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04-04-2018, 03:25 PM
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S&W Victory Grip Exchange
In my idle hours of retirement I often sit and stare blankly at the wall when suddenly, wild, random thoughts enter my head. My latest epiphany went something like this:
I have two S&W Victorys, neither of which have correctly numbered grips. I have two sets of proper grips that match someone else's Victory. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a place where we could post serial numbers we have so that original grips could possibly be reunited with their original revolvers?
So to that end, I am starting this thread. Post up the grip serials you have and what you need. Maybe we can help someone out.
The general idea is trading a set of Victory grips you have for a set you need. These should all be like for like exchanges, not profit seeking adventures.
List updated 4/15/2018
Grips available:
397845 Bohica793
298229 Bohica793
214927 ChiefDave
783572 Absalom
394677 MrG5122
382600 Kimporter
478834 Digi-shots
Grips needed:
669868 Bohica793
242619 Bohica793
241926 ChiefDave
767114 Absalom
87950 ChiefDave
278672 Kimporter
192216 CmansGuns
478068 Digi-Shots
Last edited by Bohica793; 04-15-2018 at 09:44 AM.
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04-04-2018, 08:24 PM
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I feel your pain and admire your idea. My latest Victory purchase is on the way with 1920's round tops w/o medallions. When it gets here I'm going to post the s/n on the round tops in hopes that they can be reunited with the original revolver.
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04-05-2018, 07:47 PM
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Victory grips I have: 397845 and 298229
Victory grips I need: 669868 and 242619
If I have the grips you need, I will gladly trade them for another set of Victorys regardless of whether they are the ones I need or not. I am not looking to make any profit on these exchanges -- they should be like for like trades. I will also attempt to maintain a current list of haves/needs for everyone in the first post of this thread.
Last edited by Bohica793; 04-06-2018 at 02:25 PM.
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04-06-2018, 12:17 AM
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Have revolver V241926 with grips 214927. With 5 of 6 numbers and 3 in sequence could the grip stamper have had a bad day?
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04-06-2018, 12:50 AM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefdave
Have revolver V241926 with grips 214927. With 5 of 6 numbers and 3 in sequence could the grip stamper have had a bad day?
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With two individual numbers off, that possibility becomes a bit of a stretch, but stranger things have happened
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04-06-2018, 08:19 AM
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Added you to the list Chief.
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04-06-2018, 08:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefdave
Have revolver V241926 with grips 214927. With 5 of 6 numbers and 3 in sequence could the grip stamper have had a bad day?
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Any chance your Victory is stamped "US NAVY" on the topstrap? (it's within a range of known guns).
If so, it could be the armourer had the grips off a couple of guns and put them back on the wrong gun.
Just a thought...
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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245
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04-06-2018, 09:34 AM
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Military and LEO guns are notorious for having the wrong numbered stocks installed. Armorers who were taking apart "tools" cleaning and lubricating or making minor repairs or adjustments did not care if the stocks went back on the same numbered gun as long as the "tool" functioned for its intended purpose.
I have long suggested the establishment of the "S&W Stock Exchange" because there seem to be so many S&W's that are not wearing their original slippers out there. As the OP suggested this would merely be a swap between owners in an attempt to reunite wood and metal without focusing on profit. Not sure how one would deal with poor condition stocks being traded for excellent condition ones but perhaps some monetary adjustment could be made.
Not sure how much bandwidth this would require as that is above my pay grade but it sure seems like a neat idea. How many times do you read about a S&W for sale and the seller states that the stocks do not match the gun??????
Great idea IMHO, just needs someone smarter than me to set it up.
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James Redfield
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04-06-2018, 11:17 AM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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And then we can set up a bet on how long it will take for a match to actually happen
I think the idea is great, but I’m doubtful about its efficacy.
Statistics and probability calculations are cruel. But the total number of collectors interested enough to care about serial matches and the guns they own make up at best a few percent of the total number of S&W revolvers ever produced.
Take the Victory. Over 800,000 V-prefix guns produced, and I believe even our most dedicated long-time database collectors have no more than maybe a few thousand; we’d need to check with Charlie Flick, but I’d be surprised if we had a record of the 8,000 specimen necessary to make up just ONE percent.
No clue about other models, but you get the idea. I don’t mean to quench anyone’s enthusiasm, but one shouldn’t expect too much.
Last edited by Absalom; 04-06-2018 at 11:58 AM.
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04-06-2018, 12:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by digi-shots
Any chance your Victory is stamped "US NAVY" on the topstrap? (it's within a range of known guns).
If so, it could be the armourer had the grips off a couple of guns and put them back on the wrong gun.
Just a thought...
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No Navy on topstrap, just flaming bomb on butt. Going to letter it.
