Won Victory V3193 on an online auction. Probably a DSC due to lack of any P proofs, topstrap marks or inspectors marks. It does have USG 6418 etched freehand into the left side of the frame. Has anyone seen similar markings. I think this one is a candidate for a letter.

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usg6418.jpg (57.1 KB, 132 views)

DSC guns are always candidates for letters, cause you just never know where they might have gone. However, in this case it most likely won't reflect the markings as they were undoubtedly added at a later time. But, be sure to post a follow up with what you discover! Most likely shipped Aug 1942.

Will do. Thinking a bit earlier, V26862 shipped 7/7/42. While S&W is notorious for not shipping in numerical order over 23K out of sequence would be a stretch even for them.

The shipping dates on the early V-prefixes in the summer of 1942 are impossible to nail down very closely. We have recorded examples in the V 22xxx range shipping as early as June, and V 114 and V 4xxx as late as August. We also have a V 80xxx shipping in August.

As for the markings, hopefully the letter will provide a clue. This being a mid-1942 gun, the absence of property and acceptance markings and proofs indicates nothing conclusive; it could still be a Navy, DSC, or Maritime Commission shipped gun originally. Stampings during that year were not consistently applied. And the frame inscription could also be post-war.

As noted the USG was added long after leaving the factory. Most likely post war. These were used by private companies, PDs, etc and were often crudely marked. I have one with a German PD stamp on the frame.

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No life story has happy end.

stock looks to be in nice shape.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065