Questions on possible rebarrel and nickel on my own trainwreck

[MelvinWalker]

I have been looking for a bubba'd Victory model 4 inch for a little while for a mock-up gun for a SAC Offutt AFB uniform set up.

OK, I found a suitable "candidate" at a local auction that is in sad shape, but may provide what I need to complete this. It is at an auction I am registered with. Looks like a standard 1942-44 Lend Lease Victory in .38 S&W that has been shortened to four inches, nickeled and franzite grips put on it. I can probably end up with it for $150 plus transfers, etc.

Let's say I win it, I have an idea... I have several near complete pinned Model 10 parts kits. How hard is it to have a newer pinned/recessed 4 inch Model 10, blued .38 Special barrel and .38 Special cylinder installed? Say I then completely disassemble myself and attempt a re-chrome at home and then reassemble?

I can take my time with the project, but I need some realistic advice on is it even worth fooling with it, other than satisfaction of a completed project?

Pics of potential donor gun and any overall thoughts on barrel install and home chroming?

 

[alwslate]

I would say clean it and use it like it is. Not cost effective to put much money in it. BTW model 10 .38 spl cylinders are not recessed.

 

[MelvinWalker]

I would say clean it and use it like it is. Not cost effective to put much money in it. BTW model 10 .38 spl cylinders are not recessed.

Yeah, I guess early non-magnum cylinders were just pinned, but the same thing applies as the Victory wouldn't have had a recessed one either.

 

[Alk8944]

Why don't you want to simply buy a Model 15 since that is the revolver that SAC used. They would have used Victory models only the first few years, the Combat Masterpiece during the majority of SAC.

I am from Omaha and was on Offutt AFB several times during the 1950s & '60s and the only revolvers I ever saw carried by the APs were the MODEL 15s.

Your proposed project is not practical from a cost basis. To make the gun into what you want will cost as much, or nearly so, as what a used Model 15 should be able to be found for.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Why don't you want to simply buy a Model 15 since that is the revolver that SAC used. They would have used Victory models only the first few years, the Combat Masterpiece during the majority of SAC.

I am from Omaha and was on Offutt AFB several times during the 1950s & '60s and the only revolvers I ever saw carried by the APs were the MODEL 15s.

Because I have been building a very early Air Police uniform set-up like shown with Victory Model Bucheimer cross-draw holster and SAC crested blue web belt. This is opposed to the blued Model 15 that later Vietnam era Security Police used. I have a local guy that has a Model 15 4 inch that he just listed for $450, which is a decent buy.

 

[Alk8944]

Because I have been building a very early Air Police uniform set-up like shown with Victory Model Bucheimer cross-draw holster and SAC crested blue web belt. This is opposed to the blued Model 15 that later Vietnam era Security Police used. I have a local guy that has a Model 15 4 inch that he just listed for $450, which is a decent buy.

What is the source of the photo? It certainly does not date to the 1940s with that missile in the background! The revolver in the holster appears to be nickled, which would not have been AF issue either. The phony Jay Scott stag grips wouldn't have been approved for uniform wear either. Basically all you are getting by the Victory is the butt swivel. I have never seen that style holster used by any service branch either, and it didn't exist in the 1940s. The ones I saw were right side hip holsters

Just an aside. For several years in the 1950s our next door neighbor was an Air Force officer assigned to Offutt AFB. His name was Offutt! No idea if he was related to the Omaha native First Lieutenant James Jenness Offutt who the base was named for, who died during WWI. I never thought to ask him at the time. This was mid 1950s when I was about 12.

 

[MelvinWalker]

What is the source of the photo? It certainly does not date to the 1940s with that missile in the background! The revolver in the holster appears to be nickled, which would not have been AF issue either. The phony Jay Scott stag grips wouldn't have been approved for uniform wear either. Basically all you are getting by the Victory is the butt swivel.

Just an aside. For several years in the 1950s our next door neighbor was an Air Force officer assigned to Offutt AFB. His name was Offutt! No idea if he was related to the Omaha native First Lieutenant James Jenness Offutt who the base was named for, who died during WWI. I never thought to ask him at the time. This was mid 1950s when I was about 12.

I never said it was 1940's, probably late 1950's, possibly very early 1960's...The photo came from an entire thread about this very topic that was posted on this forum several years ago by a veteran member, ( "kwill1911" ). He documented all sources at the bottom of his post

The pistols were authorized by Gen. Curtis Lemay himself who wanted an elite guard for his SAC missile force. From memory, he came up with the concept. There is a YouTube video made about the team as well:

The USAF SAC Elite Guard Model 15

 

[llowry61]

Since you asked the question, I would just try to source the gun to complete the task (I am task oriented).

In my experience cost and time considered buying gets you from point A to point B in the least amount of time, but if the journey is what you enjoy then the build it route makes sense.

Both are achievable it depends on what you like.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Since you asked the question, I would just try to source the gun to complete the task (I am task oriented).

In my experience cost and time considered buying gets you from point A to point B in the least amount of time, but if the journey is what you enjoy then the build it route makes sense.

Both are achievable it depends on what you like.

Yeah, my main concern is not the tedious taking apart of the internals, but more of the difficulty of installing another barrel. That is something I haven't done. I've got the barrel and cylinder, etc, but I am leery about getting halfway into it and then not being able to finish for lack of tools, patience or skills. I watched a few YouTube videos on home chroming, and that's even possible by me, but the barrel install is what has me.

Either way, the donor gun is basically worth nothing as is and my parts are worth near nothing and it might turn out uniquely smooth when finished. The early Model 10 parts kit I have is in really nice shape, so if everything went together without a major malfunction, it would probably function nicely once chromed. Everybody here has valid points on it...The crossdraw set up just screams 1960's USA badass though.

The local $450 model 15 would be a much easier option because in addition to the SAC rig, I have a complete near unissued 1963 dated Air Police belt rig as well that a Model 15 would go right in perfectly. This next belt and acc. was from the estate of an Air Police Captain who recently passed. The leather is perfect as is the belt. No crest on this one though as he served in Thailand during Vietnam and not with SAC.

 

[alwslate]

The finish on the cylinder doesn't match the rest of the gun. Looks like it might be stainless. Does your gun have matching serial numbers? Will the cylinder chamber .38 spls?

 

[MelvinWalker]

The finish on the cylinder doesn't match the rest of the gun. Looks like it might be stainless. Does your gun have matching serial numbers? Will the cylinder chamber .38 spls?

It's not mine, it's in an auction...The seller thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, but I had to explain it was a cut down, nickeled Victory in .38 S&W with a plugged lanyard ring and plastic replacement grips.

The bidding closed at $200 with reserve not met.

It wasn't the one for me.

 

[Dvus]

There was an original series Star Trek episode with Air Force MPs carrying nickled model 10s with fake stag grips. Kirk and Spock, caught in a time warp, were trying to stop Gary Sevin from sabotaging a nuclear missile. Of course, Mr. Seven was sent from another world to save the human race from themselves, and in the end all were working together. Point of the story is, the guns were on Star Trek, so it has to be credible.

 

[alwslate]

My mistake. I thought it was for sale at $150 and you had bought it or was going to. $200 and reserve not met is a bit much.