Hello, up until now, ive only picked up Semi's, so these two revolvers are my first, and when they became available to me I did the best I could on a crash coarse, with these 2, both Smith&Wessons are in .38 SW CTG, 5 inch barrel, each handgun has all matching numbers, both are stamped US Property GHD, both guns have a mirror like bore, but V584369 has various extra stampings, on the barrel, frame, cylinder. V702565 has NO extra stamping. The pictures here are for V584369, I started a second thread for V702565.

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Hi

This BSR is also from 1944, a bit earlier in the year than your other one.

This one has the Birmingham proof marks, indicating it went through the release process when it left British government service. Other guys here can tell you a lot more detail about those marks, but that's what they are.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

thanks for your help/ info. not knowing anything about them, i bought them on a quick whim. does the proof marks help or hurt the collect ability and value ?

The closest I have to SN V584369 on my list is V5847xx which shipped in 5/44. But that one went to the U. S. Navy, and was in .38 Special. Both the BSRs and the Victories going to US service were numbered in the same sequence. When the British surplussed out their Victories in the 1950s, it was a requirement of British law that they be proof-tested prior to sale. That's what most of those stampings indicate. They were not there during its military service. Yours was proofed at the Birmingham Proof House. Very large numbers were sold to surplus gun dealers and shipped to the USA. If yours has not been re-chambered to .38 Special, as most were, it has some collector value, even with the proofmarks. BSRs without proof markings are even more interesting and valuable.

both victories are un touched, I would have walked away, if they had been reworked for .38 special

I wouldn't think so. Especially since, if I'm reading it correctly, this one was not reamed for the .38 Special. .707" is the case length for the .38/200 IIRC.

But keep in mind this isn't my area of expertise. I hope someone who knows the BPH marks better than I do will weigh in.

On the other hand, the one you showed with no Birmingham marks on it might get a price premium from some people.

I have studied the immediate postwar M&P quite extensively (1946-1953). But we all have to specialize, so my knowledge of the guns immediately preceding those is less complete. The true experts on the Victory and BSR models are on this forum. Wait for one of them to weigh in, and if their opinion differs from mine, believe them, not me.

Cheers.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Well, see? DWalt posted while I was typing. Others will be along shortly, I'm sure.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Welcome, as I said in your other thread. I'll try to amplify on Jack's info, but I'm no expert. On the barrel is the cartridge caliber - .38" and case length - .767 - and the proof test pressure - 3-1/2 tons per square inch. On the top strap, GHD are the initials of the chief ordnance officer Guy H. Drewry. On the upper left frame is the P military acceptance stamp. Down behind the trigger guard on the left is the crossed sabers proof house viewer's mark. The letters and numbers tell you where it was viewed and who the viewer was. I see no broad arrow or so this gun was not officially sold out of service. That is the best I can do without diving into my Pate book. If something I said is wrong, someone will correct it. As I said in your other thread, you got a good deal on those two BSRs!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Those are nice ones. I have two .38SW victory's and one .38 special Victory.

1943 .38SW



1944 .38SW (it has been refinished)

picture hosting

1944 .38 spcl

post a picture

Both of the 1944's were used in Hesse, Germany following the war.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Those Birmingham proofs are exceptionally nicely executed. Most collectors don’t like them (and will pay more for your other gun, without them), but I see them as “honorable discharge papers” certifying that the gun made it into British service, which matters.

And, since Guy asked to be corrected, let’s get to it

Just kidding. Two minor additions: the view mark is generally described as “crossed sceptres” and tells you where and when, not who, inspected the gun. The bottom number gives just the rank of the inspector (never figured out why that mattered to anyone )

And the broad arrow for “sold out of service” will not be found on Lend-lease guns, just like there are no British property marks, since they officially were only “loaned” to the British. Thus the topstrap stamping.

Thanks for the corrections, Burk!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

thanks for all the help and info, ive learned alot with these two Victories. under the crossed swords is the #3, there appears to be something stamped to the left and right of the swords, but cant tell what it might be. Both BSR's are extremely clean, so iam going to lightly oil them, then its off to the range, to run a few rounds thru them, along with a few WWII semi's ive picked up within the month.

The 3 should be the inspector rank, on the right should be a B for Birmingham, and a single letter code on the left tells you the year; I couldn’t make it out on the photo either. Most of these were proofed in the later 1950s.