Question about this Victory Model...

[bjornolf]

I have somebody looking for a value on this gun. Any ideas? Has anyone seen one of these sights? It says Parker & Hale, England, on it. Gun is a .38 S&W with a V serial. I'm guessing this is a .38/200 British from WWII that they shortened the barrel on and added these sights? Of course the grips are replacements, but anybody got a value idea on it?

 

[DWalt]

It could well be a modified .38/200 (if the barrel caliber stamping is .38 S&W), and the barrel is not original. The original barrel length for a .38/200 will be 5" (from front cylinder face to barrel muzzle). Grips are non-original, and it also appears to have been refinished. It probably also has re-bored chambers to accept the .38 S&W Special cartridge.

In general, a .38/200 Victory British service revolver which has been modified from its original form in any way (as a huge number were after WWII) will have no collector value and a very low monetary value. It will be worth only what someone is willing to pay for it as a utility gun. Some consider them to be worthless, but gun show prices (asking) will usually be $200-$300.

 

[VM]

The 70's grips are nice and probably worth $35-40.
I have seen many of these converted M&P's sell in the $150-$200 range / not a lot of collector value

 

[bjornolf]

Can you tell me about the sights?

 

[DWalt]

I doubt if anyone can. It could have been put on by anyone. Maybe even Parker Hale.

 

[bjornolf]

Okay. For all I knew, Parker & Hale was popular in England in the 50s, like franzite here.

 

[bjornolf]

I doubt if anyone can. It could have been put on by anyone. Maybe even Parker Hale.

Interesting. According to wiki, Parker-Hale LLC was a good sized gun and gun parts maker in Birmingham's gun quarter started in 1880.

 

[opoefc]

I assume when you say " It says Parker & Hale England on it" you mean on the front sight?
Is the barrel serial number the same as the number on the butt & cylinder? There are no British proofs visible on the barrel, so the gun was not rechambered to .38 Special, nor sold originally on the British after WW2 commercial market. I would guess that a previous owner in Britain had the barrel cut and had a gunsmith add a Parker Hale ramp type front sight, or had that work done by Parker & Hale. Ed.

 

[VM]

bjornolf - ther have been many PH threads in the past. Here is some good reading for you:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchresults.php?cx=partner-pub-2376253589436827%3Asiodb9lchnk&cof=FORID%3A9&q=Parker+%26+Hale&sa=Go


fyi - at the top of every page is a google search feature. It is a helpful tool.

 

[bjornolf]

I assume when you say " It says Parker & Hale England on it" you mean on the front sight?
Is the barrel serial number the same as the number on the butt & cylinder? There are no British proofs visible on the barrel, so the gun was not rechambered to .38 Special, nor sold originally on the British after WW2 commercial market. I would guess that a previous owner in Britain had the barrel cut and had a gunsmith add a Parker Hale ramp type front sight, or had that work done by Parker & Hale. Ed.

Yes, it says Parker-Hale England on the front sight. Sorry, it's a dash, not a &. I mistyped.

 

[bjornolf]

bjornolf - ther have been many PH threads in the past. Here is some good reading for you:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchresults.php?cx=partner-pub-2376253589436827%3Asiodb9lchnk&cof=FORID%3A9&q=Parker+%26+Hale&sa=Go


fyi - at the top of every page is a google search feature. It is a helpful tool.

Thanks for the info.