Those with the U.S. NAVY topstrap stamping are found with SNs up to about the V266xxx range made around March 1943. However the Navy continued to receive Victory model revolvers throughout the war, normally with the later ones having a U.S. PROPERTY topstrap stamping. A large majority of .38 Special Victories which went to the U. S. military during WWII went to the Navy. There are also some early pre-Victories (no V-prefix SN) which were bought by the Navy. Correct grips were smooth wood, standard after early 1942. Those grips can be easily found on eBay and from some gun parts dealers, although about any grips for the S&W K-frame, new or old, will fit it. Yours likely shipped around mid-1942. Some Victories continued in military service long after WWII, even being used during the Vietnam war. As noted, a historical letter will not tell you much beyond what has already been said here, and there is no way to tell what happened to it after it left the factory.
Last edited by DWalt; 05-08-2018 at 11:39 AM.
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