38 SW Victory? Y

Ilio

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Can you help me to identify this revolver ? It seems to be a military one, I suppose it is a Victory: near the serial number 936 835 V is the flaming bomb with initials B F. Nothing on the topstrap! Year of production?
The holster does not seem original.
 

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You have a British Service Revolver (BSR) that is actually a pre Victory model, as it does not have the "V" prefix to the serial number. Does it chamber .38 specials or just the shorter, fatter .38 S&W cartridge?

The grips have been replaced.
 
It is a pre-Victory 38/200 British service revolver. SN 936835 indicates shipment around March 1942. As previously stated, the grips are not of the corrrect type, and would likely have been smooth wood by then. I'd say they are aftermarket replacements. The 38/200 was originally chambered in .38 S&W, as stamped on the barrel. It is not the same as the .38 Special, although many of these revolvers were rechambered after the war to accept .38 Special cartridges. You should check to determine if this one was. That has a significant negative effect upon value. British holsters were made of a canvas-type material, not leather. I have no idea as to what the holster shown is, but likely not military. From your pictures, it appears to be blued, and that would be correct for this time. But the general appearance suggests it may have been re-blued at some later time. I cannot tell for sure by looking at your pictures.

If it has been rechambered to .38 Special, ammunition is not a problem, as .38 Special ammunition is widely distributed. However, if not, .38 S&W cartridges are available, but are difficult to find and fairly expensive.
 
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The ammunition

These ammunition come with revolver
 

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Italy is the one country I have visited that I would like to see again.

People drive like maniacs, though.

If you are ever in the U.S. and come by Arkansas you're welcome to stop by and say hello. We'll go to the range and you can shoot any gun I own.
 
Hi SaxonPig! You are a very kind person. What part of Italy have you visited? I live nearby Rome!
 
We did Rome in 1989 on a too short trip. I would like to return and see Venice, Florence, Pompeii and Riace (because I'm an art historian and want to see the Riace Warriors).
 

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