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04-06-2018, 01:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Absalom
And then we can set up a bet on how long it will take for a match to actually happen
I think the idea is great, but I’m doubtful about its efficacy.
Statistics and probability calculations are cruel. But the total number of collectors interested enough to care about serial matches and the guns they own make up at best a few percent of the total number of S&W revolvers ever produced.
Take the Victory. Over 800,000 V-prefix guns produced, and I believe even our most dedicated long-time database collectors have no more than maybe a few thousand; we’d need to check with Charlie Flick, but I’d be surprised if we had a record of the 8,000 specimen necessary to make up just ONE percent.
No clue about other models, but you get the idea. I don’t mean to quench anyone’s enthusiasm, but one shouldn’t expect too much.
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Thank you Captain Buzzkill!
While I agree the odds are long, I still think it is worth a thread in the attempt.
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04-06-2018, 01:49 PM
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The other option would be the ability for finding period stocks for a gun with totally "not even close" stocks on it now. Maybe even those from a different maker. The fact that most of us have a box of wood somewhere mixed in with our stuff many with serial numbers, means that there is definitely a gun out there missing its originals.
Mike I also understand that this might only reunite a few guns with their original stocks or even ones close in number, but isn't that better than not trying at all.
100 years from now none of this will matter anyway but how cool would it be if we matched up a couple now. This could work for boxes too.
As the old saying goes, "nothing ventured, nothing gained."
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Last edited by JSR III; 04-06-2018 at 01:50 PM.
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04-06-2018, 02:12 PM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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Allright. Never said I wasn’t game, so here we go.
The odds actually get a bit better if we can contain the sample. Most of the Australian Pre-Victorys and Victorys FTR’d at Lithgow in the 1950s and re-imported by VEGA after 1986 have stocks that are mismatched, but correct and reasonably close by number.
My “working theory” has been that they were refinished in batches coming from the same location (which received them at the same time), and when the stocks were removed and set aside for the refinishing, afterwards nobody paid particular attention to re-unite the guns with their matching stocks. But they were close within the batch.
Here is mine. The stocks are small service medallion stocks, correct for the 767114 from May 1941. But the serial is clearly different. If you have a Lithgow FTR’d Australian with a 54, check the serial.
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04-06-2018, 02:25 PM
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Added Absalom to list.
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04-12-2018, 03:54 PM
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Bumping this thread in an effort to keep it active.
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04-14-2018, 12:22 PM
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I have an almost perfect condition set #394677 that needs a home.
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04-14-2018, 12:28 PM
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I'm lucky. All the numbers match on my US Navy Victory . . .
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04-14-2018, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG5122
I have an almost perfect condition set #394677 that needs a home.
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Added to the list. Thanks!
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04-14-2018, 03:05 PM
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Need 87950
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04-14-2018, 03:32 PM
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Need 287672,have 382600 to trade,off a Aussie import
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04-15-2018, 07:34 AM
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Unfortunately, my April 1942 US Navy top strap stamped Victory (s/n V 192216) came into my possession wearing some early 1950's era Mershon (predecessor to Pachmeyer) rubbers...
just like some security armed guard would wear if required to provide own weapon.
I also have had some K frame relieved Targets, and a Hogue Monogrip on it at times.
Looks ugly as all get out but shoots very good with LRN. I would love to pit it back the way it was issued long ago, but Sarco is either continually out of original stocks (or they are battered beyond belief) or only a left panel, etc.
The lanyard hole is still in the butt, and I think I can get a lanyard ring swivel and pin, but any half-decent original stocks have been elusive.
If any of you Victory owners have a set you are willing to part with, and/or are interested in swapping for any of the rubbers, or K Targets, just PM me.
Thanks for looking.
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Charlie B
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04-15-2018, 08:37 AM
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Bohica,
Here's an interesting one to add to your database...
Need Victory grips.... 478068
Have Victory grips.... 478834 - (also looking to purchase this revolver)
Photo'd below, Victory - V478068 lettered to the OSS warehouse in Rosslyn, VA.
It came to me with Victory grip stocks with the serial number 478834.
A follow up letter to Roy, confirms Victory grip stocks 478834 were also numbered to a revolver in the same Rosslyn shipment.
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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245
Last edited by digi-shots; 04-15-2018 at 09:03 AM.
Reason: No V on the Victory grips... just number digits
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04-15-2018, 08:56 AM
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Charlie, NC Ordnance sells walnut reproductions of the Victory model grips.
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Guy
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04-15-2018, 09:45 AM
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List updated
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04-22-2018, 04:56 PM
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Bump it up
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04-30-2018, 08:01 AM
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How about it folks -- I know there are more people with mismatched grips.
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