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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 07-07-2018, 08:31 AM
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I picked this Navy up along with a Colt snub nose Detective, and a very early lever action Marland mod. 97.... 22 cal. with movable sites on back and front.... ( very nice barrel). (Lady friend owns an estates company). The Navy is very nice with the Navy name on the top of the frame. The finish is excellent except some pitting on the front of barrel. Other than that, it's a very nice pistol...grips barrel, and the finish are excellent. I would appreciate time frame for this Navy pistol.****Navy# V25477...Colt #104215 LW......Marlin lever action 22 mod 97/39, #3464
Thanks for looking,
Joe
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File Type: jpg IMG_0009.jpg (82.9 KB, 137 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0010.jpg (83.0 KB, 140 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0016.jpg (62.1 KB, 118 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0013.jpg (54.6 KB, 136 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0001.jpg (89.5 KB, 132 views)

Last edited by english; 07-07-2018 at 01:06 PM.
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Old 07-07-2018, 08:39 AM
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The U.S. Navy stamped .38 Military & Police could have been from early 1942 to early-mid 1943 - you just need to give us the serial number from the bottom of the grip frame for a date.

The Colt (presuming the barrel is original) is the alloy frame version of the Detective Special, named the Cobra. Colt revolver serial numbers are found in the location you showed in photo #3 above, we can help date that one too.
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:22 AM
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The Victory was made early-mid 1942. Can't help with the Colt.
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:27 AM
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Nice Victory.

My Cobra is from 1957 with a s/n of 63213LW. I'm guessing yours in earlier than 1957.
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:38 AM
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The Cobra is from 1960.

Colt's Manufacturing LLC
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Old 07-07-2018, 11:04 AM
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As Guy says, the five-digit V-serial puts the Victory into mid-1942, maybe August.

For an early Navy gun, it is in comparatively very nice condition, and the stamp is very crisp and pristine. Usually, the earlier the serial, the crummier the condition as those saw the longest use, and since only the earlier Navy-shipped revolvers were stamped US NAVY, it’s less common to see a nice one.
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Old 07-07-2018, 12:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by english View Post
Marlin lever action 22 mod 97, #71216
Joe

At the risk of some thread drift, I have a couple comments here.

1. The serial number you listed should have an A at the front end. No Model 1897/97 would have had a serial number this low without the A prefix. The lowest "regular" number on a Model 1897 was 150021, and on the later Model 97, it was 293615. The Alpha numbers were used only on the Model 97, and started at A441, running as high as A7938.

2. The Model 1897/97 was Marlin's first purpose-built takedown rimfire rifle. It was the progenitor of the Model 39 and, later, the Model 39A. I've written two articles on this model, which can be found here:

Marlin Model 1897 | Gun Values Board

And here:

How To Tell The Difference Between A Marlin Model 39 And Model 39A | Gun Values Board

I hope these comments are helpful.
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Old 07-07-2018, 12:39 PM
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If I owned that Cobra I'd buy a bottle of Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black and touch up those unsightly scrapes on the frame. I don't normally recommend touchups but I'll make an exception in this case. One has to wonder how that happened!
Jim
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Old 07-07-2018, 12:55 PM
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Jack, I made mistake with the Marlin the serial # It is # 3464. no letters mod.1897.. mod.39 I will post pictures on "other guns" thread later today....It's a very nice rifle. I paid $350
My ADHD kicked into my beginning thread,
Joe

Last edited by english; 07-07-2018 at 12:57 PM.
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Old 07-07-2018, 01:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by english View Post
I made mistake with the Marlin the serial # It is # 3464. no letters mod 1897
Well, that's even more weird. By the time the Model 1897 was introduced, serial numbers were well over four digits. Serial number 3464 would date the gun to 1883, and at that time the only repeating cartridge rifle John Marlin was making was the Model 1881; a centerfire rifle with top ejection.

As I mentioned in my previous post, 150021 is the lowest serial number recorded on a Model 1897. Are you seeing that four digit number on the inside of the receiver, after it is broken down? If so, it is only the last four digits of the complete serial number. I can't think of another explanation, since you say it lacks the A prefix (which would not be on a Model 1897 anyway).
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Old 07-07-2018, 03:42 PM
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Jack, under the lever there is the #3464.......? and nothing else. On the side of the octagon barrel it's a 22 s-l and L&R.... Marlin Firearms corporation.....New Haven Conn. Pictures are coming. Could it be a model 39?

Joe

Last edited by english; 07-07-2018 at 03:48 PM.
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Old 07-07-2018, 05:55 PM
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V305xx was a Navy Victory which shipped in 7/42. At the rate S&W was making them at that time (around 20K per month), yours would most likely have shipped within +/- 1 month from 7/42.
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Old 07-07-2018, 05:55 PM
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Aha!

The name, Marlin Firearms Corporation tells us a lot. If the top tang is stamped Model '97, it is a gun made up from leftover parts in the early- to mid-1920s, probably shortly after the second bankruptcy. If it were a Model 39, it would say so. In either case, we now know it was assembled in the '20s, (possibly later, but unlikely). Unfortunately, there are no records to prove its provenance. Sometimes odd serial numbers show up during this period.
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Old 07-07-2018, 05:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by english View Post
I picked this Navy up along with a Colt snub nose Detective, and a very early lever action Marland mod. 97.... 22 cal. with movable sites on back and front.... ( very nice barrel). (Lady friend owns an estates company). The Navy is very nice with the Navy name on the top of the frame. The finish is excellent except some pitting on the front of barrel. Other than that, it's a very nice pistol...grips barrel, and the finish are excellent. I would appreciate time frame for this Navy pistol.****Navy# V25477...Colt #104215 LW......Marlin lever action 22 mod 97/39, #3464
Thanks for looking,
Joe
Victory most likely shipped Jun 1942.
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Old 07-08-2018, 12:15 AM
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Jack, I posted pictures of the Marland on the "other than S&W guns" thread.
Joe

Last edited by english; 07-08-2018 at 12:17 AM.
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Old 07-11-2018, 04:56 PM
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Jim, thanks for the tip on the aluminum!! It looks a "lot better"!! Kind of different to work with it!
Joe
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