victory model

[Fishnic]

I have a SW 38 special- victory serial number V223xxx. 2" barrel, U.S. Navy property mark, serial numbers match on the stock/cylinder/butt. According to my coworker it appears to have been re-blued.

Wondering what steps i should take to authenticate whether it has a cut down barrel or is originally a snub?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[hsguy]

Fishnic, welcome to the forum. The gun is definitely cut down. An original snub would have a locking lug at the front of the ejector rod.

 

[Fishnic]

sorry for the ignorance, can you explain what a locking lug is?

 

[hsguy]

No problem, glad to help. The locking lug is a metal part projecting from the bottom of the barrel that would lock the end of the ejector rod in place when the cylinder is closed. It is machined as part of the barrel. The lug has a spring loaded catch that fits into the end of the ejector rod to lock it in place when the action is closed. I included a photo that hopefully will help. Your gun has been refinished as the original finish would have been a dull military type. I also included photos of what the gun originally looked like, typically a 4" barreled gun.

 

[Fishnic]

Thank you for the info

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the forum.

It looks like the the barrel has been turned down on a lathe, then had the front sight reattached.

 

[Camster]

If I had that gun,I would seek an original length barrel.It appears legit otherwise,unlike some that had been altered,plated,with original grips long gone.

 

[Waidmann]

Given the demand and value of Navy guns I too urge restoration. I do not encourage to fire a gun with this alteration.

 

[Goony]

If I had that gun,I would seek an original length barrel.It appears legit otherwise,unlike some that had been altered,plated,with original grips long gone.

Given the demand and value of Navy guns I too urge restoration. I do not encourage to fire a gun with this alteration.

If it were just a matter of putting on a replacement 4" Victory barrel (which I agree probably ought to be done anyway), I'd be with you both on the idea of bringing this gun back from the dead. But that polish and blue job that's already been done to it additionally mitigates against the feasibility of a "restoration" project. All you'd end up with is a Frankengun that's been refinished twice.