Victory Lanyard Loop

DWalt · #1 08-10-2018, 05:23 PM

I recently posted a thread about my recent find of a minty BSR, but missing the lanyard loop. I had more difficulty than I expected in finding one, but the best deal I found was a newly-manufactured one, which cost me $20 including shipping (a cross pin is included, which I didn't need). I just received it this afternoon and installed it. It is very well made, and I would recommend it. PM me for the source.

PS - he has Colt swivels also, same price.

chiefdave · #2 08-10-2018, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

I recently posted a thread about my recent find of a minty BSR, but missing the lanyard loop. I had more difficulty than I expected in finding one, but the best deal I found was a newly-manufactured one, which cost me $20 including shipping (a cross pin is included, which I didn't need). I just received it this afternoon and installed it. It is very well made, and I would recommend it. PM me for the source.

PS - he has Colt swivels also, same price.

I have a batch of originals on the way from England. Will have a few extras if anyone is interested. Condition was described as very nice to not very nice.

opoefc · #3 08-10-2018, 09:20 PM

The originals, as well as repos, are usually on Ebay, asking various prices. I have a bunch of originals I've had since WW2 and have sold off a few to Forum members. There are two correct styles, case hardened and blued. The were used on the WW1 Model 1917s as well as the Victory Models, and any other S&W of the time, if special ordered. I believe the case hardened version is the only correct one for a Victory Model. Ed.

Absalom · #4 08-10-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opoefc

.... I believe the case hardened version is the only correct one for a Victory Model. Ed.

I believe you are correct. The attached picture shows the one on my best-condition Victory, a BSR from 1944, all-matching and most likely to be the original swivel. On my others, the swivel finish is too degraded to be certain.

Hondo44 · #5 08-10-2018, 10:32 PM

"Since you said it first, there are actually THREE verified varieties, and I suspect FOUR are possible.

1- Originally, swivels have a pin through the lump or boss to keep the loop centered. It is ground flush. Swivels were always case hardened, but

2- June 1, 44 Eng. Order eliminated pin- "new method makes pin unnecessary". I suppose that means there is a partition in the hole for the loop and the loop is folded in. If anyone has one with no pin, tear the loop out and tell us please.

3- Dec 20, 44 Eng Order changed Case colored (don't expect a lot of vivid colors) to sandblast and blue because case colors were not uniform."
Lee Jarrett

Yes, there’s a partition in the 6/1/44 and later lanyard swivels w/o the pin. But I didn’t tear the loop out. I was cleaning one to install and put a couple of drops of penetrating oil in one side of the boss to see if it would run out the other side. It did not; must be partitioned.
Jim

Absalom · #6 08-10-2018, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

.....
3- Dec 20, 44 Eng Order changed Case colored (don't expect a lot of vivid colors) to sandblast and blue because case colors were not uniform."
...

Well, so we’re looking at maybe 40,000 out of -811,000 Victorys or about 5% with swivels that are not case-colored. That would explain why we’d assume case-color to be standard

opoefc · #7 08-11-2018, 01:53 PM

Not all Engineering Orders were followed in production for various reasons ( end of contract, design changes, war time expediency, etc. ) I don't recall ever seeing an original sand blast blue swivel on a Victory Model. Refinished guns, yes. They may exist, of course. There were no sand blast blue swivels in the batches of WW2 surplus Victory parts I picked up, circa 1950s. All were case hardened. Ed.

chiefdave · #8 08-11-2018, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opoefc

Not all Engineering Orders were followed in production for various reasons ( end of contract, design changes, war time expediency, etc. ) I don't recall ever seeing an original sand blast blue swivel on a Victory Model. Refinished guns, yes. They may exist, of course. There were no sand blast blue swivels in the batches of WW2 surplus Victory parts I picked up, circa 1950s. All were case hardened. Ed.

After reading your post I got curious and pulled some out of the safe to take a look. My 2 best examples varied quite a bit. V548132 looks to be case hardened with the pin while V3193 appears to have the blasted blue finish with pin.

Who ever said that the #1 rule at S&W was there are no rules was right.

opoefc · #9 08-11-2018, 04:30 PM

V3193 is a case hardened swivel. The Engineering order that Lee cited was issued in 1944. V3193 was made in June 1942. Ed

Walter Rego · #10 08-11-2018, 09:05 PM

Here are three from my parts box. The one on the left is I believe, a modern reproduction.
The middle is the usual Victory Model type and the one on the right is color case hardened and highly polished. Notice the difference in the shank lengths too.

opoefc · #11 08-11-2018, 09:51 PM

Walt, I think the one on the right, with the longer shank, is a Colt Swivel. Ed.

Hondo44 · #12 08-11-2018, 10:11 PM

I agree with Ed. The one on the right with longer shank will not fit the 1917 or the Victory models.

It's also a pinned version like the early S&W version, which just barely shows in your photo.

Walter Rego · #13 08-12-2018, 03:27 PM

Thanks, I put a note in the little zip lock bag that the color case hardened lanyard loop is stored in that it is for a Colt 1917 and other Colt revolvers.