Not Sure Exactly What I Bought Today!!!

[22lrfan]

I dropped by the local police supply store to visit today. They had just gotten in a couple cardboard boxes full (75-100) of confiscated handguns guns that they had not logged in yet. I dug through them and ended up getting several. This was the only S&W I got.

It's has a 4" barrel marked .38 Spec. with a ramped, red insert front sight. No serial no. on the barrel flat. Has a V prefix serial no. on the butt and the lanyard hole has been filled. The cylinder, yoke and ejector also have the same serial no. The cylinder has the British proof mark on each chamber. It has an adjustable rear sight. The frame appears to be refinished but the hammer, trigger and barrel haven't. I just checked the cylinder and it chambers both .38 S&W and .38 Spec.

I initially thought it was a pre-15 until I pulled the grip off and saw the V serial no. Now it appears to be a refinished, rebarreled Victory with the chambers lengthened and an adjustable rear sight added. What do y'all think?

 

[sceva]

A British Victory; .38 S&W with the chambers lengthened to .38 spl ( so Oversize at the rear), barrel replaces with a model 15 barrel and top strap milled for a S&W rear sight. Sort of a Hienze 57 revolver

 

[stansdds]

Yep, it is a Frankengun.

 

[Spurdann]

What did you give, ballpark? A shooter is what you bought. I am intrigued, please post after you get a chance to shoot her.

 

[22lrfan]

What did you give, ballpark? A shooter is what you bought. I am intrigued, please post after you get a chance to shoot her.

It was $150 + tax. I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to shoot it. The kit for my shop (36'x36') is supposed to arrive next week. I'll be working on it for the next few months.

 

[steelslaver]

You could always replace the cylinder with a k frame 38special cylinder. Also. there is a way to make the front of the frame to barrel mismatch look better. mill a shallow spot and silver solder in a piece of grooved sight tang. Like I did on this Brazilian to 1950 barrel

 

[DWalt]

I probably wouldn’t do anything, assuming that there are no problems that show up at first firing. I sure wouldn’t put any money into it unless you are looking at it as a subject for a hobby project.

 

[desi2358]

Somebody put some time and effort into it. I probably wouldn't do much to it, just have fun shooting it. At that price it's a great deal.

 

[22lrfan]

I don't plan to do anything except change the grips and shoot it. I was surprised at the quality of the milling for the added rear sight. It's definitely not your typical bubba job.

 

[smith17]

I would let someone else shoot it first.

 

[sceva]

I would let someone else shoot it first.

It should be fine. There are a lot of those old conversions around and they seldom cause anything other that a slightly swelled case base. Case base dia on a .38 S&W is about .006 larger than a .38 spl and chamber dia is about 0.009 larger

 

[Dave.357]

Not that it hurt anything , but I had one
That had been bored out that split .38 special
brass.

 

[RebCop]

It was $150 + tax. I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to shoot it. The kit for my shop (36'x36') is supposed to arrive next week. I'll be working on it for the next few months.

I'd shoot the short S&W round in it as it would be more accurate.

 

[walkin' trails]

Obviously a "working man's" gun. Definitely a keeper, just because...

 

[roundels]

I'd let a Ransom Rest be your guinea pig. Then inspect the cases carefully.

 

[gunbarrel]

Thread '38 S&W Victory Conversion'

Feb 22, 2015

Hello folks. I am sorta new to the gun scene and have a question about this gun I have inherited.I did some research and found out that it is a 38 S&W Victory Revolver seeing as in how it has the "V" stamp on bottom next to serial number. What I'd like to know is if it was been reamed/converted to fire a 38 Special bullet. I don't know the history of it but it has been re-nickled seeing as in how the hole for the lanyard hoop has been sealed off. I would like to know if it's been converted before I drive to a gunsmith any help would be appreciated.

• cobrachris7
• Replies: 10
• Forum: S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961

 

[Inkgardener]

Heck of a fun gun for $150!

Blast away!

 

[Inkgardener]

I'd shoot the short S&W round in it as it would be more accurate.

Why so? It has a 38 special barrel.

 

[Matt_X]

Looks like it has the original 'long action' hammer. With the adjustable sights, if you like the long action, that could be real nice shooter for both double action as well as single action.

 

[Muley Gil]

Why so? It has a 38 special barrel.

The throats in an .38 S&W cylinder may be a bit larger.