wrong with the use of .38 Special.

 

[Jack Flash]

You never know, it may have been converted by replacing the original cylinder with a .38 Special cylinder. That is probably the best way to do it. If so, you will not have bulged cases.

If you have some pictures of it, someone here could give additional information.