I just purchased this on Gunbroker (haven't received it yet). It's marked "U.S. NAVY" on the topstrap and "ROCKLAND CIVIL DEFENSE" on the left side of the frame. I plan on replacing the (ugly!) grips and obtaining an original thumbpiece and lanyard loop for it; sort of a "poor man's restoration". I know it's a little rusty but hey, I won it for under $200, and it's a Navy model too! The serial # is V 2572XX. Let me know what you guys think.

Attached Images

	pix534042826.jpg (93.7 KB, 159 views)
	pix519466289.jpg (103.4 KB, 128 views)
	pix691764100.jpg (82.2 KB, 112 views)

__________________
Gulf War Veteran

Looks rode hard and put away wet!

I really love it. If guns could talk I am sure it would have a great historical story.

That's not abuse Just a little character, itching to be an interesting shooter . For $200, ya can't go wrong

__________________
John

Cool gun. Looks like it has been through a war (literally) Enjoy!

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Definitely an interesting historical artefact. I actually came across the auction and saved a snip of the civil defense inscription for my files. There is a Rockland in Maine and in Massachussetts, and a Rockland County in New York, but whichever it belonged to, it confirms the local character of these civil defense arms, whose purpose we're still discussing.

The story has not yet been written on the CD's use of such revolvers. Recently there was another posting by someone whose father had something to do with CD and had such a revolver, but there were no details provided. He referred to CD as being "auxiliary police." Perhaps they were in some places. It's always seemed strange that CD had such revolvers officially (or not?) and what their intended purpose might have been. CD markings on them seem to be crudely scratched, like with a vibratory graver or diamond scribe, not professionally stamped or engraved.

There are documents posted to this forum, in earlier threads, of original documentation regarding the use of surplus military small arms being issued to local PDs. The CD Auxiliary Police were intended to supplement the local PDs if/when necessary. The law required that the guns designated for CD use be so marked and, not having any equipment to do so, they used scribes or electro-pens to do so. It is easy to find contemporaneous newspaper articles showing local CD Auxiliary Officers in training, being sworn in, engaging in exercises, etc.

__________________
Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

One of the militaria dealer websites has a badge for the CD Auxiliary Police of Spokane WA listed for sale.

July 1941: "Official CD insignia adopted by OCD (Office ot Civilian Defense); included the basic CD insigne and 15 distinctive identification symbols for volunteer workers: Air Raid Warden, Auxiliary Police, Bomb Squad, Auxiliary Firemen, Fire Watcher, Road Repair Crew, Decontamination Corps, Staff Corps, Rescue Party, Medical Corps, Nurses Aides Corps, Messenger, Drivers Corps, Emergency Food and Housing, Demolition and Clearance Crew."

There is Executive Order 9165 from 1942 having something to do with property protection responsibility given to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) but I cannot find the text of that EO of it to see if it says anything about armed auxiliary CD police powers. Apparently, the text of most EOs issued prior to the Clinton administration has not been included on the usual governmental websites.

I suspect that there may have been limited numbers of CD Auxiliary Police locations.

Cool! I got a crusty Navy marked Victory from the same guy. Same condition. Ugly plastic grips, missing thumb piece and lanyard ring.

I wont be able to see it until tomorrow but the condition is similar to your OCD Victory.






Incidentally I also got a double marked Navy Victory with OCD and the number 5 scratched on the frame (see attached photo). The seller I got it from (Gunboards) said it came from a fellow collector.

Jim

Nice find... with a little bit of work and a couple of parts it should look pretty good!

Kwill1911 posted some good info on these CD guns. As he said, there are some documents posted here in the forum regarding Police use that are worth reading.

After the war, some of these Victory revolvers were donated for "Civil Defense" and were then in turn loaned to various auxiliary police units. These guns were marked "Civil Defense" and were properly maintained and used by local and state agencies. From what I understand, should a national emergency arise, they were to be given back to the Office of Civil Defense.

Here is a photo of 3 different CD marked Victory revolvers that look very similar to yours:




And a poster of Civil Defense insignia... the fourth from the left is an Auxiliary Police insignia:

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

There were quite a few cities that used auxiliary or civil defense police.

It might be a nice project to track down a "Rockland" patch to go with your new Victory!

Here's an example of just a few of the many patches or badges that can be found.

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Thanks for the cool pics of civil defense markings.
My Navy has OCD and the number 5 scratched on the left side of the frame. My guess OCD is Office of Civil/Civilian Defense and the 5 is an inventory or rack number perhaps?
Jim


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for all the replies, except for the first one ! I've learned quite a bit already just by reading them. I plan to use Kroil to remove most of the rust from this revolver; it's worked quite well for me in the past and it doesn't seem to damage the original finish. Rust or no rust, I don't see too many Navy Victory's selling for under $200. For me the Civil Defense marking is another added bonus!

__________________
Gulf War Veteran

I would guess digitizing / computerizing government documents was rare or haphazard prior to the 1990s.

__________________
You're shy a few manners.

I love that Phillips head stock screw!

__________________
Fred
S&WCA 3238

Troy69az:

Thanks for sharing your unique revolver with us. I for one think you made a great buy, and with a little judicious work, you will have a presentable gun that holds interest both as a collectable, a piece of our history, and quite probably, a great shooter as well.

Best Regards, Les

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

The antique brass wood screw holding the grip on makes the gun.

Here's a neat link I found for a Civil Defense Museum online: Civil Defense Museum Main Page

__________________
Gulf War Veteran

I sent an eMail to the museum guy to see if he has any knowledge or information about the CD-marked revolvers. Will post if I get a reply.

I just e-mailed the FFL seller inquiring about provenance and he told me that this particular revolver came from Mass. so I guess that pretty well settles it. It has to be a Rockland, MA Civil Defense gun! I'll see if I can get more details from him later...........

__________________
Gulf War Veteran

According to this PDF document downloadable from the web, the Town of Rockland, MA had a "Civil Defense Director" up until 1994 (you will have to download the PDF file and page down a little to view the related historical document): https://www.rockland-ma.gov/town-cle...law-amendments

__________________
Gulf War Veteran