Picked this up the other day, has SV 308### serial number asnd S on sideplate, despite the reflection from poor photography this gun is like new. I know the S in the serial number means that it had a safety upgrade. Also I know it was made between 1942 and 1945 but can't find any further breakdown in my S&W Standard Catalog. Any other info anyone can add would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dan
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A V308xxx revolver would have shipped in the first half of 1943. The incident that led to the redesigned safety block occurred in late 1944. Guns with the revised safety block began coming off the production lines in Dec. 1944 with the SV prefix on numbers in the late 760000 range. Your gun was probably retrofitted with the new safety block and given the additional "S" stamp in late 1944 or early 1945.

Good looking gun.

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David Wilson

The serial number, as far as the factory would be concerned, is not
SV 308xxx. It has to be V 308xxx. As David noted, the earliest
SV's are 760xxx. Someone may have stamped an S in front of the
V, but that wouldn't change the serial number.

How does the serial number appear on the rear face of the cylinder,
and on the flat under the barrel ?

Mike Priwer

Thanks to both of you for the info. The serial number under the barrel just has the number and a "V". The cylinder has the number a "V" and an "S" anmd a "P" which I assume stands for proof. The grips do not match and that's the only reason I think it was priced the way it was. Condition and price combined I could not pass it up.

The stocks look correct to me. If they are numbered to another gun it probably happened during the "upgrade". Nice Victory!

Thanks for reply. Yes the grips are correct as far as I can tell and have a number stamped 203057, I didn't think about the grips being mixed during the upgrade, but it makes sense. It's a keeper!