I have one to ID

[Thejoker671]

Nickel plated hand ejector, fixed sights, s/n v 302xxx, 2" barrel and no caliber marking. I'll try to put up pics in a bit.

 

[SAFireman]

Sounds like a cut-down Victory model....there are a lot of those floating around. Most have very little value.

 

[Thejoker671]

Pics

Here are the pics.

 

[Thejoker671]

Another

Won't let me post them together.

 

[JP@AK]

Probably a hacked down British Service Revolver. It has been refinished and wears plastic replacement stocks. Originally made in 1943.
Value is very little - maybe $200 (which is more than I would pay for it).

 

[Thejoker671]

Thanks for the info, inherited it from my dad, just needed info as to what it was.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

The British government received a large number of 5" M&P revolvers, chambered in .38 S&W, an older, shorter, less powerful, slightly fatter cartridge than the .38 special.

Many of these were surplussed post WW II and sent back to the US. Since .38 special was more popular than .38 S&W and "snub nose" revolvers were becoming more common, these Brit guns were chopped and re-chambered and sold cheap.

 

[HLMiller]

Another one to ID

Serial # V39004
All numbers match except grips; which unfortunately are plastic.

At some point it was chromed I guess. 38 S&W stamp, not special. Barrel appears to be 3 3/4"

Thanks to all for the great info on this site.

 

[HLMiller]

New I'd with photo

39004 from above

 

[HLMiller]

One more photo for ID

Any info, theories, etc are greatly appreciated

 

[gunnails]

It's more or less what later become known as a model 10

Your gun was produced as part of the war effort in WWII, most all produced went to the British, who later surplussed them out and many were re imported to the states. Those that were re imported were often modified to 38 special and had there barrels cut down, yours was refinished also.

They made so many that the value is low unless in pristine condition, yours has been cut and re chambered, then refinished, all of that lowers value, and now is in poor condition. A $200 gun give or take.

 

[murphydog]

The same era gun (late 1942), called a .38/200 (.38 S & W chambering) Victory Model, with a less shortened barrel that preserved the front ejector rod locking point. If it fully chambers a .38 Special, the charge holes have been altered.

 

[A10]

To the OP please note the difference between HL Millers gun and yours. Your dads gun was cut to the point that the front lock was removed. This was commonly done, but in my opinion is a real issue. Were it my gun I would keep and treasure it, but not fire it.

 

[Absalom]

Serial # V39004
All numbers match except grips; which unfortunately are plastic.

At some point it was chromed I guess. 38 S&W stamp, not special. Barrel appears to be 3 3/4"

Thanks to all for the great info on this site.

To add a few things to the info already provided: The serial number places your gun early in the V-prefix range, probably having shipped in summer 1942. In its original identity as a British Service Revolver it would have had a 5" barrel, a dull military phosphate finish, smooth wooden stocks and a lanyard loop. Post-war modifications to BSR's that had been surplussed out (starting in the early 1950s) were done both by British companies like Parker-Hale and Cogswell&Harrison, and US importers after arrival here. Sometimes you can find markings somewhere for clues. These may have fallen victim to the refinish. It could be chromed, but more likely nickeled.

 

[HLMiller]

Thanks for the great info

Thanks to all. This was one of my granddad's guns I can remember shooting as a kid. Still fires pretty well. It was certainly tossed around through it's life. It's a shame it is not in original condition/finish, but my granddad was not a wealthy man. He did like guns and if a "bargain" like this came along, he would have jumped on it.

It's nice to know a bit of the history as it represents a nice memory for me.

Thanks again.