S%W Victory Model question.

[Shorty Jenkins]

Hello my friends,

I recently acquired a very nice S&W Victory Model. It was at my LGS and I had been looking at it for some time. It's a 5" in probably 95++ condition, with standard plain Victory grips and lanyard loop. The serial number is the 7XXXXX range. It left the factory as a 38 S&W (38-200). The right side of the barrel is neatly stamped "special" following the caliber designation. On the left side of the frame betweeen the trigger and hammer is, again very neatly engraved Cogswell & Harrison, London.

I've read everything I can find and realize that the gun has been converted, however some of the writers say to be very cautious shooting these. Maybe some conversions were less than professional, but I have to believe that Cogswell & Harrison would have done a very good job of conversion, I've never seen anything but perfection out of them. I guess there was an American company that bought some of these, converted them, chopped some barrels and even added different sights. These may be the ones that they were talking about being cautious of.

I will shoot this gun and enjoy it. I was just wondering how some of you feel about the C&H conversion. Anyone else have one like this?

Thanks in advance for your input,
Shorty

 

[rugerguy]

I'd bet it was the British round used, and later rechambered to special , would never know when it was done unless you can come up with or find some"provenance" or something that even says that at some time or other that C&H did the work, there are MANY , MANY out there rechambered over the years by so many different folks, and at different times....ANY ONE at ANY time could 'mark' ( or re-mark) this to make it more useable or "current", but over time, the guns that stay or remained "original' are in fact the MORE valuable ones, may be if you collect them ALL< and then you can say this fills a "niche" in your collection...as for firing it? I'd have it checked out to be on the safe side, better to 'err' on the side of caution.
Are there British 'proof' markings on the gun ??? Contact S&W, attention the historian ( Mr Roy Jinks) see if they can tell you when and where this was actually shipped..............Or go on the S&W forum, ask this question, there are guys who collect these and many will have some dates, and serial numbers of guns in any given shipment.

Good luck

 

[eveled]

Good advice to go over to the S&W forum, but be warned they are going to want pictures.

 

[Terry T]

I believe the .38 S&W (38-200) to be a slightly fatter (slightly larger chamber) than the .38 Special which might result in case splitting of higher pressure .38 special loads, say +P.
The gun is the same as the ones cambered in .38 Special so not really an issue of strength.

By the way, Ruger made up a batch of Service Sixs in .38 S&W (.38-200) or .38 RIM as it is know in the old British Empire, for sale to India and Bolivia.

.38 S&W with the 200 gr. soft lead load was a fairly effective load for it's time. In the States it was known as a 'Police' load. Would have to be hand loaded now - I don't know of any current factory loads.
Terry T

 

[Terry T]

Opps, without checking, I may have it backwards - one won't chamber in the other - might be that the .38 Special is fatter than the .38 S&W.
(Shouldn't just write from "memory" without checking).
Terry T

 

[Kanook]

.38 S&W (.360) is shorter and fatter than the .38 special (.358)

Remington still makes the .38 S&W but, they use a .358 lead instead of the .360

Use of the .38spcl in the .38s&w can cause the case to split.

Find some reloading dies and some correct brass and have some fun.

 

[Kanook]

Would like to know what proof marks are on it also. A Broad arrow is English, Broad arrow inside of a C is Canadian, can't remember Ausie right now.

 

[Shorty Jenkins]

Guys,

Thanks a bunch for all this info. I'll check proofs tonight and get some info listed asap.
I really like the old gun, so hopefully it will serve me well.

Many thanks,
Shorty

 

[Shorty Jenkins]

OK,

Did the best I could with my old eyes. Between each flute on the cylinder there is what appears to be a crown with something under it. Very small, can't tell what it is. Under the barrel on the right side is a series of numbers ending in
76 (I think) and a symbol of some kind that looks like an arm with probably arrows in it. Again this is the best I can do. I can't make these small symbols out and I didn't have a magnifiying glass to use.

Thanks again,
Shorty

 

[edlmann]

1. Cases may split or swell at the bottom 2/3 or so since the .38-200 case is 0.003" or so larger than the .38 S&W Special case.

2. The .357" bullets tend to wander down the bore.