Hello, everyone.
I just returned from my Grandfathers funeral in Atlanta and he left me his Smith and Wesson revolver. He fought in the pacific in the marshall islands and other pacific battles. He was my hero and im honored to have this firearm. could anyone please give me a little history on it. i know its a "V" victory model and seems to be parkerized with a walnut handle. i am new to this forum so i am trying to post the pics.
Thanks for any info.

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Its a classic Victory model, issued during WW2. It looks to be in
good condition. Is the caliber .38 Special ?

Later, Mike Priwer

Welcome to the forum. You will find a tremendous amount of Smith & Wesson knowledge here. There are quite a few contributors here that are very knowledgable on Victory models. I am not one of them, so will just welcome you to the forum and wait for those folks to provide you with accurate information.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Thanks for the reply mike, and nite owl.
It is a 38 special, i was suprised it wasnt that beat up. he kept it oiled but never **** it again after the war. i thought they issued 45 acp as a side arm.

Again, welcome. Under War Department management, S&W ramped up wartime production to something like 5000 (or even more) M&P revolvers a week. They started the V series in 1942, and blew past the V600000 mark around the middle of 1944. That's probably about the time your grandfather's gun was manufactured -- June, July, somewhere in there.

Not surprisingly, a lot of these wartime revolvers were lost in service, and another sizable chunk of them ended up badly worn because of the sometimes hostile circumstances in which they were carried. Ones as nice as the one you have can be found, but they are not common. That's a great revolver, and it is made all the more valuable by the family connection. You are fortunate to have it, and I am envious.

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David Wilson

S&W was tooled up for revolver production, so it built thousands and thousands of revolvers. .38 S&Ws went to the British Commonwealth countries and .38 specials went to the defense industry for security officers and on the military side, mostly Navy and Marine fliers. The OSS also received .38 special S&W revolvers.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The 1911A1 was the standard military pistol, but as David mentioned hundreds of thousands of Victory Models were issued to Navy and Marine Corps aviators, military police, defense industry guards, et al.

Yours is a keeper; if you don't already, see if your father or (great) uncles/aunts know much about your grandfather's service and record it. It would be quite a story to pass down the generations.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Very nice old Victory Model! There's a lot of history surrounding these guns. I hope you take the opportunity to learn what you can about your Grandfather's WWII history and how it might connect with that specific gun. He could have carried it himself - or purchased it later to replace the one he actually carried into battle.

Thanks for the post and Welcome to the Forum!

Jerry

And whatever you find out, WRITE IT DOWN. Document it, as to who said what and when and keep it with the gun so that when you have to pass it on, the history goes with it.

And that goes for everybody on this forum. We always say, "If this gun could talk...." Well guns can't talk, but if you document what you have then your heirs may not have to ask, "What was grandpa's old gun?"

You got a nice one.I have one and it shoot really well.

The one I purchased has U.S. Navy on the top strap. the gun is in excellent condition. The value increases about 75% with the Navy top strap and 100% if U.S. Navy is on the top strap and side plate. I have a letter from Roy Jenks. S&W Historian, the history and manufacture date of the gun. Also, where the gun was shipped to from S&W. I would advise spending the $50.00 for the letter of authenticity on your gun from Roy. Hope that helps.

Nick

wow!!! THANK YOU so much to ALL of you that have contributed to my question. i just got home and read all of your responses. It brought tears to my eyes. I know that my granfather served on the USS Cabot and told me great stories when i was young about being kamakazied and things like that. Again...thank you so much

I just wanted to say I'm sorry about your grand dad, he sounds like a heck of a man and we appreciate what he did for us in the war. You have a tangible link to him and his service, enjoy it!

Take care...

Here is a link to the USS Cabot's history; perhaps there are members that knew your grandfather?

USS Cabot CVL28

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That's a nice gun. From the looks of the ejector rod Your grandpa practiced a bit. He also kept it in very nice condition.Shows what kind of man he was.
DW

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"NUTS"

I cant tell you how much i appreciate all of your responses. My grandfather was a mans man. Godd morals, values, and character. He talked very highly of his time in the service, and was proud of the family he raised. I called my mother and informed her of the news i have learned and it has made her extremely happy. Thanks so much, i will continue my research and post any findings i may recieve.

If interested, you can obtain copies of your grandfather's military service records here:

How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service (DD Form 214, DD-214, DD214

What a great piece of family history!

I say thanks to your Grandfather for his service, and congratulations to you for now having a physical, tangible item to always remember him by.

Regards.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.