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09-17-2017, 05:13 PM
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Must-See: A ... ahem... RARE Victory ...
I just came across this beauty someplace online.
Meet Betty Jean.
Well, that's actually not the name of the gun, but of Army CID Special Agent Kenneth J. Malcolm's wife, at least according to the current owner. Of course, he also has it on S&W's authority that this gun, V 197865 (I think), was made in 1903. You have to try and decipher the underbarrel serial, as the butt serial has been lovingly ground off. Woohoo! I wonder whether Army CID ever concern themselves with contraband guns? 
The real prize are the topstrap inscriptions. The left one tells you all about the presumptive carrier of the gun, but it's the right one that takes the cake. It elevates this Dec '42/Jan. '43, mediocre-condition Victory to a completely new level!
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357magster, bill skebeck, GerSan69, JayCeeNC, jsfricks, lamarw, LedFowl, les.b, lrrifleman, MetalMan, Mitch_D, mtgianni, M_conrad_0311, OLDSTER, Qball, RKmesa, shouldazagged, Thinnes, turnerriver, two-bit cowboy, usm1rifle, Wiregrassguy |
09-17-2017, 05:46 PM
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The words of P.T. Barnum come to mind.
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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292
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09-17-2017, 06:11 PM
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It "is" rare if it is the only one exactly like this, however, there were about a million others that started at the same time and place which are not so rare.
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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425
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09-17-2017, 08:36 PM
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If the serial number has been filed off, I believe it's a felony to possess. Better check it out. Big Larry
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09-17-2017, 08:54 PM
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The barrel could not be original. Unless that serial is on the frame somewhere else, I'd be concerned about the legality of this pistol.
SVT28
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09-17-2017, 09:17 PM
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US Veteran
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No serial number is not good.
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Mike
S&WCA #3065
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09-17-2017, 09:36 PM
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If the owner called S&W CS and got the 1903 date, that should be negated right off.
Ask if the other four s/n locations still exist and if so, does the barrel s/n match?
Some of its provenance is in engraved text. The butt has been defaced revealing some later nefarious provenance.
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Jim
S&WCA #819
Last edited by Hondo44; 09-17-2017 at 09:38 PM.
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09-17-2017, 10:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
....
Some of its provenance is in engraved text. The butt has been defaced revealing some later nefarious provenance.
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I've wondered about that.
It would make more sense if someone had attempted to sanitize the gun, and Mr. Malcolm was a later owner when he applied his inscriptions.
It seems to defy logic to meticulously polish off the butt serial for some nefarious reason if you leave all the other obvious uniquely identifying markings in place, which make the gun stick out like a pink giraffe.
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