It rarely happens, but every now and then you find a gun that is too nice for what it is. This one either stayed state side or in inventory somewhere during the war. My daughter's last husband's father was in the Navy and said he carried one. . .never left the United States. He secured Japanese prisoners who were interred in this country during the round-up following Pearl Harbor. This gun appears to be one of those. Never fired as far as I can tell, and carried just a bit. The Colonel (again) seems to be selling the last and best of his guns right now. I know my LGS has been through $30,000 worth of them the past year. Like all of us, he saved his nicest ones for last. This is the third Navy he has sold that I have seen. I didn't like the other two. Not a gun I was looking for. This one was too nice to pass. Paid a big old $300 for it. Guns are pretty soft right now. The Navy must be a pretty common Smith since I see them out all the time, but they are always too cruddy to buy. The SN on this one is V2391XX. I'm guessing 1942. Anyone have a date on this SN? What are these things going for these days? I'd give it a 95% and 100% internally and mechanically. All SN match including the grips. The case colors are deep and stunning.

Attached Images

	IMG_0627.jpg (181.6 KB, 126 views)
	IMG_0628.jpg (167.7 KB, 118 views)
	IMG_0629.jpg (58.5 KB, 113 views)

__________________
Dr. B

Nice gun. I carried one in the USAF back in the mid-60s. As I recall MANY of these were sold on the market for $29.95 for quite a while. Years later I got my own from a friend's estate. Not quite as nice as yours, but an excellent shooter. The finish might have been utilitarian but it's a first class revolver under the parkerizing.

I suspect they're going for a pretty decent price nowadays.

I would expect to pay around $750. Certainly that much in the occupied states.

At $300 you did darn well, as it is in much better than average condition. SN V2391xx indicates that it probably shipped around February 1943. I list V2396xx as shipping in 2/43, also a Navy-marked revolver.

Indeed. Let me join the chorus. If it's all-matching, you should be able to at least double your money on a national platform.

I've got to try to find a holster for it now. My holster collection has about every war time military holster except for the one for this gun. Have to start looking at EBAY again. Update. . .just found one on EBAY for fifty bucks. Should have it next week. There were only two on EBAY and none in completed auctions. Must be a tougher holster to locate.

__________________
Dr. B

There are many very well made replica holsters (both belt and shoulder) on the market, priced reasonably.

$300...seriously?

I mean, I believe you, of course. It's just that, well, it seems I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to finding stuff like that. Or else I don't have any money. It's always something.

If that same gun was in an LGS here in town, it'd be marked at $700 minimum. When I say "here in town", I'm referring to Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm in gun shops every week. I haven't seen a Victory...Navy or otherwise...on the shelves in five years at least. Or if there's been one, I missed it.

Congratulations on a very nice purchase.

May I as what caliber this fine gun is in?

I would imagine since it's stamped US Navy it must be a 38 special.

S&W ceased manufacture of .32-20 revolvers long before WWII and Victory series Navy revolvers. So it has to be .38 Special.

So no possibility of it being >38 wcf, or I mean to say in the caliber of the lend lease guns.

Well I guess there is always a possibility.

LOL, and no stupid questions, right?

Not likely .38 S&W with a Navy property stamp. So far as I know, the Navy Victories and pre-Victories were chambered only in .38 Special.

Yeah, it's a 38 Special. They show up around here a lot. I have two in 38 S&W. . .one Canadian and one British. I think there's another American one around here somewhere too. All the WWII vets must have moved to Georgia after the war. My favorite LGS got a bit burned out on Gun Broker. Now they just throw the guns out in the display case and turn them quick for a good solid profit. I got the gun cheap because they didn't have much on it, and I didn't really want it. Having the back of the house re-roofed next week, and was determined not spend any money until that was done. Sometimes a price is just so good, you have to jump on it.

__________________
Dr. B

Hang on a second (coughs violently, tightly gripping edge of desk). Okay. Well, if you really don't want it, I'll take it off your hands for what you paid for it.

Yeah, I know, fat chance.

But still...I mean, you know, since you're gonna be doing the roof and all...