Canadian Victory Model

[1srelluc]

I called one of my go-to shops this morning and asked if there was anything new and they said they got in three 5" Victory Models in .38 S&W. The prices seem reasonable so I drove over.

Two were just your run of the mill lean-lease VMs in so-so shape but the other had a Canadian property mark and the cylinder reamed (properly) to .38 Special (though it still says .38 S&W CTG on the barrel)....I bought it for $292.00.

Serial: V327768

Everything matches, tight, with a bright bore. Phosphate finish.

Evidently it ended-up in England and was exported from there given the Brit proofs.

As for the re-chambering I don't really care about that as a much better job was done (proper cylinder chamber steps) than the bored straight through conversions done by Cogwell & Harrison and the like.

I've been wanting a 5" M&P in .38 special anyway.

 

[Major 2]

Very nice, it would be right at home on my Canadian Lieutenant
in the WW2 display, @ the Museum I curate.

Sorry for sideway photo, I don't see how to correct it

 

[2152hq]

Nice revolver (and holster rig!)
I'd have probably bought it for that as well)

If I see the Birmingham Proofs on the Bbl correctly, when the gun was proofed for commercial sale, it was still in 38S&W caliber.
.767 nominal case length.

If the revolver was still in Britain when the conversion/ chamber lengthening was done to 38Special,,it would have demanded another (re)Proofing because of that 'smithing work and another set of proof marks for that caliber would be present.
Cal 38 (1.150) or something close to that for the case length of the 38Special and a different Service Pressure would show.

Post 1955 Proof marks

Great condition,,Nice find
Fun Shooters. Shouldn't have gotten rid of the one I had!.

 

[1srelluc]

Nice revolver (and holster rig!)
I'd have probably bought it for that as well)

If I see the Birmingham Proofs on the Bbl correctly, when the gun was proofed for commercial sale, it was still in 38S&W caliber.
.767 nominal case length.

If the revolver was still in Britain when the conversion/ chamber lengthening was done to 38Special,,it would have demanded another (re)Proofing because of that 'smithing work and another set of proof marks for that caliber would be present.
Cal 38 (1.150) or something close to that for the case length of the 38Special and a different Service Pressure would show.

Post 1955 Proof marks

Great condition,,Nice find
Fun Shooters. Shouldn't have gotten rid of the one I had!.

I ran it down to my range and shot it with standard service issue 158 gr FMJRN, no issues with extraction and the cases looked fine.

I only shot it at 17 yards and it's plenty accurate enough.

I'm very pleased with it.

 

[Igiveup]

Nice revolver and a good price. I had one of those Cogswell conversions, barrel cutt to three inches, and every case split when I shot it. I got rid of it for what I paid. I do have a Canadian, not quite as nice shape as yours and have not shot it yet, going to have to do that.

 

[1srelluc]

Nice revolver and a good price. I had one of those Cogswell conversions, barrel cutt to three inches, and every case split when I shot it. I got rid of it for what I paid. I do have a Canadian, not quite as nice shape as yours and have not shot it yet, going to have to do that.

Yep, that's why I wanted to shoot my example but all was well.

The Cogwell & Harrisons were terrible conversions. I've seen them with chambers that looked oblong. Lots of mismatched parts too.

Their only saving grace was the checkered walnut grips they had made for them. They were top-notch.

I put a set of them on a 5" .32-20.