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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 06-09-2018, 05:18 PM
Fritz1255 Fritz1255 is offline
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Default Victory Navy?

My quest for a Victory revolver continues. I saw one at a gun show today that was listed as a "Victory Navy". It had a "V" prefix serial number, but had presumably been refinished with a shiny finish, and not only was there no lanyard ring, but not even a hole for one. The asking price was $475, which seems a little steep for a refinish. Question is, with no provision for a lanyard ring, is this an actual Victory? Is it a "rare model"? Should I drive back there tomorrow and buy it?
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Old 06-09-2018, 07:50 PM
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My quest for a Victory revolver continues. I saw one at a gun show today that was listed as a "Victory Navy". It had a "V" prefix serial number, but had presumably been refinished with a shiny finish, and not only was there no lanyard ring, but not even a hole for one. The asking price was $475, which seems a little steep for a refinish. Question is, with no provision for a lanyard ring, is this an actual Victory? Is it a "rare model"? Should I drive back there tomorrow and buy it?
If it has a V prefix, but you didn't see the lanyard hole, it was plugged and then became hard to discern due to the refinish. It's there, guaranteed.

$475 could be an acceptable price for a decent all-original all-matching Victory. For a refinished incomplete specimen, it's about $200 too much. You didn't mention whether it was a 4" or 5" barrel, and the caliber stamp, another factor to consider. But from a collecting point of view, leave this alone.
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Old 06-09-2018, 10:18 PM
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Welcome to the Forum.

A Victory model that was sent to the US Navy should be marked on the top strap or have a factory stating that it was sent to the Navy. I agree that the lanyard loop hole has probably been plugged.

That one is way over priced.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:28 AM
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The vast majority of U.S. Victory Models (.38 Special chambers) were Navy guns. But the direct Navy contract ran out at approximate serial number V267000. Thereafter, none of the Victories carried the U.S. Navy stamp. They either said U.S. Property or United States Property on the top strap. Those later Navy guns were acquired through the Army procurement office.
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Old 06-10-2018, 06:04 AM
Fritz1255 Fritz1255 is offline
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Thanks for the replies! Pretty much what I thought, this pistol had "buyer's remorse" written all over it. When I asked the guy about whether it was refinished, I got an "uh, yeah". He obviously was not planning on disclosing that fact. I thought about offering him $300, but don't really want to give up on buying an original condition example this quickly. FYI, it was 4" barrel, 38 Special. I'll keep looking!

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Old 06-10-2018, 08:40 AM
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The vast majority of U.S. Victory Models (.38 Special chambers) were Navy guns. But the direct Navy contract ran out at approximate serial number V267000. Thereafter, none of the Victories carried the U.S. Navy stamp. They either said U.S. Property or United States Property on the top strap. Those later Navy guns were acquired through the Army procurement office.
No top strap stamp is a possibility. V241926 lettered as a Navy contract revolver shipped to Oakland 2/26/43 and has only the normal S&W roll stamps and a flaming bomb on the butt.
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Old 06-10-2018, 09:06 AM
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See pics attached of my genuine US Navy Victory. This is exactly what $200 will get you. Lanyard pin and ring removed by someone who wanted to add the K frame stocks. It is very nice and sound mechanically, shoots straight, loads and loads of "character" on the finish.

In fact....I bought this Navy more for the black washer stocks than for the gun but ended up leaving until I can find the missing parts and stocks someday...if ever.

The one the OP posted is clearly way over "market" for that condition. It is just another refinished 38 revolver.
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File Type: jpg Victory-1.jpg (59.9 KB, 37 views)
File Type: jpg Victory-2.jpg (46.0 KB, 35 views)
File Type: jpg Victory-3.jpg (51.6 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg Victory-4.jpg (34.4 KB, 27 views)
File Type: jpg Victory-5.jpg (67.9 KB, 28 views)
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:16 PM
Fritz1255 Fritz1255 is offline
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Hmmmm.... In this specific case, the "V" in the serial number was maybe a quarter inch or so to the left of the rest of the serial number, avoiding the area where the lanyard loop would have been. I did not inspect the pistol very thoroughly because I lost interest when I saw it had been refinished.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:31 PM
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Hmmmm.... In this specific case, the "V" in the serial number was maybe a quarter inch or so to the left of the rest of the serial number, avoiding the area where the lanyard loop would have been. I did not inspect the pistol very thoroughly because I lost interest when I saw it had been refinished.
On early V-prefix numbers (five or fewer digits) the V was squeezed in tight with the rest to one side of the centered lanyard. When the sixth digit was a 1, it varies, but after that the V moved permanently to the other side of the lanyard hole.
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