Need help with new revolver

[Greg10]

My dad gave this revolver that he's had for years and years. I'm new to revolvers and need help in identifying what I have. It's 38 caliber that has the following markings on the cylinder and on the bottom of the frame:

"BNP" (with a small crown, as in royal, above) Where that appears on the cylinder, it also says "England"

Assume that means British National Police???

I also don't know how to determine the frame size...

Serial number: V252451

As you can see the finish is very worn. I'm assuming this is a basic revolver. Do you see any problem with re-bluing the gun? Thx for your help.

 

[pace40]

Its a cut down Victory. The pros on this model will be along. Welcome to the forum. Its not worth a reblue.

 

[mkk41]

BNP = British Nitro Proof , meaning it was proof fired with ammo loaded with smokeless powder. Some numbers must have been polished off. There's usually a few numbers before the word 'tons' to denote how much pressure it was tested at..

 

[Greg10]

Thanks for the info. Here's a few more photo's

 

[Green Frog]

Your Victory Model revolver was made for the British war effort during WW II. It is the forerunner of the Model 10 which may still be in production. It is US made of course, hence the acceptance marks were added to make it "official" for UK use. the bnp stands for something like "British National Proof" if I remember correctly.

It was originally chambered for the British military 38 round which is dimensionally equivalent to our 38 S&W (not the 38 S&W Special or just "38 Special.") Many of them were sold on the surplus market after the war and strange things like sawing off the barrel so short the front latch was gone (like on yours) and reboring the chambers longer to accept 38 Specials were done to them. It may be OK to shoot, but will swell the brass and maybe even allow ruptured cases if this procedure was done. If it were mine and I was going to keep and shoot it, I would look for a replacement barrel for it (I"ve seen many on e-Bay and Gun Broker) and have a competent gunsmith replace the barrel and check out the cylinder. Since it was made by the hundreds of thousands if not millions, parts are still commonly available for it... that's the good news. The bad news is that in its current condition, even if shootable, it's worth a couple of hundred bucks at most. If repaired as outlined, the value might increase by the cost of the parts and labor, but probably not. It will have its value to you as a shooter only.

Again, welcome to the forum and check back as more of the regulars chime in with their opinions.

Froggie

PS Yep, it is "British Nitro Proof" and I'm a slow typist!

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Your revolver started out as a 5" Victory ("V" prefix to the serial number & built during WW II) model chambered in .38 S&W, which is not the .38 special cartridge.

After the war, many of these revolvers were brought back to the US. Snubnosed revolvers were becoming popular, so many of these were cut down to 2". A ramp front sight was then affixed. On yours, the front lug, that latches the front of the ejector rod, was left off. Most were rechambered to .38 special, as .38 S&W was not as common here.

 

[mkk41]

Also known as Birmingham Nitro Proof.

Proofing

 

[Greg10]

Thanks to everyone for the information.

A little more background on the gun: My dad had acquired the gun from the local police in our town. He was the victim of an armed robbery in his store where he defended himself (killed the robber) with my great-granfather's 32 caliber break-top revolver. Great-grandfather was a police officer and that was his duty revolver. The local police were concerned that the break-top was not safe and gave this 38 to my dad to keep in his store (imagine something like that happening today). So I imagine based on the info you all have provided, that maybe the police cut the barrel down to use as a service weapon...

I know dad's fired 38 Special ammunition in the past with no issues so it must have been re-bored.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[DWalt]

I think it has been adequately described. Many thousands of these modified WWII British .38/200 M&P revolvers were sold in the US from after WWII through the 1960s at very cheap prices ($20-$35). It can be used with .38 Special ammunition, and it is not dangerous to do so. It has very little value due to its very poor cosmetic condition and the extensive modifications made to it, so I would strongly recommend not spending any money on it, just keep it as-is. The grips are from somewhat later and appear to be mismatched.

 

[Muley Gil]

"So I imagine based on the info you all have provided, that maybe the police cut the barrel down to use as a service weapon..."

That's doubtful. The American Rifleman magazine used to run ads for these cut-down, rechambered ex-British Victory models. The pictures are identical.

BTW, the Victory was built on the medium sized K frame.