38 S&W

[mj1]

Victory is misnomer. A marketing label or ploy. Try to enjoy the pistol before deciding it's fate.

Good Luck

[pterrell]

Victory is misnomer. A marketing label or ploy. Try to enjoy the pistol before deciding it's fate.

Good Luck

That's a gorgeous revolver! Would it be wrong to post the pics that someone else took and put on gunbroker?

I wouldn't call it a misnomer, it is called that intentionally. Next in the series of serial numbers would have meant adding an "A" at the head of the number. Instead, they added a "V" for Victory.

I'll enjoy it It's as much about shooting these old war horses as it is learning their history to me.

[mj1]

Would it be wrong to post the pics that someone else took and put on gunbroker?

Post away unless you feel they are so poor as to diminish the pistol.

I wouldn't call it a misnomer, it is called that intentionally. Next in the series of serial numbers would have meant adding an "A" at the head of the number. Instead, they added a "V" for Victory.

This subject has been debated a dozen time on the S&W sites and always ends the same. Coincidence and marketing and they have some documentation to the effect so I would labor it here as we might stat calling the SAVAGE US PROPERTY Enfield 4's VICTORY rifles next.

I carried one just like it in .38 SP when flying in 1967 but it was so pretty I had to keep it in a sock only shot it once.

I'll enjoy it It's as much about shooting these old war horses as it is learning their history to me.

Good outlook. So lets see it !

........

[ironhorse1]

That's a fine looking revolver!

The cailber not being .38 Special just means you get to try something a little different.

I have 12 Rem - UMC 38 S&W cartridges just sitting around in a box.

They appear vintage, like your gun, but could have been made up until 1960.

If you want them for free, let me know so I can drop them off.

irh

[mj1]

That's a fine looking revolver!

The cailber not being .38 Special just means you get to try something a little different.

I have 12 Rem - UMC 38 S&W cartridges just sitting around in a box.

They appear vintage, like your gun, but could have been made up until 1960.

If you want them for free, let me know so I can drop them off.

irh

Whom are you addressing ?

[mike415stone]

Your screwed by lucky, PM sent

[ironhorse1]

I see several pictures but my offer was to the OP Pterrell.

If he declines the cartridge offer then I would be more than happy to pass these on to another member in the San Diego area.

Thank you for bringing the need, to clarify my posting offer, to my attention.

irh

[pterrell]

Ironhorse, I sent you a PM on your generous offer


Here are a couple pics that the seller used on gunbroker. Yes, they're phone screenshots but that's the best I can do at present.

[CSACANNONEER]

As a dremel-level gun tinkerer, I'd take a wild guess that there's a 50/50 chance that another Victory model cylinder in .38 S&W Special would work without a lot of fitting.

For ammo I'd check the usual online sourcing: Ammo Seek, Ammo Now, etc.

Think of it this way, your new revolver will have a bit more international flavor!

I think you need to do a little research first. .38 S&W is larger in diameter than .38 special. Would you really suggest doing something akin to throwing a hotdog down a hallway? Not only would it just key hole the rounds if they even hit paper but, also the frame was not designed to handle the pressures of a .38 special.

I can absolutely promise that there will be no cutting or drilling occurring on this revolver while it remains in my care. I was only curious about changing the cylinder to accept 38 special which seems to not be possible. 38 s&w bulk buy it is!

I don't ruin old guns, don't worry

Do one bulk buy and then learn to reload.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Actually CSA, in this case, the barrel and frame aren't that much of an issue. I believe that S&W used their standard .38 Special frame and barrel on the Victory models. The only change they made was in the chambers on the cylinder. They just used a different reamer on what otherwise would have been a .38 Special cylinder. Part of the reason that they were able to get these up and going so fast for the Brits was because it was basically and off-the-shelf product that they were already making. The S&W Military and Police Model of 1905.

