New Acquisition: S&W Victory Model .38 Special!

[browningautorifle]

Looks good, guess you don't have to scrap it after all?

[imarangemaster]

Looks good, guess you don't have to scrap it after all?

Haha! Yep Jim, it may be a beat up old war horse, but it still functions as intended, and seems to be a lethal today as it was 75 years ago. Just like its cousin, my Inland M1 Carbine.

[browningautorifle]

seems to be as lethal today as it was 75 years ago

It would take a while before anyone got close enough to poke you with a sharp stick, if you had that one and a box...

[imarangemaster]

Assessment: I've had the Victory long enough to have had an opportunity to shoot it several times, clean it thoroughly, and do an detailed inspection.

-The condition is well worn, with lots of patina, but no real pitting.

-The bore is bright and shiny, though on close inspection it has a faint ring about 1.5" from the muzzle. There is no visible bulge on the exterior, even under oblique lighting. Based on my 10 yard target, this has no effect on accuracy.

-The cylinder is replaced, and has .020" gap. While it is double the civilian Model 10 gap, it also does not affect accuracy. There is no lead shaving and the timing is dead on. fore and after cylinder shake is nil.

-It was missing the lanyard ring, and had NOS GI replacement grips (un-serial numbered) that were oversized. I had a used set of serial numbered grips that had wear equal to the weapon, that were a good fit. I also had a Victory Model lanyard ring I put on.

I paid $300 "Buy it Now". Was it worth it? I think it was, at least to me. It is a shooter, and a representative model of the Victory Model my dad carried on Iwo Jima in 1945. It goes well with my Inland M1 Carbine and all of his WW2 stuff.

[browningautorifle]

Was it worth it?

I think so too. Nice gun overall.

[zaugau]

At that price, and with those results at the range, yeah I agree.

[imarangemaster]

Yep, I was really surprised to see the ring after how well it shot. Since there is o bulge on the outside of the barrel, it must be relatively minor. Maybe the .020 cylinder gap saved the barrel!

[browningautorifle]

Perhaps it was just simple like water in the barrel? Just a wet barrel...will do that. Not like mud or snow.

[imarangemaster]

Perhaps it was just simple like water in the barrel? Just a wet barrel...will do that. Not like mud or snow.

Maybe! Thanks Jim, I did not know water in the barrel could do that. Hmmm... firing the weapon during the war with water in the barrel. OH, I bet if this thing could tell its story, it would be a great one!

[browningautorifle]

firing the weapon during the war with water in the barrel

In the Pacific during an emergency, you wouldn't even know. There was enough rain too from what I understand. It could have been late too, RVN? Who knows. It did more time than one can imagine I'll bet.