IDENTIFY THIS GUN PLEASE

[Realerikwood]

Looking for details on the model and year and caliber (and anything else you might be able to tell me) for the below revolver:

K Frame

5 Screws (one is hidden beneath the grip)

Hand Ejector

Fixed Sights

4 inch barrel

Stainless or Chrome (not sure)

Serial Number under the Barrel lug and matching on the butt

There is an assembly number on both the yoke and the frame where they meet. While this is not specifically useful, there is the number, "1", stamped above the assembly number (shown in pics). I don't know if this is a model number or anything?

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Looks like you have British Service Revolver (BSR) that has had the barrel cutdown and a ramp front sight fitted to it. The usual barrel length was 5".

The BSRs were chambered in .38 S&W, a shorter, fatter cartridge than the .38 special. Many of these BSRs were re-chambered to .38 special for sale in the USA due to the .38 special been much more popular. Has it been re-chambered to .38 special?

 

[s&wchad]

Edit: Muley beat me to it!

Welcome aboard!

That's a Victory model from WWII. My guess is it was a British Service Revolver, originally chambered for the .38-200 cartridge. The US equivalent is .38 S&W, which is NOT the same as .38 Special. The case is is shorter and fatter than a .38 Special cartridge, but many guns had the chambers lengthened to accept .38 Special cartridges after the war and were sold as surplus. It's not a great idea to do that conversion, as cases can split.

Your gun had the barrel cut, a new front sight attached and was refinished. It has obviously been neglected for quite some time.

I'm not going to blow smoke. If you already own it, I hope you didn't pay much. If you're considering buying, don't.

 

[Buford57]

It is a WWII era Military & Police model that was produced for military (US or British commonwealth) use. It was originally either a 4" .38 Special (US) or 5" .38 S&W (aka 38/200 - British) and was often referred to a the "Victory" model after the V prefix to the serial number. It has been cut down and a new front sight installed. Since it appears the caliber markings disappeared during the refinish (chrome or paint - it isn't stainless). The only way to tell for sure is to try to chamber a .38 S&W cartridge. If it was originally a .38 Special the .38 S&W shouldn't fit. Many of the British guns were reamed to take .38 Special after the war, which was also when barrels were shortened and new finishes applied. This may or may not be a good conversion and if a .38 S&W will chamber, that's what I would use. It is a good truck or tacklebox gun if it is mechanically sound. Some good oil (such as Kroil) and brass wool (not steel) will clean up the rust. Grips are also replacements.

Welcome. And I see speed typing is not my long suit.

 

[Realerikwood]

Thanks everyone for the speedy responses!

I'm intrigued by the BSR identification.

It was in the attic of a house owned previously by captain of the local PD force. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 79, so, I suspect it must have been his and he stashed it up there as so many of the older generations apparently did.

What would be the value of such a revolver if it was cleaned up? I would love one, but perhaps not with the unusual caliber.

Thanks again for the information everyone!
Erik

 

[Hondo44]

Roughly $200 if it functions correctly whether cleaned or not.

First thing you should do is verify which cartridge will fit in the chambers. If they both fit, It's been rechambered to .38 Spl the cheap and dirty way mentioned above.

The 1 in the yoke is just an inspectors identification code.

 

[DWalt]

When someone asks what a chopped Victory is worth, my normal answer is "whatever someone is willing to pay for it." They have no collector value and their highest and best use is as a cheap utility gun to keep under the front seat of the truck, so you won't be out much if it is stolen. For those who know what it is, maybe you could sell it for the value of parts, $100-150 or so. For someone who doesn't know what it is, the sales price depends on how good you are at making up a convincing BS story about it.

Historical note. Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly used one much like it to kill Dallas police officer J. D. Tippett after the JFK assassination.

 

[Muley Gil]

S&W didn't assign model numbers until 1957.

 

[Hawg Rider]

If your M&P "Victory" revolver is a .38 Special, then it would probably be a fun and relatively inexpensive gun to shoot. I think it would clean up fairly well with a little TLC. Like my compadres have stated it's no longer a collector piece, doesn't have much value, and will never win a beauty contest. But it does have a little history. You may want to take it to a local gun shop and have them check the cartridge size for you, as well as the functioning of the revolver. Safety first! Good luck.

