Victory Oddity?

[mi2600]

I just picked up a Victory, SN# V4362XX.

There are six "BNP" stamps with a crown image stamped on the cylinder. No other British markings.

It's in nickle (which I suspect was not original) and chambered in .38 S&W. It came with a set of hokey "real imitation" stag grips.

No lanyard ring. There is a circular mark on the butt where the ring usually goes, so I figured it was probably plugged. But, when I removed the grips, the small hole where the lanyard pin goes was never drilled through the frame, only part way.

Does this make any sense?

 

[Camster]

A lot of these received the plating and fake grips after the war to make them saleable.
I would check the chambers to see if it's also been reamed to accept 38 specials- a common practice in that era.

 

[cgt4570]

I would venture a guess that the cross drilled lanyard pin hole does in fact go all the way through. You just can't see through the hole because there is a solid plug in the lanyard hole. FYI: the factory lanyard hole plugs are not solid. They mount just like a lanyard by using a pin through the slot.
Sounds like your gun is just a typical British purchase Victory that was customized when it was dumped on the surplus market after the war.

 

[gjamison]

thats a lend lease gun. lanyard ring hole
was not drilled all the way through the frame, ring goes
in the hole then pined.

 

[mi2600]

The cylinder has been bored to accept .38 Spl, as was my other Victory (SN# 3362XX), but since I have the dies I'll load the .38 S&W.

Another thing I observed was my other Victory is a 3 1/2" barrel and this newer one is 4".

I also have a Colt Police Positive in .38 S&W.

 

[Oldiron]

Amazing that it isn't a 2" barrel as so-so many others have been including the one I rebuilt. The lanyard ring hole is in all probiblility pluged with a bronze plug that was beaten into the hole and mushed to fit. Mine was. If you want it out, first drill out the lanyard pin hole and verify the composition of the plug. Once you have affirmed that it is brass/bronze find the faint outline of the plug in the nickel coating and begin to progressively drill the hole out from the center until you can crack out the final little sleeve. Pic included is after drilling out the hole (is also after removing the nickel). And what the heck the other pic is after it was rebuilt.
Larry

 

[Waidmann]

BNP, Birmingham Nitro Proof (1954 and after in this style) indicates the gun was examined and test fired before it entered commerce in the UK. There should be additional markings like .38 .767 etc.

 

[mi2600]

Thanks, Oldiron.

I think I'll leave the plug in. The only lanyard ring I have is black and I think it would look out of place with a nickle finish.

My other Victory has the dull combat style finish and the ring looks natural.

I didn't see any other markings/numbers other than the usual S&W things.

 

[opoefc]

You say the newer one is a four inch barrel, but the gun is a Lend Lease 38/200, now bored out to .38 Spl? What is the serial number on the barrel? Does it match the number on the butt and the cylinder? If it's a four inch ( measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle) , then the barrel is a replacement, or you measured it wrong. Ed.

 

[Goony]

Could you possibly post some photos of these revolvers, mi2600?

 

[mi2600]

I haven't posted pics before, but here goes...

 

[mi2600]

I forgot to mention. All the numbers match on both guns.

 

[JSR III]

Hard to tell from your photos. Are the hammer and trigger nickel as well? You could get a lanyard ring and have it plated to match the gun. Then it would really look neat.

 

[Waidmann]

The blued "4 inch" resembles the typical Parker-Hale or Cogswell & Harrison, post-war, bobb (from 5") and ream (the chambers to accept .38 Secials) job.

 

[mi2600]

JSR, yes both the trigger and hammer are in nickle. I'll have to think some more about the lanyard.

Waidmann, the top gun with the 3 1/2" barrel is stamped "Converted by Cogswell and Harrison" which accounts for the cylinder work. The bottom gun isn't stamped.