Help w/ID, nickel plated Victory?

[FraggerCrue]

A friend inherited this from his wife's dad. I have tentatively identified it as a Victory, but I'm not at all certain. V serial number on the butt and plugged lanyard hole, it looks like. These are the only pictures I have.

Who is/are the resident Victory experts? There is one little detail about this revolver I'd like to discuss via PM.

 

[Retired W4]

No expert but the 4" Victory's chambered for 38 special were made in great numbers and went to many different military and civilian users. Of course they did not come from the factory with a nickel finish.

 

[moosedog]

What he said. The trigger and hammer appear nickeled too. They should be case colored.

 

[FraggerCrue]

No expert but the 4" Victory's chambered for 38 special were made in great numbers and went to many different military and civilian users. Of course they did not come from the factory with a nickel finish.

Yes. If this is a Victory, much of the value is gone. It has several modifications from factory.

 

[Goony]

In the early 1950's, Victory revolvers were chrome plated by the USAF, fitted with plastic faux stag grips, and issued to the SAC Elite Guards. I believe the butt swivels were not removed, however.

 

[444 Magnum]

Also not an expert.
After WWII, many were surplused out of Britain. Private companies chopped them, bored them from .38/200 to .38 special, nickel plated them and installed the faux stag grips. My father bought this altered one sometime around 1957 while stationed at Camp Pendleton.