M&P

[Giorgio Italy]

Hello everyone
A friend sent me these two photos. Only these! Maybe it's a Victory or just a pre-war M&P. I don't know the serial number or if it's marked U. S. Property. I'll try to get this information!
Anyway, I don't know those writings on the frame! Have any of you ever seen them?
Thank you

 

[s&wchad]

VEGA was a firearms importer located in Sacramento California back in the 1980. They brought in a number of British Service Revolvers at that time. The US GCA of 1968 requires firearms importers to mark their name/location on guns they import. IIRC, many of these BSR's came out of Australia.

US Victory models were chambered in .38 Special and had a 2" or 4" barrel. The BSR's were chambered in .38-200 aka .38 S&W and had 5" barrels.

Edit to add:
That gun has been around! Made in the USA for Great Britain during WWII, imported back into the US in the 1980's and now it resides in Italy.

 

[Retired W4]

And, if it came out of Australia it should have the broad arrow and likely FTR stamped on the right side forward of the trigger guard.

 

[mikepriwer]

The first post doesn't say where the gun is now. It just says that a friend of his sent him the two photos.

Mike Priwer

 

[Giorgio Italy]

The gun is actually in Italy, in Veneto.
The owner is dead and his wife is trying to sell the entire collection (several dozen pistols and rifles). My friend who saw the gun says that it has no Italian marks and that, as far as she knows, it has been in Italy for several years. But he can't tell me if it has any Australian marks next to the words "Made in the U.S.A."
Giorgio

 

[Giorgio Italy]

I found this other photo!
G

 

[s&wchad]

Pretty sure it has Australian marks. It's a poor photo, but I do see the broad arrow and a bunch of other marks that are typical.

As to value in Italy, I can't help. In the US, it would probably bring somewhere around $500. At auction.

 

[Giorgio Italy]

Thank you
The lady who inherited the collection will not ask for more than 300 euros. To the max
Since it doesn't have Italian marks (required by law) I would say that it must have arrived in Italy about forty years ago
G