Old Victory confusion

[WhiteLightning02]

I have a friend that acquired a 5" 5 screw Victory ser # v73613 from a widow lady friend of his. It was too much for her frail hands. Looking at it, it has the Birmingham markings and is marked 38 S&W ctg. It came with a box of 38 special. Just reading on here, I advised him they might be too potent to shoot out of this gun. I bought him a box of 38 s&w for his birthday. The 38 special fits in the cyl. The 38 s&w are too fat to fit in, they start but that's all. My question, I guess is if it's marked 38 s&w ctg, why won't the 38 s&w fit? I learn so much about old guns here, so I hope y'all have an answer.

 

[Art Doc]

It's possible a 38 Special cylinder was swapped in. The serial should be on the rear face of the cylinder. See if it matches the frame. If not, there's your answer. If it does match, then I got nothing.

 

[Absalom]

It's possible a 38 Special cylinder was swapped in. The serial should be on the rear face of the cylinder. See if it matches the frame. If not, there's your answer. If it does match, then I got nothing.

Either this, or she has one of the rather uncommon conversions that were actually sleeved for the .38 Special rather than just reamed out. A few British companies, like Parker Hale, did this post-war.

In either case, .38 Special is not too potent for the gun. Keep in mind that the Victory was always a .38 Special frame; the only thing that was different for the British contract guns was the barrel, and the (identical) cylinder was bored for the slightly different caliber.

 

[WhiteLightning02]

Yes, everything matches ser # wise. I'll look real close to see if I can see a sleeve. Thanks

 

[JSR III]

Have your friend remove the stocks and see if the left side of the grip frame is marked with a date such as 9 50 that would reflect a return in September 1950.

It is possible that the cylinder was replaced and renumbered to the frame serial number by the factory. Usually, they would then mark the frame with a date of the modification. My only problem with that is that they did not mark the barrel with the new caliber.

The other option could be that the cylinder was changed and numbered by a gunsmith and in that instance the frame would not have been date marked.

These are just WAG's on my part in an effort to solve the mystery and beyond that I am stumped.

 

[Art Doc]

If 38 Specials fit OK then give 'er a whirl. If the cases don't bulge it's a proper 38 Special cylinder. But the barrel is likely a .360" 38 S&W so accuracy may suffer.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Could be the cylinder chambers are dirty. Try cleaning them to remove old powder residue and retry loading .38 S&W.

 

[WhiteLightning02]

Either this, or she has one of the rather uncommon conversions that were actually sleeved for the .38 Special rather than just reamed out. A few British companies, like Parker Hale, did this post-war.

In either case, .38 Special is not too potent for the gun. Keep in mind that the Victory was always a .38 Special frame; the only thing that was different for the British contract guns was the barrel, and the (identical) cylinder was bored for the slightly different caliber.

Got a chance this weekend to look really close. It appears to be sleeved with no other date marking. My friend says he will take it to the gun show on the 23rd and see what he can trade it for. You guys are the BEST! Thanks

 

[DWalt]

Sleeved Victories are uncommon. Even though not original, I'd bet many Victory collectors would like to get their hands on one just for the oddity factor. I don't think I'd be too eager to sell it cheaply.

 

[WhiteLightning02]

Sleeved Victories are uncommon. Even though not original, I'd bet many Victory collectors would like to get their hands on one just for the oddity factor. I don't think I'd be too eager to sell it cheaply.

I don't know what he will want for it. It's been plated and has stag type grips on it. When they plated it, we don't think it was done well. Most of the stamping is hard to read due to all the buffing. All he has into it is a .380 Rossi revolver that was pretty nice, but only used as a shop gun.

 

[DWalt]

I don't know what he will want for it. It's been plated and has stag type grips on it. When they plated it, we don't think it was done well. Most of the stamping is hard to read due to all the buffing. All he has into it is a .380 Rossi revolver that was pretty nice, but only used as a shop gun.

Modified to that extent, it's worth only what anyone would offer for it.