Quote:
Originally Posted by bamalefty
Guys…..I’m a first-time poster, so be gentle! I have started a little Smith revolver collection, and I would like to add a Victory. I found one for sale (see attached photo) that does not have the usual military markings. I understand that may mean it was used in civil service like the post office or factory security or some such. My question is regarding the grips. The seller indicates there are no numbers on them….does that mean they are not original or maybe not even made by Smith and Wesson? Thanks!!!
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First off, Welcome to the forum.
Some Victory's sans military markings were still shipped to the Navy nonetheless. A letter is a necessity to know something of your revolver's history.
As to the stocks (grips) - sellers can be wrong on the numbering issue, many don't realize that the number is stamped
only on the inside of the right panel. If the stocks are truly unnumbered, they may well be replacements as distributed to armorers and depots. If the gun turns out to have been in fact in military service, such replacement stocks may have been fitted a long time back. However, these stocks were available as surplus well into the 1980's, so could have also been put on relatively recently.