S&W Victory Model

[as37]

Just picked-up a S&W Victory Model in 38 S&W. Serial number is 437XXX. Can anyone estimate the manufacture date. Will likely request a letter from S&W but until then...thanks for your help.

[opoefc]

Welcome to the Forum. If it's a Victory Model, then the letter "V" should be stamped on the butt preceding the 437XXX number, and the V is part of the serial number. V437XXX would have been shipped in late 1943. You didn't indicate the caliber or barrel length. Is it .38S&W or .38 Special? A .38 S&W , with a 5 in. barrel would have shipped to an Allied nation, probably England. A .38 Special , with a 4 in. barrel, went to the US armed forces or a civilian police dep't to war plant guard unit. Some of the .38S&Ws that went overseas came back as surplus guns sold to US dealers after WW2 and some were converted to shoot .38 Special by boring out the cylinders, which destroys their collector value, but are shooter grade guns. Ed.

[Goony]

Posting a photo would be very helpful to the folks here willing to evaluate your Victory.

[John Wyatt]

I have a lettered 4in 38 Spl. Victory in the V425xxx range that shipped to the Navy in Oct. 1943. Your gun should be fairly close.