pre Victory questions

[Lunkhead]

I know I need pictures. I will post soon
I have what I think is a butchered pre Victory model. Serial # is 9329XX. Barrel is 3.5 inches from front of cylinder to muzzle. Front sight is not half moon, but ramp-shaped. Marked .38 S&W CTG (not special). Converted by Cogswell and Harrison. How do I tell if the cylinder has been replaced? A .38Special cartridge fits perfectly in it. I do not see the telltale signs of the sleeves of a re-bore. What else do I need to look for?

 

[H Richard]

Is the same s/n on the rear face of the cylinder? If not, the odds are the cylinder was swapped out. Try placing 38 S&W (not Specials) cartridges in the chambers and if they fit the odds are the cylinder was reamed out. If the cylinder was swapped out for a 38 special cylinder, and it times up properly, it should shoot O.K. If it was just a 38 S&W cylinder that was reamed out you can still shoot 38 S&W ammo without problems, but you can shoot 38 special and it will swell out and may hang up trying to get out of the chambers. There have been cases where the 38 Specials will split when fired.

This picture shows a 38 Special case that was fired in a reamed 38 S&W. Note the center section is swelled out, but normal size in the front end where it was in the correctly sized reamed part of the chamber.

 

[Lunkhead]

The S/N on the rear face of the cylinder is 744752. Obviously not the same as the gun. Any reservations about shooting it?

 

[DWalt]

Yes, the cylinder not original. If timing and lockup are OK, there shouldn't be a problem in shooting it.