British Conversion Victory

[Drifter Mike]

Traded into a Victory Model in 38 S&W that was converted by Cogswell & Harrison. The conversion consist of the finish and barrel being cut back to 3 1/2 inches and a replacement front sight and checkered grips. I shot it the other day with PPU 145 grain 38 S&W ammo and it grouped okay, just 6 inches low at 12 yds ( thinking 38/200 Brit ammo might be more to point of aim! ). Do I have something special or just a run of the mill Victory Model that has been refinished?

 

[Drifter Mike]

Victory Model

More pictures

 

[Muley Gil]

The best feature is that the front lug is still present. The ramp front sight is shaped better than some. The side plate fit is not real good. It should be a good shooter.

 

[DWalt]

Have the chambers been lengthened to accept .38 Special cartridges?

There is nothing special or unusual about it, except the C&H conversions usually show a little better workmanship than those converted in the USA. It has no collectible value.

 

[Drifter Mike]

The best feature is that the front lug is still present. The ramp front sight is shaped better than some. The side plate fit is not real good. It should be a good shooter.

The side plate almost looks like it was a replacement as the finish is slightly " off "

 

[Drifter Mike]

Have the chambers been lengthened to accept .38 Special cartridges?

There is nothing special or unusual about it, except the C&H conversions usually show a little better workmanship than those converted in the USA. It has no collectible value.

It will chamber 38 spl but I shot 38 S&W through it

 

[Dave_n]

I have one though pre-victory, that has the long front-sight system, the barrel cut to 4" converted to 38 Special by cutting the cylinder and then inserting sleeves to use 0.38 Special by Parker-Hale. The numbers on the frame and cylinder match (781011) so this is one of the early guns sent to the UK in the 1940 time frame. It has the BNP proof markings from being sold out of use plus the usual markings on the right hand side of the frame. Accurate and fun to use. Dave_n

 

[austintexas]

target

Believe it or not I own one of the 1000 38 Hand-ejector Target that were sent to England. The serial # falls in the group in Pate's book. It was 38 special and the Brits converted it to 38 S&W by running a S&W reamer in the cylinder charge holes.
SWCA 892

 

[DWalt]

Prior to the Lend-Lease program the British Purchasing Commission in the USA bought up some .38 Special revolvers on the open market and re-chambered them to use the .38 S&W (.380 Revolver Mk 2) cartridge. I have not seen one of those, but there have been some postings about them here. I have no idea how many got that treatment or if all of them were S&Ws or maybe some were Colts.