New Pawn Shop Victory .38

[alde]

I just picked up my first Victory model. It's a 5" barrel marked 38 S&W with a serial # on the butt and under the barrel of V 576609. It has the "P" mark in several places and does not have "US Property" stamped on the left side of the top strap or any British proof marks on the barrel. I can't see where any marks were ground off. The gun is blued but the metal does not have the fine finish of a commercial gun. It also will not chamber 38 S&W rounds. I assume this means it was converted at one time. It has the checkered grips with the S&W medallion.

I plan to shoot it with some very light wad cutter loads. I assumed it was a 38 S&W so I ordered 4 boxes on line then I remembered I had a could of old rounds in my cartridge collection and tried them and they would not go.

Can anyone give me more info on it? From what I can put together from other posts it was probably made early to mid 1944. I don't think it's been re-finished but I'm far from an expert. It's getting late and the the bed is calling so I will get some pictures posted tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

From your description it should chamber .38 S & W (not Special). Does the rear cylinder face have V 576609 stamped on it? If not, the most likely explanation is a .38 Special cylinder was swapped into it; if the chambers are of correct dimensions, the .38 S & W is too wide for a Special cylinder and the Special is too long for an S & W cylinder.

By far the most common Victory Model conversion was to bore the S & W cylinder bores straight through so Specials would chamber (loosely), usually resulting in ballooned or cracked brass with firing.

At this time these were finished in "Black Magic", similar to Parkerizing, and had smooth walnut stocks. Hope this is helpful.

 

[alde]

Does the rear cylinder face have V 576609 stamped on it?

Alen, There is no serial number on the rear face of the cylinder. It was well fitted who ever did the swap. I never had a S&W revolver with a better lock-up. Will it shoot decent if I use soft enough bullets to expand to the bore? It's fine if it has no accuracy. I have other shooters and bought this for it's historic interest mostly.