Smith And Weaaon Victory Model

I have a Smith And Wesson 38 victory model (I Think Its A K frame not sure) all numbers match barrel,frame,cylender. on the top strap it has a flaming bomb the it says U.S. Property GHD stamped on the 5 inch barrel is 38spcl, WHEN I SHOT A 38SPCL OUT OF IT THE CASE CAME OUT SPLIT, I DID IT TWO MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME THING. Is this gun restamped 38spcl, and really a 38s&w. If it was restamped where can I get a 38spcl for a K frame gun. or is it not a K frame. sorry about my lack of understanding. I am still learning. Please help I want to give this gun to my son when he gets out of the police accadamy. Thanks for your Time. And thanks for letting me in your fourm. BuckMark22.

Your S&W is a K frame, and from your description sounds like one that was originally chambered in .38 S&W. Since the .38 S&W was not a popular caliber in the U.S. the cylinders were reamed in the forward part of the cylinder to let a .38 S&W Special chamber. Since the .38 S&W cartridge is larger in diameter than the .38 Special the cases expand, and sometimes split as in your case.

I would not feel comfortable giving the revolver to someone in light of the problem you describe.

Johnny is bang on of course... You can still shoot 38S&W out of it though, then you won't split brass any more. But now it's marked for the new cartridge. You could also fit it with a model 10 cylinder as I've done past. Then it has no collector's value.

i would be a little concerned with the special cartridge overstressing the S&W ctg cylinder , but then thats just me ,

correct me if im wrong - the actual "V"ictory models were made for US issue and designed in special cartridge , the S&W cartridge models were actually pre-victory and not designed for the newer special cartridge ?

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Originally Posted by A square 10

i would be a little concerned with the special cartridge overstressing the S&W ctg cylinder

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They'll handle it fine. They aren't weaker...just a different cartridge. Remember, they made the same gun in both cartridges at the same time in the same factory...

thats good to know , i don't know a lot of metallurgy or the modifications of these revolvers - ive got both a pre-victory commonwealth issue 38S&W and a "V"ictory in 38 spcl so i don't have to make any choices this way , but i appreciate the insight for future reference ,

i do know better than to shoot 45 acp in my webley 455s , that was where i was coming from ,