What do I have, Victory, M&P or mutt

[Landpimp]

Not sure what this is, its a M&P or Victory. Picked it up today in a batch of police evidence guns, it looked unloved and was cheap

Sure it started out as a 38SW or 38-200, now its 38 special. 5 screw. can see the cylinder has another step in it now. Barrel is 2 3/8, guessing its not orignal, also has british proof marks on bottom of barrel. Gun has a sweet action, little loose in places like the yoke.

also it looks like on each cylinder there is a faint "P" stamped

pics of gun and markings

I am not even close to being up on a Smith like this

 

[Landpimp]

Not sure what this is, its a M&P or Victory. Picked it up today in a batch of police evidence guns, it looked unloved and was cheap

Sure it started out as a 38SW or 38-200, now its 38 special. 5 screw. can see the cylinder has another step in it now. Barrel is 2 3/8, guessing its not orignal, also has british proof marks on bottom of barrel. Gun has a sweet action, little loose in places like the yoke.

also it looks like on each cylinder there is a faint "P" stamped

pics of gun and markings

I am not even close to being up on a Smith like this

 

[mikepriwer]

Most of it was a Victory, some time ago !

The frame and cylinder are mis-matched, as far as serial numbers go,
The frame itself has been poorly refinished, perhaps more than once.
There is evidence of blue over some pits.

The barrel was cut, and some foreign ramp sight brazed on. I can't
tell , from the pictures, if that might have been the original barrel,
or some replacement.

It appears to be something that was put together from an assortment
of parts. The grips don't fit right, so they are probably from yet
another gun.

Gig Harbor, eh ? I remember , from years ago living in Seattle, trying
to evaluate repairing an old sewing machine. Fellow I took it to
asked if I had a boat !

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Landpimp]

thanks for the info, about what I suspected. Any issues with 38sp in this? looks and feels like it shoot just fine. Paid $75 for it

has what looks like british markings on bottom of barrel, also 3.5 tons, this must be like the brit version of PSI?

born and raised in GH.....boats are just a money pit...I have one

 

[gunfish]

3.5 tons is pressure proof. .767 is cartridge length (38S&W I think). Bore diameter might be there too. BNP is commercial proof. If you find tiny crossed penants (flags) on the frame it was inventoried to a military group of some sort.

 

[Landpimp]

so the barrel is 38SW but the cylinder has been made into 38special, this combo work together.

Will look for the flags, its in the ultrasonic now.....

Originally posted by gunfish:
3.5 tons is pressure proof. .767 is cartridge length (38S&W I think). Bore diameter might be there too. BNP is commercial proof. If you find tiny crossed penants (flags) on the frame it was inventoried to a military group of some sort.

 

[DRB]

Looks like it started life as a British 38/200 was chopped and converted to special. The special case will bulge as the cylinder is a bit over sized in the rear. It may split if you use high pressure ammo, so don't. Bore will be .360 not .357 accuracy will suffer as a result. $75 is a very fair price for it though it will never have any collector value. The front lock being cut off may cause lead to shave when fired as the cylinder will tend to tip out. Probably okay to shoot but do so at your own risk.

 

[Deacon KC]

LP, if you decide to part with it, let me know.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Oswald Special

 

[dbarale]

I you reload you will probably enjoy it more shooting it with .38S&W
If you don't, try some .38spl wadcutters.
Low pressure and soft lead should work better in a converted gun.

Cool little gun BTW, I would have paid 75$ for it without hesitation.

 

[Landpimp]

to be honest, this thing scares me, just too many mismatched bits, when I cock to SA, the clyinder needs a push to lock on 4 out of the 6 chambers.

think I will just take it back, cheap or not..if I keep it I will HAVE to fire it and I like my hand to much

 

[Landpimp]

well I went over the mutt again with my dealer/buddy and decided to shoot it.

and well.....it shoots pretty darn good, I put on a big ole leather glove, stuffed my finger in the trigger guard.....held my breath and pulled the trigger....still got all of them.....fingers that is

Ran 100rds of SWC's, at 10yards, about a 2" group. Did have one split case, but expect that because of the rechamber.

so for $75 I am pretty happy, makes another house/stash gun.....or something you can leave on the boat or whatever.

thanks for the help and advice guys

 

[dbarale]

I'm glad you decided to keep it!
I wish I could run into that kind of deal. I'm a sucker for beater guns that look like they've been around the block a few times.

 

[mjr]

It does look a lot like Lee Harvey Oswald's revolver. Interesting artifact.

 

[Landpimp]

have pic or link, I cant find anything

Originally posted by mjr:
It does look a lot like Lee Harvey Oswald's revolver. Interesting artifact.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
This Revolver looks alot like a Southern Gun Distributor of Miami, Florida "Convertion" from the late 1950s up to 1968. These were .38 S&W caliber Military and Police Models imported from Great Britian. Cylinders were bored out to accept .38 Specials, most were cheaply nickeled plated, layard rings removed and hole filled in, and some had the barrels cut back to two inches. These could be ordered for $24.95 or $29.95 with imatation stag grips, Some had .38 SPECIAL" stamped in bold letters on the right side of the barrel.
A lot had re-stamped serial numbers. In those long ago days various Gun Firms committed unbeleivable butcher jobs on surplus Firearms.
Jimmy