Victor Metcalf attended several educational institutions, including Utica public schools, Utica Free Academy, and Russell's Military Institute. He graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School, and was admitted to both the Connecticut and New York bars. Metcalf practiced law in Utica and later in Oakland, California, where he specialized in real property and commercial cases. He also engaged in banking activities post-retirement. Metcalf's family life included a marriage and the upbringing of two sons, one of whom pursued a career in the military and the other in business.

Victor Metcalf's political identity is shaped by an intriguing blend of regional pragmatism and ideological adaptability. His legislative record suggests an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, revealing a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. Metcalf's rhetoric often emphasizes localized solutions over broad ideological commitments, making his policy stances difficult to categorize neatly. His strategic philosophy appears to prioritize stability and growth in specific sectors, even if it means adopting positions that seem contradictory on the surface. This conceptual tension invites deeper inquiry into how he reconciles these divergent approaches.