"Victory" question

[Jst1mr]

I tend to concentrate on somewhat newer guns, but tonight was handed a revolver identified as a Victory model. .38 S&W special, 6" barrel, softer blue/black finish. I know enough that fakes abound in this area. This gun was fitted with Pachmeyers or the like which covered the butt, so I don't know about lanyard ring hole. Serial #V 572XX. Thought it was a 4 screw. (Going on memory here, don't have it in hand), the only other marking I recall was "USA" at an odd angle on the right sideplate, forward of the trigger. What do you think, or what else should I look for on this gun? I wouldn't mind getting it and finding some proper grips, etc

 

[Texas Star]

The USA was probably an importers's mark,unless it was in the usual place for Made in the USA. (Forward lower right part of the frame.)

Be advised that some .38/200's have been re-chambered for .38 Special and sold here. Do NOT buy one. (Bad investment, questionable safety.)

If the barrel is five inches long, not four, you probably saw one of those .38/200's made for the British Commonwealth nations. Some of those were with four-inch barrels, but a true US Victory Model will have a four-incher or the rare two-inch barrel. If this barrel was actually six inches, you certainly have a Commonwealth model. They came with four, five, and six-inch barrels. all five- inch after April, 1942. Priot to then, they were blued. Later ones had a Midnight Black finish, and some were refinished that way or Parkerized.

Pachmayr is spelled like that, not the way you did it. I'd sure check under the grips before buying ANY handgun. Rust sometimes occurs there, as people don't take off the grips and oil under them.

IF this gun is still in .38 S&W regular, NOT .38 Special, it is a legitimate British collectible. Go to the British Gun Pub at www.gunboards.com and post about it there for current values. Personally, I wouldn't give over $250, if that, and only if it was arsenal refinished and the work was really well done. It was originally commercial quality blue, IF you are correct about the six-inch bbl.

T-Star

 

[scha]

I thought that the 6 inch barrels on British Service Revolvers were all produced prior to April 1942 when the "V" serial numbers started. So, if this revolver has a serial number of V572XX, it would be unusual for it to have the 6 inch barrel unless it was replaced at some later time. If it is a 38 Special then the original barrel was a 4 inch barrel or one of the very rare 2 inch barrels. I don't think there were any original Victory models in 38 Special with a 6 inch barrel.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[PJGP]

Britsh purchase M&Ps with 6" barrels were before S&W started to produce in quantity for the UK and are thus 1940. The revolver mentioned sounds very much like a post war rebuild.

Peter

 

[murphydog]

Have a look at the barrel flat, above the ejector rod. If the number matches the SN, it is original. A 6" VM would be unusual.

 

[Cyrano]

The six inch 38 Special barrel on my VM has the serial number on the barrel flat. Unfortunately, my factory letter says the gun started out as a 5 inch barrel 38 S&W caliber revolver. Somewhere along the line it was rebuilt.