Help please on Victory Revolver serial

[IanInTheUK]

Hi folks
Was wondering if anyone could help me with information such as manufacturing dates and shipping info on a Victory revolver, serial V 460979.
Also 38spl or 38/200?
Many thanks
Ian

 

[murphydog]

It very likely shipped in November, 1943.

Both the .38/200 and .38 Special guns were made in the same V prefix series, and I am unaware of known wartime serial number blocks that are known to be of one chambering or the other.

 

[DWalt]

The SN will not tell you the caliber. It should be stamped on the barrel. Also, about all .38 Specials have 4” barrels. Most BSRs will have 5” barrels unless later shortened.

 

[desi2358]

As DWalt said the serial number doesn't identify the caliber. The barrel markings should be 38S&W for a British issue 38S&W caliber (often referred to as a 38/200 but technically a 380 mKII revolver) or 38 S&W Special for a US revolver. Many imported BSR's had the chambers reamed to accept the 38 S&W Special round. Such guns will usually still have the original caliber markings but may have additional marks as well including various British proof marks. The quickest way for most people to check a BSR for this is to simply try chambering a 38 Special round, if it chambers the gun has been altered.

Since the OP uses the UK as part of his screen name I would suspect there is a good chance it is a BSR in the original caliber as the converted guns were primarily sold to the US market.

PS: Later pic from the OP shows a 38 S&W Special marked barrel so a US issue version.

 

[DWalt]

There is really no .38/200 caliber cartridge for the BSR. The official commonwealth military revolver cartridge designation used was some variation of “.380 Revolver, Mark I (or Mark II)”. Dimensionally, it is identical to the old (19th Century) American .38 S&W cartridge, and that was the barrel stamping used on the S&W BSRs. Many surplus S&W BSRs imported into the USA during the 1950s-60s for civilian sale had their cylinder chambers lengthened to accept the longer American .38 Special cartridge for sales reasons. That was because the .38 S&W cartridge was a near-obsolete cartridge in the US, used mainly in early revolvers.

 

[Alk8944]

Dimensionally, it is identical to the old (19th Century) American .38 S&W cartridge, and that was the barrel stamping used on the S&W BSRs.

Interesting you should make this comment since virtually all chamberings for S&W revolvers ( and other brands too) originated in the 19th century. The only exceptions being the .44 Special and various magnums!

 

[IanInTheUK]

As DWalt said the serial number doesn't identify the caliber. The barrel markings should be 38S&W for a British 38/200 or 38 S&W Special for a US revolver. Many imported BSR's had the chambers reamed to accept the 38 S&W Special round. Such guns will usually still have the original caliber markings but may have additional marks as well including various British proof marks. The quickest way for most people to check a BSR for this is to simply try chambering a 38 Special round, if it chambers the gun has been altered.

Since the OP uses the UK as part of his screen name I would suspect there is a good chance it is a BSR in the original caliber as the converted guns were primarily sold to the US market.

This is the best picture I can get at the moment. So I'm thinking it's a 38 Special US version, which would suit me better TBF.
Thanks.

 

[desi2358]

This is the best picture I can get at the moment. So I'm thinking it's a 38 Special US version, which would suit me better TBF.
Thanks.

That would be pretty conclusive. Marked for 38 Special and looks like a 4" bbl which is common on US issue Victory revolvers.

 

[IanInTheUK]

That would be pretty conclusive. Marked for 38 Special and looks like a 4" bbl which is common on US issue Victory revolvers.

Thank you, and thanks everyone for your knowledge and help.
Ian