Picked up another S&W revolver

[CajunBass]

Nice! I bought a Victory on GB...it was advertised by the pawn broker who sold it to me as a 2" "professionally done" conversion of an original .38 Spl. V model. I will say that the cut down barrel, the new crown, and the installation of the half-moon front sight wasn't bad at all.

What wasn't shown in photos was the cylinder charge holes. I got it home (after waiting for shipping and then our useless 10- day wait) only to find out some Bubba McDoofus had hogged out the cylinder and made a .38 S&W into a semi-useless .38 Spl.

Since the gun had zero collector value anyway, I bought a used .38 spl K-frame cylinder and ejector rod assembly and had it fitted and timed. The 2" "model 10" wasn't a bad gun, but I wanted something else and I sent it along on consignment at the LGS.

I hope your new "V" has a much happier ending for you!!

That sounds like you got a British Lend-Lease gun that came back after the war. A lot of them started off as 5", 38 S&W, then had their barrels chopped back to 2", and were "rechambered" for 38 Special. There was a time when you could buy them from adds in the back of most shooting magazines for a few bucks, before the GCA-68.

Congratulations on the find Gunny. I'd have snapped that one up too.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

Great find! This is the closest I could come to getting a wartime S&W revolver without paying the extra cash for a Victory Model.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Regular krylon, the flat camo kinda, oughta do nicely...

I was just going to use a black Sharpie and make it look nice.
I could have it re-parkerized, but will most likely just clean it up a little more.

 

[Waveski]

The barrel is marked 38 S&W SPECIAL , I am pleased to see. As to the finish , please keep it original. You already have the loop ; get some proper grips and you will be a front runner for the coveted Best Priced Victory of 2018 Award. I would not bet against you.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I'd bead blast it and durakote it.

Boy do I disagree. Every one of those scars, pits & scratches is a campaign ribbon. Clean it, wax it and shoot it.

 

[Old Shooter]

Another vote for clean, wax and shoot.

 

[Tallball]

Great find! I am happy for you.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Don't worry, I have no plans to refinish it. It need a little more cleaning to remove a little rust, may use electrolysis to clean it.

I've been trying to ID the grips that are on the gun. The medallion has a standing eagle clutching arrows and SILE below the eagle.I thought they may be Spanish but no luck finding anything.

 

[Sistema1927]

Sile Grips, from Sile, Mfg.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/UserImages/1297/980475462/wm_9391417.jpg

 

[Waveski]

Italian , Gunny. Robertson Trading Post still turns up a nos stash from time to time.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Sile Grips, from Sile, Mfg.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/UserImages/1297/980475462/wm_9391417.jpg

See what I get for using a state computer. I searched Sile grips and came up with nothing.
Thanks. Now I know that they are just aftermarket grips.

 

[Waveski]

Nice ones though. But not what you (we) want for that nice old Victory.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I contacted Mr. Dennis Fisher and he's shipping me an original set of Victory grips for $39.
He's a very nice guy and deals in Grips and magazines.

 

[Speedo66]

The Sile gunstore was one of several which used to be on the same block, Centre Market Place in Manhattan, as the old NYPD headquarters. They were police equipment suppliers, and also imported Italian shotguns under their name. And produced grips.

Shopped there many times. Good luck with your latest!

 

[RON in PA]

Very nice, congratulations. I don't see any markings other than the usual Smith and Wesson markings, are there any that don't show up in the photos?

 

[If1HitU]

Congratulations Gunny.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Look at what showed up today.


I do need to trim the grip screw a little and clean and oil the grips.
Thanks to Mr. Fisher at C D’s Clips & Grips I have a nice set of original grips to finish up my Victory.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Look at what showed up today.

HEY! Nice mat!

 

[CajunBass]

I had a set of grips with that medallion not too long ago. I think they were on a Model 10 I sold.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

Looking good!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

HEY! Nice mat!

Thank you. Just some of the perks when working with guns.

 

[CoalTrain49]

You didn't get a box of ammo or an original WW2 shoulder holster with that?

Just kidding. Old revolvers are under appreciated. Everyone wants polymer these days. Nice catch.

I just bought a model 36 (60ish) with docs, box and stocks numbered to the gun for four fiddy. I cleaned it up and couldn't find any powder residue anywhere. Very slight turn line.

Took it to the range last week and just as I suspected, a real nice accurate shooter with my light 125 loads.

Sometimes you just can't walk away.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

You didn't get a box of ammo or an original WW2 shoulder holster with that?

Just kidding. Old revolvers are under appreciated. Everyone wants polymer these days. Nice catch.

I just bought a model 36 (60ish) with docs, box and stocks numbered to the gun for four fiddy. I cleaned it up and couldn't find any powder residue anywhere. Very slight turn line.

Took it to the range last week and just as I suspected, a real nice accurate shooter with my light 125 loads.

Sometimes you just can't walk away.

Looking for a repro holster. Not sure which one I want.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Looking for a repro holster. Not sure which one I want.

I have several El Paso Saddlery tanker holsters. One for my 1911, one for an N frame and one for a K frame. I'm sure you could find a good repro for your Victory. You should try a shoulder holster like the tankers and air crew wore. Really comfortable for hiking.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I worked on the grips a little tonight. Trying to get them to match a little better.
Before


After