S & W pistol
Hi I bought a s&w .38 special pistol with serial # v136188 and I was wondering if anybody could tell me the date that this pistol was made. It has a silver barrel with 4 screws on the side and one screw in the trigger part. It has a wood grain handle with on screw in the middle. The barrel is 2 1/4 inches long with marking on both sides. One side says 38 s. & w. special ctg and the other side has some numbers I thinks but you can't them out.
Thanks Perry
Thanks Perry
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Your revolver appears to be a S & W "Victory" Model, that was made during W W II. The best that the S & W book can date it, is between 1942 & 1945.
From your description, it doesn't appear that it's still in factory original condition.
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Hi, and welcome to the forum.
The s/n is for a Victory Model. Most were 4 inch barrels, but a few were made with short barrels, nominally 2 inches in length. If your pistol has not had the barrel length altered, in other words if it is an original ... it is worth a significant premium over the standard Victory models.
If you can post a pictures or pictures displaying the markings, and revolver from different angles that would be most helpful. If you have pix, but don't have the ability to post them ... use the email link above and I'll provide you with my direct email so you can send them as email attachments and I will post them for you.
+++Update 6/9 - Pictures and comments
Following are 4 pix or the revolver in question that were forwarded to me. Those images are followed by 2 more that I use to support my conclusion that this revolver had the original barrel shortened, the front site lowered and relocated (looks like very good job) and then was refinished in nickle. I think this was done to convert the gun into a "carry piece", probably in the 1950-1960 time frame.
Of the two extra pix I have included, the first shows the right side of the barrel in detail and the positiion of the caliber stamp relative to the ejector rod/cylinder retainer on the underside of the barrel. Compare this detail to the revolver at issue and you will see that the barrel ends just barely in front of the marking. While I don't have a picture of the rare 2 inch bbl. victory I doubt if the craftsmen of that era would have left the marking uncentered on the barrel. The second pix (although not a good one) shows a "stock" Victory and you will note that the sight is higher. And lastly I can find no record/information that indicates that Smith ever finished a Victory model in anything other than blue or parkerized. However, it was a popular practice with police officers of the era to have blued revolvers refinished in nickle or chromed for "carry" use. Lastly I think it is interesting that the original "Victory" grip was retained.
With the pix and my comments, anybody got any therories of their own that they would like to put forward?????
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Contender Man
Hi, and welcome to the forum.
The s/n is for a Victory Model. Most were 4 inch barrels, but a few were made with short barrels, nominally 2 inches in length. If your pistol has not had the barrel length altered, in other words if it is an original ... it is worth a significant premium over the standard Victory models.
If you can post a pictures or pictures displaying the markings, and revolver from different angles that would be most helpful. If you have pix, but don't have the ability to post them ... use the email link above and I'll provide you with my direct email so you can send them as email attachments and I will post them for you.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Contender Man... I just want to give you a thumbs-up for all your help to others in posting their pics!!!...Well done!!
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
Thanks Contender Man. With those things in mind would there be a vaule to the gun. thanks
perry0 -
Hey CM! Nice job and great theoretical interpretation! Is that perhaps a filled lanyard hole in the bottom of the grip frame? Also see what looks like some swirling behind the shroud which is for me an indication that someone has polished the gun to prep for "chroming". I've had trouble myself when reblueing revolvers with this area as it seems to be difficult to make it match the rest of the finish; have problems getting the direction consistant.
Come to think of it, did we put lanyard rings on the Victories? Perhaps for aircrews which might explain the short barrel? Did the guns we sent the Brits have lanyards? I know they were fond of using them. Well, those are my WAG's.
If these shots in the dark are correct, the value would not be too high as the original finish has been changed at the least, and the barrel has been cropped and or swapped so it's difficult to put a price on it, but I would guess maybe $150. Hope someone can figure out if it's a rare variation so it would be worth more, but I kinda' doubt it...sorry.
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Yes it is a filled lanyard ring, and the Victory models did have them.
Value wise that's a little tougher, but in my part of the world $150 to $200 would be a good range. Probably wouldn't get the top end, but never know. Someone is likely to go for it because it is a novelty. However, being 38 S&W (38/200) instead of 38 S&W Special does put a crimp in things as the former ammo is not super easy to find (usually can be ordered from Midway.com for $18 per box, but presently out of stock and not uncommon to run across a box or two at some of the larger gun shows for $14-15 per box), and if cylinder converted to 38 Special these guns typically have very poor accuracy plus a nasty habit of splitting cases since the diameter of the 38/200 is a bit larger than 38 Spec.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0
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