I have a 5" victory s/n V711543 in .38 S&W that has what I assume are British proofmarks (BNP 3 1/2 tons etc). The top strap is marked US Property followed by the letters, "GHD". The backstrap is stamped, "RH 203". Does anyone know what the lettering means?

You have a late-1944 Lend-lease British Service model. The markings are all standard, topstrap property markings and inspector initials, plus post-war Birmingham Nitro Proof.

The only non-standard stamp is the RH 203. This could be a German police stamp from occupation times (the gun's late date would favor that), but I have not encountered this type before. The forum archive produced one thread about a gun like this from back in 2007, marked RH 362. The discussion, including some of our foremost Victory experts, entertained the possibility that it was a British unit marking, e.g. Royal Highlanders, but that's pure conjecture, and I don't think such unit markings were common at all or have been confirmed. In short, I can't say for sure.

GHD are the initials of BG Guy H Drewry, the officer supervising the army ordnance district which included the Smith and Wesson factory. His initials were used by military inspectors to indicate acceptance..

Can you post a pic of the back strap marking?

__________________
Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

fourb20, You posted this same question back in Dec. 2014, and received various comments as to the meaning of "RH 203" If a definitive answer is possible, I would suggest you send clear photos of the gun and it's markings to the Curator of Exhibits at the Imperial War Museum in London, England. They have been very helpful to me in deciphering markings on British small arms. Good Luck, Ed.

I doubt that it is a British unit marking, as the practice of so marking arms fell out of favor during the Great War (WW1). The reason being that it may provide intelligence to the enemy if captured. Apart from that the logistics of trying to keep a specific small arm with the unit it was originally issued to and so marked, would be overwhelming.

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

It could also stand for Royal Hong Kong police department. I had a British Enfield Mark 2 revolver that was marked RHKPD 203 on the back strap. And it came with a letter from the importer that is was from Hong Kong police department.