Unusual Victory Model & Questions

[69HEMI-R/T]

I found what I think is a Victory Model, but I am not sure. For one thing it has a 2" barrel with no markings on it other than the serial number and the number matches the SN on the cylinder and butt. It has a square butt frame and is Nickel-plated (surely a refinish) with no "N" stamped on the butt or cylinder. Serial number is: V (about 3/4" from numbers)7419xx.

It is a 5 screw and has case-hardened trigger and hammer that are both in beautiful condition. The nickel-plating is in decent condition with some flaws, mostly on the right side plate. It does have a "P" stamped on the upper rear of the left side, after the sn# on the barrel and on the cylinder. Assembly nos. on crane and frame match. Grips are cheap plastic stags. The cylinder has a circle with 2 letters and some type of wing or flame between each chamber The first letter is different in each circle except the last one appears to be a "P" . The frame has "Made in USA stamped on the right side but no U S Property or inspector's stamp on the top strap. Also, no lanyard ring hole in the bottom of the grip frame and no evidence of it being filled in.

It appears to have similarities to the .38 HE 4th model and the Victory model!

Excuse my ignorance on these guns, but what is this I have found and could this possibly have been nickel plated at the factory?

Thanks Carl

 

[69HEMI-R/T]

I found what I think is a Victory Model, but I am not sure. For one thing it has a 2" barrel with no markings on it other than the serial number and the number matches the SN on the cylinder and butt. It has a square butt frame and is Nickel-plated (surely a refinish) with no "N" stamped on the butt or cylinder. Serial number is: V (about 3/4" from numbers)7419xx.

It is a 5 screw and has case-hardened trigger and hammer that are both in beautiful condition. The nickel-plating is in decent condition with some flaws, mostly on the right side plate. It does have a "P" stamped on the upper rear of the left side, after the sn# on the barrel and on the cylinder. Assembly nos. on crane and frame match. Grips are cheap plastic stags. The cylinder has a circle with 2 letters and some type of wing or flame between each chamber The first letter is different in each circle except the last one appears to be a "P" . The frame has "Made in USA stamped on the right side but no U S Property or inspector's stamp on the top strap. Also, no lanyard ring hole in the bottom of the grip frame and no evidence of it being filled in.

It appears to have similarities to the .38 HE 4th model and the Victory model!

Excuse my ignorance on these guns, but what is this I have found and could this possibly have been nickel plated at the factory?

Thanks Carl

 

[LWCmdr45]

Carl,

First, by definition, ALL Victory Models are .38 H.E. 4th Models. Without examining the gun, I believe you have one that was mustered out of service with Britain (the cylinder markings are probably postwar British civilian proofs); if so, it was originally chambered in .38S&W (aka, .38-200), but may have had the cylinder reamed out to accept .38 Special cartridges. (This was a common practice necessary in order to market the surplus guns in the Americas where the .38S&W was not looked upon with much favor.) Even if this "conversion" has been done, shooting .38 Special rounds is not recommended as the cases tend to split.

The barrel shortening (often, so short that the barrel lug for the ejector rod is elminated) and nickel plating were other common alterations to get 'em to sell over here. I'm pretty sure that the gun originally had the "U.S. PROPERTY" markings on the top strap and had a lanyard hole, but these were ground off/filled in.

The "P" proofs on frame, cylinder and barrel are original U.S. proofs from when the gun was made (circa late '44/early '45).

The chances of it being a factory plating job are next to nil. The factory, I'm sure, would have refused to work on any gun so extensively modified.

Steve

 

[69HEMI-R/T]

Steve, thanks so much for the informative reply. I checked the cylinders and, sure enough, a .38spl will not chamber. Has to be a 38s&w cylinder as it has a shorter shoulder and the chambers are slightly larger in diameter! Looks like it is just an interesting revolver from the war with no real collector value.
The barrel has indeed been shortened to where there is no barrel lug.

Oh well, it did not cost me very much at all and I will probably hang on to it. The dealer I got it from also sold me an extremely nice CMP M1 Garand that has been unfired since the rebuild in Dec. '65 for $700.00 so I guess I came out all right!