What do I have? A pre-Victory?

[Twiki357]

I just received this S&W online purchase. This is an unusual marked revolver. Older original Hand Ejector K frame 5 screw chambered for 38 S&W (NOT 38 Special) 6 round cylinder. The cylinder chambers are correct for 38 S&W; oversize for 38 special. It has original numbered smooth stocks and a lanyard ring (Typical of Victory models). It has a 5” tapered barrel with patent dates on top of barrel of 2/6/06; 9/14/09; 12/29/14. It has a very dull dark gray finish as described for a 38/200 or Victory, but it could just be a very old weathered blue (I haven’t cleaned it yet.) There are no foreign proof stamps.

The SN on cylinder & stocks is 628851 but there is NO SN# on butt or bottom of barrel. Sold to me as an incorrect SN of 87975 that is the assembly number inside the crane. There are none of the usual stampings on the frame under the stocks, zilch, notta one. Other than the absence of SN stamping on the butt and bottom of the barrel, all other stamping appear to be constant S&W stampings/roll marks. The closest I can come to age in the SCSW (page 397) 3rd edition is a shipping date range of 1915 to 1942, SNs 241704 - 700000. I’m guessing that would put this gun at around 1937/1939 But those are listed as 38 Special HE and this gun is correctly marked 38 S&W on the barrel.

I would appreciate any information that can be provided as to what I actually have and when it may have shipped.

 

[gordonrick]

OK. So I'll be the one to tell you the bad news. The serial number on the butt is THE serial number. The best thing to do is to return to seller and let them deal with it. If there isn't a legit substitute number assigned by BATF then it doesn't have a legal serial number regardless of whatever the seller told you. The law, as I understand it, puts the full responsibility on the current owner. Period. Your gun, your call on that.

If the cylinder hasn't been swapped, then it would have been a bright blue finish, but the stocks for this time-frame (1940-ish) probably would have been checked with the silver medallions. I believe the smooth stocks didn't start until a bit later. I think this SN is a little low for the British contracts but I don't think an absolute lowest SN is really known for certain (maybe an SA contract gun?). Perhaps it is V628851? Take another look. The V may be separated from the number on the cylinder.
DWalt or one of the more knowledgeable folks will probably add a lot more.

BTW - I have a 5" from about a year later and it is a very nice shooter.

 

[Targets Guy]

It looks a lot like my 1941 Lend Lease. 38 special, 5 inch barrel, swivel. It shipped in Apr 41. s/n 765xxx.

post a picturecertificity.com

Here it is with a 1944 Victory that is a .38 SW

click image uploadcertificity.com

 

[Targets Guy]

Here it is with a swivel installed once again.

upload pictures freecertificity.com

 

[Absalom]

Gordonrick has already pointed out some of the essentials.

The lighting of your photos is too weird for me to be able to tell whether this is a refinished or patinaed original blued gun, making a no-prefix 628851 likely, or a Victory Midnight Black finish, meaning there should be a V somewhere. The surface texture especially on the barrel close-up makes me think the latter.

Anyway, if you bought this from an FFL seller online, especially if through a transfer FFL dealer, give'em hell. This gun should NOT have made it through a transfer.

PS: 628 would be early 1930s, unlikely for a .38 S&W. V 628 would be mid-1944, which would make a lot more sense.

 

[DWalt]

Your revolver is illegal, no doubt about that. Get your money back. Don't concern yourself about anything else.