SW Pre-Victory? ID help

[Jim_Holy]

Hello guys and gals,


A few days ago I bought this revolver, dealer called it a Victory Model but there is a lack of 'V' mark on the butt, furthermore I showed it to an acquaintance of mine that has an interest in historical firearms and he noted the absence of a U.S property mark or any other armed forces acceptance mark, which is quite unusual for what should be a military handgun.
He pointed me to this site saying there are people here that could tell me more.
So what do you think? Photos are in attachments.

Looking forward to your replies.

 

[Jim_Holy]

Additional Pictures No.1

Here are additional pictures.

 

[Jim_Holy]

Additional Pictures No.2

Additional pictures.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Hi Jim! Welcome! A real expert will be along shortly to provide detailed information. It is a .38 Military & Police, WWII British Service Revolver made around 1941. Some call it a "Pre-Victory." The V series serials didn't start until April 1942 after the US entered the war. The "P" on the butt is the military acceptance stamp. It is chambered for .38 S&W which was the British Commwealth service cartridge at the time (.38/200). It appears to have been refinished at some point in its life.

 

[MelvinWalker]

It appears to have been refinished at some point in its life.

My thoughts as well...The trigger and hammer are telltale to that.

I don't see any broad arrow marks, but there was a small mark under the grip I can't make out. Could it be a refinish marking?

Nice looking gun though.

 

[Goony]

It is a .38 Military & Police, WWII British Service Revolver made around 1941....It appears to have been refinished at some point in its life.

I concur. My (limited) database would suggest that it shipped in mid-1941. I'd add that I doubt that the stocks are original, probably replacements put on when the gun was refurbished.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I doubt that the stocks are original, probably replacements put on when the gun was refurbished.

My thoughts as well. Jim can check the serial stamped on the back of the right grip panel to see if it matches the butt.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Long story short, in 1939, the British contracted with S&W to build a 9mm rifle. It was unsuccessful and Smith & Wesson provided .38 S&W chambered revolvers to fulfill the contract.

This is one of them.

 

[DWalt]

The “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” topstrap stamping was not used until around October 1941 for Lend-Lease revolvers shipped the British.

 

[daddio202]

Welcome to forum Jim! I wanted to post a couple pictures of mine that went to Canada still in original condition to show what yours looked like before the refinish. Serial is no too far from yours the P is not part of the serial. Mine is still in .38 S&W. Many were bored through to accept .38 special, you may want to check yours to see if a 38 special cartridge fits all the way into your cylinder, if it does then it was modified.

 

[Jim_Holy]

You're right, the grips have a different serial number.
Thank you all for all the info you gave me, it's really helpful.

 

[Jim_Holy]

That's a really nice looking revolver, daddio, it's really cool that out of the 1,3 million or so of these made during the war yours is just some ten thousand apart haha

 

[Jim_Holy]

And yeah I tried it out and it only fits .38SW, the headspace is 20mm.

Oh well, I bought it as a historic weapon and not really as a shooter, so it's that much of an issue.

 

[JP@AK]

You're right, the grips have a different serial number.

Here is what your original stocks looked like:

 

[MelvinWalker]

Here is what your original stocks looked like:

That is correct...There is a guy on Ebay named "vittoonworks" that is a member here. He in in Thailand and makes repro grips that are stunningly accurate just like these for around $39.

 

[DWalt]

That is correct...There is a guy on Ebay named "vittoonworks" that is a member here. He in in Thailand and makes repro grips that are stunningly accurate just like these for around $39.

That is good information. I need a pair of the 1930s style K-frame grips and reproductions would work OK for my purposes. I will check on eBay.

 

[murphydog]

At the time this gun was made, it would have been called a British Service Revolver or a K-200. Since there was no V prefix then, calling it a pre-Victory Model would have been a postwar collector’s term.

 

[MelvinWalker]

That is good information. I need a pair of the 1930s style K-frame grips and reproductions would work OK for my purposes. I will check on eBay.

@DWalt

Here are the ones I bought and didn't even need them...I just thought that one day I WILL probably need them and if I didn't buy them for under $50, I would regret it...Price was $44.39 shipped from Thailand and it got here in ten days. The seller is named "vittoonmakers" and is a good guy and honest...All handmade by him:

 

[DWalt]

@DWalt

Here are the ones I bought and didn't even need them...I just thought that one day I WILL probably need them and if I didn't buy them for under $50, I would regret it...Price was $44.39 shipped from Thailand and it got here in ten days. The seller is named "vittoonmakers" and is a good guy and honest...All handmade by him:

I have purchased several pair of the Thai grips, but quite a while back. I was satisfied with them, and they were a little cheaper then, around $25 as I remember. They were sort of smooth combat grips, did not resemble anything from S&W. They shipped quickly, was surprised that I got them so fast.

 

[DWalt]

At the time this gun was made, it would have been called a British Service Revolver or a K-200. Since there was no V prefix then, calling it a pre-Victory Model would have been a postwar collector’s term.

While “Victory” was and is common nomenclature, it was not the official British military designation. Nor was .38/200 or K-200. They called it the “Pistol, Revolver, Smith and Wesson, No. 2”. No. 2 referred to their .380 revolver cartridge, either Mark 1 or Mark 2. Americans usually call it the BSR.