This a Victory model S&W?

[Jackal]

Hi folks. I just got what I assume to be a S&W Victory model. It has the "US Property" and "BNP" stamps, lanyard loop and its chambered in .38 S&W. My questions are, is it unusual for them to be in this condition? It almost looks new, with a very deep, even blue and the action is tight, like new. Also, whats up with the German "NR.131 Pol.Gelsenkirchen" ?? Seems kinda funny for a British lend lease to have German markings. I am kinda stumped on this one. Anyone know anything about it? I do have the grips, but they are checkered and non original.

 

[Ron James]

My under standing is that after the war the police forces in Austria and perhaps West Germany ware for a time armed with allied arms.

 

[Radagast]

From the Standard Catalogue of S&W No3:

.38/200 British Service revolver, model K200. Available in bright blue, sandblast brush blue or sandblast black magic finish.

Many interesting variations and markings found: USMC, Bavarian Rural Police,... etc.

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Looks like you have a commercial finish gun made for Britain that was then issued to a German police force after the war. Nice find! If you were in Australia I'd offer to buy it.

 

[XavierBreath]

It appears to be a K200 British Service revolver. The grips may be correct, as some of these revolvers had checkered grips. Look on the inside of the grips for a stamping of the serial number.

It is most unusual for such a gun to have such a nice finish. Although the K200 came in bright blue as well as other finishes, I think the real story may be told through the lack of color case hardening on the trigger and hammer. I believe your gun is a re-blue. It appears to be a nice job, but the evidence is also in the lack of displaced metal around the proofs.

Of course, I could be wrong about the re-blue.

 

[Old Fuff]

The serial number on the butt, including any letters such as "V" or "S" would make it possible to determine what the finish should be, but I agree with X.B., that it has been polished out and reblued.

 

[Jackal]

Butt has serial that starts with "V"

 

[Old Fuff]

Butt has serial that starts with "V"

Yes, but V-(what?) We need the whole number, but you can use XX in place of the last two numbers.

The earliest ones were commercial blued, had checkered stocks, and no "V" in the number

Next ones were wire-brushed blue, and a mix of checkered or plain stocks.

After early 1942 they all had plain stocks, Parkerized metal, and serial numbers with a "V" or "VS".

 

[Jackal]

Serial is V4216**

 

[Old Fuff]

Your revolver was likely made and shipped during the middle part of 1942, and should have been Parkerized. There is a remote possibility it was brush-blued (matt finish) and blued. In any case I am sure it was later polished and reblued. This probably occured after World War Two. As previously stated, the revolver was issued to German police (and so marked) during the post-war occupation period. Many of them came back as surplus during the middle-latter 1950's.

 

[Jackal]

Ok, thanks a ton for the info. Its always interesting to find a gun with a rich, traceable history. Just curious though, how much are these worth?

 

[XavierBreath]

Just curious though, how much are these worth?

With the refinish, it's a shooter, although a pretty one. Around here, a nicely finished shooter M&P usually runs around $150 when you can find one. $175-200 will have a few of 'em showing up at your door.

The 38 S&W chambering hurts it as a shooter, so I would place the fair market value in my area around $125 or so. You might get more for it, but I doubt a collector or a knowledgeable shooter would go more.

My opinion & experience only. Enjoy the gun, it's a pretty one.