 

[tops]

A couple of years ago I gave $250. for one that still has the latch in front of the ejector rod. I haven't saw it in a while but if I remember correctly it's a 3 in. barrel. I do remember reloading the same .38 Spec. cases for 3 times and none of the cases split. I think the chambers being reamed out for .38 Spec. is ok because I can shoot 2 different cartridges. I don't have any reason to think that it won't work for self defense as good as any other .38.
It also has genuine, imitation plastic stag grips. Surely that increases the value. Larry

 

[Realerikwood]

Replacement .38 special barrel and cylinder?

Hi, all

I'm coming back around to this gun after having done a little Googling and discovering the cost of used cylinders and barrels for the model 10 are pretty cheap.

If it is a 38 S&W, can I replace the barrel / cylinder on this to set it up for .38 special or is it not simply a drop in replacement?

Thanks. Any cost effective suggestions for bringing back to shooting form would be appreciated.

-Erik

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi, all

I'm coming back around to this gun after having done a little Googling and discovering the cost of used cylinders and barrels for the model 10 are pretty cheap.

If it is a 38 S&W, can I replace the barrel / cylinder on this to set it up for .38 special or is it not simply a drop in replacement?

Thanks. Any cost effective suggestions for bringing back to shooting form would be appreciated.

-Erik

If in reasonable condition, it is safe to shoot as is. The cost to rebuild it would be much more than it would be worth. Replacing the barrel and cylinder usually involves gunsmithing fees. Parts like these are seldom a "drop-in" fit.

Have you checked to see if a .38 special cartridge will chamber?

 

[Goony]

Properly fitting up a new barrel & cylinder is something even most knowledgeable collectors aren't well equipped to do. It's really a job best entrusted to a gunsmith. My take would be if you went to this expense, you'll end up with a "Frankenstein" that'd be worth no more than what you have now. Better to invest the money in an M&P or Model 10 that's not pristine but still mechanically sound.

 

[Realerikwood]

Not yet. But I'm going to order a box of .38 to check it shortly.

I'll post my results back here when I know and have a better idea of what needs to be done.

It's got such a wonderful action and smooth trigger, I would be loathe to give it up if I can shoot .38 specials in it.
-Erik

 

[Goony]

It's got such a wonderful action and smooth trigger

Most modern S&W revolvers right out of the box aren't particularly lacking in these attributes, and actions can almost always be "tuned up" to near perfection.

I would be loathe to give it up if I can shoot .38 specials in it.

If simply being able to run .38 Special rounds through it without the cases bulging or splitting is the goal, then fine. But be advised that due to a slight discrepancy in the actual diameter of the bullets used in .38 S&W versus .38 Special, accuracy is often adversely affected (even if only slightly so) when converting from the former to the latter. In other words, your altered BSR is unlikely to prove a "tack driver".

 

[Muley Gil]

Please post a picture of the open cylinder, taken from the rear, so that we can see the chambers. We can usually tell if the chambers have been deepened for .38 specials.

 

[DWalt]

Just my opinion, I wouldn't spend a single penny to modernize it with a replacement barrel and cylinder. Sort of like the old phrase about putting lipstick on a pig. If you just want a hobby gunsmithing project for learning purposes, that is a little different situation. If you want a better M&P for shooting, then buy one.

 

[dingomann]

A chopped Victory Model in .38 S&W lengthened to .38 Special is what Oswald shot Officer Tippit with after killing President Kennedy, and what he was carrying after being apprehended. That is probably the only one of those which would be worth much.

 

[mikepriwer]

If you don't have any 38 special ammo, drop by a shooting range, and see if they have an empty 38 special cartridge. Or, drop by a gun shop, or store, with the gun, and see if they have an empty cartridge, or even a box of 38 special that they could take out a round, to see if it fits. It doesn't make any difference if the shell is loaded, or empty.

Mike Priwer

 

[Realerikwood]

Please post a picture of the open cylinder, taken from the rear, so that we can see the chambers. We can usually tell if the chambers have been deepened for .38 specials.

Will these show what you're looking for?
-Erik