A gift from the father-inlaw
- Thread starter jbilly
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We need some more info please.
Serial number, taken from the butt. Include any letters that are on the butt, like a "V".
Caliber markings from the side of the barrel-like "38 S&W Special" or "38 S&W. These are two distinct calibers, BTW.
Please measure the length of the barrel-from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.
My guess is that you have a Victory model .38 S&W that has had the barrel cutback to 4", has been nickeled, and possibly been rechambered to .38 special. The grips are replacements.
Serial number, taken from the butt. Include any letters that are on the butt, like a "V".
Caliber markings from the side of the barrel-like "38 S&W Special" or "38 S&W. These are two distinct calibers, BTW.
Please measure the length of the barrel-from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.
My guess is that you have a Victory model .38 S&W that has had the barrel cutback to 4", has been nickeled, and possibly been rechambered to .38 special. The grips are replacements.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
It is a typical butchered up Victory Model (or Lend Lease Model). These were made with 5" barrel length and 38 S&W caliber for Great Britain. Unfortunately, it seems that most of them were ruined after the war with chopped barrels, poor quality nickel plating and reaming for the longer but smaller in diameter 38 Special cartridge. The cheap, plastic grips are also routinely seen on these altered pistols. These reamed guns sometimes shoot OK with 38 Specials, but often they do not.
I personally consider such a gun to have zero value.
I personally consider such a gun to have zero value.
If you can open the cylinder and take a picture of the chambers, we may be able to tell whether or it has been rechambered from .38 S&W to .38 special.
Or, do you know for certain what type of ammo your FIL fired through it?
Or, do you know for certain what type of ammo your FIL fired through it?
S&W kept track of when their products were shipped from the factory, rather than actual production dates. I would guess that yours shipped around 1940.
"I guess its kind of a piece of junk, right? thats too bad."
No, it's not a piece of junk, it just has zero collector's value.
Shooting .38 specials in a reamed .38 S&W-best case scenario is that the fired cartridges only swell a little and the revolver is fairly accurate. Worse case scenario is that the cases split and you can't hit the broad side of a barn with it.
Get some standard pressure .38 specials and try it at about 10 yards. It should put all rounds in a group the size of a saucer, at worst. It would make a good close range truck gun or fishing gun. Get some shotshell cartridges for them water moccasins!
Cherish the fact that your FIL thought enough of you to give it to you.
No, it's not a piece of junk, it just has zero collector's value.
Shooting .38 specials in a reamed .38 S&W-best case scenario is that the fired cartridges only swell a little and the revolver is fairly accurate. Worse case scenario is that the cases split and you can't hit the broad side of a barn with it.
Get some standard pressure .38 specials and try it at about 10 yards. It should put all rounds in a group the size of a saucer, at worst. It would make a good close range truck gun or fishing gun. Get some shotshell cartridges for them water moccasins!
Cherish the fact that your FIL thought enough of you to give it to you.
Smithhound
US Veteran
If you take the grips/stocks off most likely they will be stamped 'Franzite' those were quite in vogue years ago. It was a nice gesture from your FIL to give you the gun, deep down, psychologically it probably means he wants you to take care of provide for and protect his Daughter.
Kind of 'old world' dowry thing when you think about it.
Make friends with him, he may have some more old guns, never know!
RD
Kind of 'old world' dowry thing when you think about it.
Make friends with him, he may have some more old guns, never know!
RD
I can remember about 50 years ago the world was full of those guns and I shot several of them with .38 special loads and the only problem was swelling the cases. I didn't want to reload so the cases didn't matter. You could shoot .38 S&W shells. The guns are not collectable but are very shootable. Thank your FIL for the gun. He did good. My FIL had a good daughter that I have for a wife but the old grouch never did give me a gun.
Larry
LarryOldiron
US Veteran
jbilly, Muley is right on with his advise IMHO. I have one of those in 4" that was part of the South African Contract order that shipped in 1940 and was diverted to British use. I shoot 38 S&W in it and it shoots great. Very smooth action. If your FIL gave you another piece of WWII memoribilia you wouldn't expect it to be perfect so accept this piece of history and enjoy.
Larry
Larry
Early 1960s: Southern Gun Distributors of Miami, Florida.
This was the main "Converter" of these .38 S&W Victory Model Revolvers.
Your is a better than run of the mill examples.
Normally SGD hacked the barrels to four inches, reamed the chambers out, removed the layard ring and filled in the layard ring butt hole, nickeled plated the weapon, added the franize stag grips.
Retailed these "Jewels" at $24.95 for the four inch barreled model and $29.95 for the two inch barreled model.
Beginning Florida Police Officers that was required to purchase their service revolvers often started with with these "Jewels".
Many would "Spit" lead from either side of the forcing cone. Firing at night flame would show on either side of the forcing cone.
On the right side of the barrel, often "SPECIAL" in large letters would be stamped next to the ".38 S&W". This would read ".38 s&w SPECIAL".
This was the main "Converter" of these .38 S&W Victory Model Revolvers.
Your is a better than run of the mill examples.
Normally SGD hacked the barrels to four inches, reamed the chambers out, removed the layard ring and filled in the layard ring butt hole, nickeled plated the weapon, added the franize stag grips.
Retailed these "Jewels" at $24.95 for the four inch barreled model and $29.95 for the two inch barreled model.
Beginning Florida Police Officers that was required to purchase their service revolvers often started with with these "Jewels".
Many would "Spit" lead from either side of the forcing cone. Firing at night flame would show on either side of the forcing cone.
On the right side of the barrel, often "SPECIAL" in large letters would be stamped next to the ".38 S&W". This would read ".38 s&w SPECIAL".