As for the bore diameter and hotdogs in hallways, this again isn't always the case. The difference in bore diameters on paper is .357" versus .360". About 3 1/1000ths of an inch. In a rifle, with jacketed bullets, they might very well go rattling down and give poor accuracy. In this case, most of the lead bullets tend to be .358-.359" anyway. And even if they are only .357" in diameter, that still makes them wide enough to grip the rifling in the barrel. You might run into some issues with hot gases blowing by the bullet as it goes down the barrel, but between the low pressure of the cartridge, and the short ranges it is effective at, that won't likely effect the accuracy overly much. The easiest solution if that is a major concern is to simply use the regular 148 grain hollow-base wadcutter bullets. These are, coincidentally, almost the exact same weight as the factory 146 grain bullet normally loaded in this cartridge. You simply seat them farther out of the case like a regular bullet, instead of flush with the case mouth, and it won't even change the pressure. Or you load them backwards for a wicked cookie-cutter hollow point. This was a particular favorite for self defense back before they had effective hollow points on the market. Id doesn't give you great long-range accuracy, but makes a very effective self-defense load at short ranges.

-Mb

[MrOrange]

I think you need to do a little research first. .38 S&W is larger in diameter than .38 special. Would you really suggest doing something akin to throwing a hotdog down a hallway? Not only would it just key hole the rounds if they even hit paper but, also the frame was not designed to handle the pressures of a .38 special.

Ima take a guess that you hit the quote button on the wrong post.

The only thing I suggested was that a Victory Model in .38 S&W would have more international flavor than one in .38 Spl. The .38 S&W version was made for the Brits, since it is the same cartridge as their .38/200, and therefore would better represent hands across the ocean than a .38 Spl version.

Or are you saying that a .38 Spl cylinder is a lot smaller than a .38 S&W one?

Or maybe that the Americanized sausage, the hot dog, is a lesser sausage than the ones typically enjoyed by the British?

[smle-man]

Ima take a guess that you hit the quote button on the wrong post.

...The only thing I suggested was that a Victory Model in .38 S&W would have more international flavor than one in .38 Spl. The .38 S&W version was made for the Brits, since it is the same cartridge as their .38/200, and therefore would better represent hands across the ocean than a .38 Spl version...

Talk of international flavor, I saw police officers in South Africa carrying SW victory models in their full flap leather holsters still in 1985. Talk about a long service life!

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Talk of international flavor, I saw police officers in South Africa carrying SW victory models in their full flap leather holsters still in 1985. Talk about a long service life!

The US used them in .38 Special up until the first Gulf War. I believe they were still issued to Air Force bomber crews until at least 1991.

-Mb

[Killer Bee]

Alright, so I may have made a rookie move. I will very likely win a S&W Victory model in 38... 38 S&W.

I assumed, prior to looking at the barrel in the pictures, that it was 38 special but it says, specifically, 38 S&W. How screwed am I? Obviously, I bid on it because it is a good looking revolver, however, I was really hoping to shoot it as well. Can you find 38 S&W? Making a permanent change is not an option to me. If changing a cylinder is all it takes (which I haven't done but I have no doubt youtube has) then I'm not too worried as long as I can find one.

I enjoy shooting the .38s&w.. it's a little anemic but then again you're not likely listing it on your carry permit..

just picked up a great '43 Webley mark IV 38s&w war finish last weekend at retting's for $449, exactly what I drove up there for

I've also got a great condition '42 Victory Navy 38spcl that I've posted in here several times..

planning to add a lend lease cartouched Victory 38s&w eventually..

I also have a '39 H&R Defender 38 topbreak in 38s&w that's fun to shoot..

back in Dec '14 I bought a case of it from TargetSportsUSA.com;
TSRTG38SW-BULK - RTG38SW Remington Target 38 S&W Ammo 146 Grain Lead Round Nose-Case of 500 (10 Boxes of 50) - Free Shipping 1 $199.90 $199.90

shoot me a pm with your info and I'd be happy to send you a box or two to get you started..

nice gun to have in any military era collection, I wouldn't do anything with it other than be a good custodian of it's history and carefully exercise it occasionally.. and for pete's sake, please don't bubba any other cylinders into it.. please buy another one if you want a 38spcl.. some quick googling will reveal the measurements to verify that it has not already been molested to fire 38spcl.. btw, serial numbers are located on butt, barrel, cylinder, ejector star, and one grip panel..

I didn't catch the price you paid but nice gun either way

I don't want to hijack your thread but I'll offer these as contributions to your recent buy;

all numbers matching and correct '42 Navy Victory;






'39 Defender 38 [calguns buy $250]

[pterrell]

I actually just bought myself an Enfield No. 2 mk 1* on gunbroker too. I figured, I have the round now, I may as well embrace it!

How much did it cost to have s&w research your gun? I've got two s&w's now that I'll have to send in for research