.38S&W Victory Sell or Not To Sell????

Jkober66

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MEdicine Hat, AB
I have a .38S&W Victory 5" with BNP markings and V4##### serial number on it. Markings on the barrel, frame, cylinder and butt are clear as day and there is no pitting on the finish or metal at all. I was lucky enough to get a couple dozen rounds of the original .380 British bullets with it and yea gave in and tried it. Wow accurate for an old gun. I did replace the original grips but still have them though the owner carved them to fit his hand on the one side.
I did get messages from Smith and Wesson on it and found that its shipment to about late 1943-early 1944. The proof markings you see were performed by the British proof house at Birmingham after WWII, when these were surplussed out and released for sale. British law required proofing for sale to civilians. The revolver was (and still is) chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, which the British called the .380 Revolver, Mk2 cartridge which used a 178 grain jacketed bullet. There was also a .380 Revolver Mk1 cartridge which used a 200 grain lead bullet. I have a handful of these cartridges with the gun.

This was one of the official British Service Revolvers (BSR) in use during WWII and for some time afterward. It is often called the Victory .38/200 or sometimes the K-200. The British called it the Pistol, Revolver, Smith and Wesson, No. 2. It is essentially the prewar S&W Military and Police (M&P) Model revolver chambered in .38 S&W, and simplified for wartime mass production. You are fortunate that it does not seem to have been re-chambered for the .38 Special cartridge, which would have diminished its value significantly.

I purchased it with intent on getting a .38 Special not a .38S&W collectors weapon but it is in mint shape. I will post pictures of it when I get home. I was told by the members at the S&W page that it could easily fetch $700US + depending on the shape from my description. I like it but want something that is going to be more practical as I don't reload to shoot and collecting has never been an interest though this has peeked my interest a lot when I started reading up on it. Of course as with everything I would sell it if the offers were there and it allowed me to get a .357/.38 to replace it being I stocked up on .38 special rounds not knowing it. I looked at reaming it out but my gunsmith told me that it was a collector and to sell it & get what I wanted. Is there any interest in this in Canada? I have seen one in rough shape and no where near the markings mine has sell for $300 in Canada. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks... Again will post pics of it as soon as I get home on Tuesday...
 
A shop I patronize has one in 95% condition, at $595; it has remained unsold for quite some time.
You are not going to get the equivalent of $700US for it.
A comparable M&P or Model 10 in .38 Special would be worth about the same as yours. Less collector appeal, but more practicality as a shooter.
 
OP, IMHO you paid a fair price for it. In Canada there aren't nearly as many collectors as there are in the US. Most of those pistols show a lot of wear on the outside and are usually close to pristine on the inside.

I don't know about the Victory model but the original 38-200 has a larger .362in bullet diameter. I should check mine out. I shoot hollow base cast lead bullets in mine so accuracy has never been a problem. Other people complain about the accuracy of their pistols with factory 38S&W ammo which is loaded with .358in bullets. Yet their pistols shoot well with my handloads. I suspect the flat base bullets in the factory fodder aren't obdurating into the lands.

My barrel is marked 38-200
 
Realistic price would be $400-$450 if you want it to sell....even then it may take a while. The C-broad arrow 6" version from early war seem to be the most desirable and they rarely sell for much more.
 
Paid around ~ $300 for my US Property marked one, serial # V 286,### not too long ago:

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They are good shooters but factory ammo can be hard to find & expensive when found. Reloading for them is really the only way to go for some economical plinking rounds. I do prefer to shoot S&W's in .38 Spl, though.

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NAA.
 
I just took mine out of the safe for a look. This one isn't stamped 38-200. I forgot that I had sold that one.

This one has a 5 inch bbl and it is stamped exactly as yours other than that it has BP Crown proof mark on the frame under the made in usa. It does have 38/380 stamped in front of the 38 S&W Ctg.

I have some pics but am computer challenged. If anyone wants to post them, pm an email to me and I will send you the pics.

I just slugged the bore as well and it measures out .359.
 
You won't get $700US in Canada. Stateside, NIH, makes a huge difference. Any values seen on any U.S. site mean nothing here.
British law required proofing for sale to anyone.
 
Didn't expect that in Canada and if they are machined out for 38special it devalues them they said. Thx for the input may just sell it and put it towards a modern DA revolver even waiting a while may list it for $450
Thx again.
 
If you machine it out to 38spl it won't shoot for crap. .38spl bore size is .357 .38 S&W bore sixe is .360.

It would be a relatively simple matter to pick up a take off Model 10 M&P cylinder and crane to replace what is in the pistol now and keep the original with the pistol so as not to lose collector value. If I recall, the Model 14 cylinder/crane assembly is interchangeable but check that out first.
 
I checked with a Smith and Wesson contact and the bore size in the barrel is different too so swapping the cylinder, crane and then the barrel I might as well just buy a .357/.38 to use. I think I am going to advertise it for sale and just get myselft a revolver with adjustable sights that fires 38special rounds.. Thanks for all the information though it made up my mind. Just won't give it away though it is in pristine shape...
 
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