I inherited 2 S&W revolvers from my grandfather (retired cop). I had no trouble identifying the first (Model 36), but the second has me kinda stumped. It appears to be (looks just like) a Victory Model 10 but the serial numbers dont synch with what a Victory should be.
Description:
S&W 38 spl 4in barrel
Parkerized finish
smooth walnut grips with lanyard swivel
Serial Number 973XXX
SN on butt matches SN on cylinder

I have been unable to find any other models that have the same look, finish, grips and lanyard swivel. Any help is appreciated. Photos attached.
Thanks
Bob

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Welcome to the forum. The first victory models were issued in 1942 with the V prefix to the serial numbers. What you have is a wartime gun made in the last months (or weeks, even) before the six digit serial numbers were exhausted and the V-series serials began. Around here, most people call this a pre-victory. That serial number would have been delivered sometime in the first half of 1942.

It really is very much like a victory model, but it was a gun made for US consumption (because it is in .38 Special caliber) rather than lend-lease service (those guns were in .38 S&W caliber, also called .38/200).

Very well preserved gun. Congratulations on having it in the family.

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David Wilson

Thanks for the quick reply!
Well that makes sense since the 6 digit serial is so high. Since this isnt listed in any books I've found, how do I value it?
Thanks
Bob

I'm not that up to speed on M&P models, but i would think a wartime pre-Victory in that condition ought to be a $500 gun or maybe a little more. A lot were made, but I don't know how many have survived and how many of them will be in an enviable condition. So for serious military collectors looking for a specimen in really good shape, that might be a real prize.

But please don't sell it. A family gun in great shape -- something like that should be kept for future generations.

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David Wilson

Very nice looking pre-victory. Welcome to the Forum!

Oh its not sale. I inherited 9 and have since grown my collection to over 20. I will never sell, only buy more!. I'm using the program GunSafe to catalog everything and one of the fields is for the value. I have searched 3 different price guides and none mention anything about pre-victory models. My serial is 973XXX, so does that mean they made another 30 thousand of these? And if so, that seems like a fairly large amount so I would assume it would be listed in some price guide somewhere.

I too have a pre victory and it is only 9,000 off of yours. I am sending off for a letter soon and am curious to know a little history on it.

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Condolences for the loss of your Grandfather.

That looks to be a fine example of a Victory. Acquisitive fanatics (like me) might pay $650 for it if it were on the market. Examples available lately have, well, seen some HARD service.

Like my own firearms, passing them on to the kids or family members is best but you must consider a replacement value for insurance purposes. Grandad's gun can never, truly be replaced but imagine the cost of finding something close five, ten or twenty years from now.

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Jaeger

I posted yesterday "model 1917 born date" looking for info about what I mistakenly thought was a model 1917 I had purchased. Truly dumb luck, that I picked up what appears to be a pre Victory model 10 exactly like yours and the serial number starts @ 973XXX also. Pic's are on my other post. I'm afraid to shoot it now!!