Victory Question ...

[MinnNewbie]

Somebody told me not to get involved with thse S&W revolvers -- they warned me that it can quickly become an obsession if one isn't careful. I think he was right.

Here's the deal: I just bought my second S&W revolver -- a Model 66-2 to go along with my Pre-17. At the same shop, they have a Victory (S/N V200xxx) which they said was a "lend-lease" gun. Based on my handy SCSW2, that seems right. The gun has the checkered grips, the lanyard ring and the original finish.

I don't know much about these but since this was one of the original "M&Ps", I'm thinking that it might be a very cool companion to my 2007 M&P polymer auto.

Just out of curiousity ...

* It is safe to shoot a gun like this or does one keep it in a safe?

* Although the shop technician tells me it is in good shape for it's age, is there anything that I need to be wary of?

* Anything else you guys would like to share?


FYI, they're asking $439 (flexible) and it looks like this ...

 

[MinnNewbie]

Somebody told me not to get involved with thse S&W revolvers -- they warned me that it can quickly become an obsession if one isn't careful. I think he was right.

Here's the deal: I just bought my second S&W revolver -- a Model 66-2 to go along with my Pre-17. At the same shop, they have a Victory (S/N V200xxx) which they said was a "lend-lease" gun. Based on my handy SCSW2, that seems right. The gun has the checkered grips, the lanyard ring and the original finish.

I don't know much about these but since this was one of the original "M&Ps", I'm thinking that it might be a very cool companion to my 2007 M&P polymer auto.

Just out of curiousity ...

* It is safe to shoot a gun like this or does one keep it in a safe?

* Although the shop technician tells me it is in good shape for it's age, is there anything that I need to be wary of?

* Anything else you guys would like to share?


FYI, they're asking $439 (flexible) and it looks like this ...

 

[delta-419]

If this is a photo of the gun I would negotiate the price a bit. Most of these wore smooth grips, after being checked by a good gunsmith it would be fun to shoot. This one looks like it has all the British proofs. There are some experts here on the forum that can answer all your Victory questions. They will be along soon!

 

[mikepriwer]

There are some obvious things, and some no-so-obvious things.

First - those are not the right grips. What you have there is an
early post-WW2 set of stocks.

Second - there is not very much finish on that gun, and what is left
may or may not be original. It would take a closer inspection to
confirm if, and how many times, it may have been refinished.

Third - the classic problem with these is the caliber. Check the
right side of the barrel. If it is roll-marked 38 S&W , then see
if it will chamber a 38 Special. If it is a 38 S&W bored out to
accomodate 38 Special, then shooting 38 Special is problematical -
the cases may split. Generally, it would be safe to shoot , but
if it was set up for 38 S&W originally, then that would be the
ammo of choice.

Personally, given the finish, I think the price is high. $300 to
$325, without knowing more about it, would be all that one ought to
pay for it.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[AirCommando]

Wow! Almost thought that was my gun! It looked exactly like that when I got it. I changed the grips to the right grips. It is a pre Victory lend lease gun shipped March 17, 1942 to the Hartford Ordnance Depot. The letter from Roy says it was shipped with checkered walnut grips, so they would be like the ones on it now.
After:

Before:

So they were shipped with checkered grips at least until March, 1942.

 

[Texas Star]

Yes, and the early ones had four, five, or six-inch barrels and blue finishes. This .38/200 Model was standardized with five-inch barrel and smooth walnut grips from around April, 1942. Dull gray finish after that date, too.

They probably settled on five-inch barrels because that is what Enfeld and Webley .38's had, and the holsters were made for that size of gun.

 

[curt hanshaw]

minnnewbie,,i have a set of the smoth walnut grip that are the correct grips for that victory if you do get it we could maybe make a trade i could use the grips on that victory for another revolver i agree i own one victory still want another if intererested e-mail me [email protected] thanks curt. c