Reeder Custom Guns - Dad left me a pistol

Not a lot of value, but a lot of memories. 38 S&W Victory model. Slicked up by his armory friend. We used to shoot squirrels out of trees as it is incredibly smooth and accurate. Just not powerful. [image] [image]

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And it's powerful enough.

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WIFES BED SIDE SIXGUN

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MEMORIES WORTH MORE THAN $$$

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May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He shine His face upon May you keep getting stronger every day.
His mercies are new every morning!

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I have a 4” “U.S.Property” marked version with lanyard ring. My grandfather bought it from the US Postal service after WWII. I think $7.50! It was issued to a Navy ship then the Post Office. He carried it in the Mounted Patrol for the county sheriff service.

The action seems longer lock than the later K-frames and the grip shape is different. Doug had a 5” at HHC with loads I set him up with. They were 124 gr cast LEE 9mm loaded with HERCO I think, maybe HP38, to around 900 fps. He downed a good sized Nilgai, about horse size. Still alive and laying upside down downhill he navigated to give a finisher with the .38. The shot went between the front legs, through the heart/lungs, up through the spine to exit! It was shocking, the penetration from the humble .38 Special.

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It set the standard for double action sixguns and I don't think has ever been equaled ... not in a factory gun anyway.

- I say this not based on my personal experience. I got it from a Master double action shooter. My Dad.

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the standard K frame?

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I don't really know other than the pre-war guns were said to be highly finished internally, finished and polished and fitted well. I know my Dad claimed they were the best ever made.

John Taffin would be much more knowledgeable than I am. All I know about them is what I saw my Dad use and what he liked.

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You can see the difference in the distance of the hammerfall. Apparently the hammer stud was move about 3/32" forward from where it was on the old long action. I think the change took place around 1950.

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if you want to remember all the specifics... Pre-1955 S&W M&P models were classified in slang terms as "5-screw" long actions. The hammer falls were longer than later K models. However only "4" of the screws were readily visible. From 1955-61 the top screw was done away with making them legitimate "4" screws although the name didn't really stick as reference. Truly you could only see three of them anyway. But a noteworthy historical footnote. Then in 1961 they dropped the trigger guard screw. No one seemed interested in the math anymore.

I personally think they should not call the pre-1950's guns
K-frames but M&P. Most gun guys mix the nomenclature, based on physical size, and rightfully so, and claim K-frame origins to 1899! But the K designation and "short action" version actually didn't start until much later. The K-22 and K-38's were the first in my memory, dating to the early 1950's. A decade before I came on the scene.

I have examples of both. A 4" Victory military model and a 2" M&P rework, along with M66 and K-17 (later version of the K-22). I do find the earlier guns very slick, telling of the craftsmanship of an earlier time. But the later guns have a fast lock time and seem to fit my hand much better. FWIW.

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Dad left me a pistol

That's a beautiful sixgun!

IT IS MY

Good to have you back on here JT..

Now we have at least one sane person on here

A true classic. Beautiful.

VICTORY SMITH

Welcome back JT!

Fantastic condition! Wonderful all round sidearm

That old long action was THE BEST action Smith made ...

Jim, what was the difference in the "long action" and

Not being a double action shooter or smith

Short vs. Long Action

Great picture Jim! It hurts my head but