Hi guys. Have a "martial" WWII Victory on the way and was starting to research what holsters may have been available for US Contractors for the Non-Military-marked Victories they distributed to their guards, watchmen, etc. Since they were getting guns already being made for the military, do you think they also used holsters made for the military? Has anyone ever seen a WWII-era holster for the Victory without the US markings I wonder? Thank you, Dave

Hi Dave:

All non-military Victory Models were provided to authorized civilian users during WW2 under the auspices of the Defense Supply Corporation. When the revolvers were shipped they were not shipped with holsters. The end users were responsible for providing any necessary leather gear. As a result in contemporary photos one sees a wide variety of holsters being used. Most generally follow the police or security officer patterns popular in the 1930s, and were available from a number of police supply, hardware, sporting and leather goods suppliers. These holsters were usually black. Military holsters were not used by civilians during the War.

I hope that information is helpful to you.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Charlie, you are an officer and a gentleman! Thank you very much. Yes, that helps me a lot. I will keep my eyes open for a black 30's holster not military marked. TY!!!!!
Dave

Now if I could just get Mr. D Walt to give me an idea on a date for my Victory with serial V399886 I'll be all set. I asked on the correct thread but he skipped over me. Might have been my breath?

David:

You are most welcome.

I can help with the ship date as my pal LWCmdr45 and I maintain the Victory Model Database. The Database indicates that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the September, 1943 time frame.

I hope that additional information is helpful to you.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Thank you once again, Charlie! The last Victory I owned turned-out to be one of the unmarked Navy guns and the condition was so good, I couldn't bring myself to shoot it! I ended-up selling it and now found a well-used, non-military marked gun I hope to clean-up and have fun with! It is all matched, 4" barrel, .38spl. with just the V serial, so I wanted to be certain it was at least delivered during the WWII era. It has the greatest custom sweetheart grips on it, a girl dressed in a grass skirt under Plexiglas! Thanks once again, Dave

Dave,

Please don't take this as gospel, but you "May" possibly have acquired another Un-Marked Navy Victory given I show one "Very" close to yours (V399381) being issued out of the Armory to the Naval Air Station in San Diego 4/7/44!!

Like I said earlier, please don't take that as gospel...And I'm sure Charlie will agree...Given the way these were issued out after they were delivered...Having one with a Serial No. in close proximity doesn't necessarily mean that's where any given one ended up...Just thought you might like to know the possibility may exist!!

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Masterpiece

The recent (1970s on) version of the old military flap holster with wire hangers for the Victory models, aka M&P, Model 10, etc is:

NSN 1095-00-973-0521, Holster, Hip, .38. They were made by Bolen, Cathey, Hunter, and no doubt some others. The basic design dates at least to WWII.

An outfit called Hill Country Leather, Box 2202, Brownwood TX 76804 made them as late as 2008 and listed them for $33 then. They had a website but the domain is listed as for sale. Over the years I have picked up a few at gun shows, on the Internet,etc. They are out there but you have to look.

I like them because they fit all 4" K frames with the exception of the M19/66, and all 4" Ruger Security/Speed/Service Sixes. They're light, compact, comfortable, and have both belt slots and the wire hanger for web pistol belts. In short, probably the best little field holster out there for all these revolvers.

Yeowza! My Dad served in the Pacific with the Navy from late '43 to the end of the war. He was on Guam when word came the Japs surrendered. I showed him my Navy Victory but he did not remember them. The one I had previously was marked with all the right US Property marks, just not US Navy. This one has no military markings at all, not even one ordnance bomb. So, I would doubt it went to the military? The seller did say (and I only believe what I see, not what I hear), that it was a Pacific vet bringback. What is cool are the plexiglas grips with vintage photos of a babe in a real grass skirt! Wow, who knows???!!

And Bat Guano...thank you very much for the valuable information! I will keep my eye open for even a pic of one! TY

RATS!!!!!! I guess I acted too quickly, I'm sorry! I called the dealer this afternoon to see if they got my payment and he told me the gun was sold before I had inquired on it!! Augh! Sure hate to miss that one with the sweetheart grips. Oh well, you can't take anything with you. Thank you all for your help nonetheless!!! You guys are great!
Dave