Strange Victory grips (stocks)

chiefdave · #1 08-31-2018, 03:59 PM

I'm fairly sure that these are something someone threw together but for the price I couldn't pass them up. The donor revolver was s/n 939613.

Maybe I'll buy one of those nickel plated Victory's to put them on.

From the size of the medallions would you former military guys consider these full dress (large medals) or evening dress (small medals).

Hondo44 · #2 09-01-2018, 01:14 AM

They're early post war Service grips with post war 3/8" diameter medallions, that have had the checkering sanded off.

Absalom · #3 09-01-2018, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

They're early post war Service grips with post war 3/8" diameter medallions, that have had the checkering sanded off.

Jim:
Could you find a picture of which stocks you mean? Chief Dave indicates that they number to pre-Victory 939613. And post-war M&P‘s came with magnas.

I would think it more likely that these are original smooth walnut stocks that have been inlet for S&W medallions.

Hondo44 · #4 09-01-2018, 04:48 AM

They could very well be what you say.

I took them for either:

1. The 38-200 stocks with updated medallions or
2. Transitional Com'l Service stocks from the end of the war. The gun I believe they're from no doubt had a V, SV, or most likely an S, prefix, but we seldom see the letter(s) stamped on the stocks in this period.

I don't have any correct period M&P stock photos from the end of the war.

But I do have a Transitional I frame with the same period Service stocks. These have the post war medallions but the pre war/during war 38-200 sharp cornered checkering border:

Found at Tulsa-.32 hand ejector 6" transition-dsc04413-jpg

Found at Tulsa-.32 hand ejector 6" transition-dsc04413-jpg

Photo by bracebeemer

I would like to see the backs and the grip washers.

Kiwi cop · #5 09-01-2018, 05:35 AM

It has ben a number of years since I went through the exhibits in Wellington but I am pretty sure that I have seen smooth stocks like these on former issue .38 S&W Victory models in the New Zealand Police Museum.

In 1964 N Z Police "upgraded" from 1903 Colt and 1910 Browning .32 auto pistols to ex Royal New Zealand Air Force .38 S&W Victory revolvers. I know I have seen pictures of the Victory revolvers with smooth grips in a book I have somewhere here. The guns all had lanyard fittings on the butt (the stud but not the rings).

I can't swear the the grips I have seen are identical to these but they have been pretty close.

murphydog · #6 09-01-2018, 06:21 AM

Are these stock panels the same width as those from a Victory Model, and do you see a stamped or penciled number on the inside?

chiefdave · #7 09-01-2018, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

Are these stock panels the same width as those from a Victory Model, and do you see a stamped or penciled number on the inside?

They are identical to Victory grips. The picture didn't show it well but the medallions are brass plated.

Absalom · #8 09-01-2018, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

....
2. Transitional Com'l Service stocks from the end of the war. The gun I believe they're from no doubt had a V, SV, or most likely an S, prefix, but we seldom see the letter(s) stamped on the stocks in this period.

I don't have any correct period M&P stock photos from the end of the war.

But I do have a Transitional I frame with the same period Service stocks. These have the post war medallions but the pre war/during war 38-200 sharp cornered checkering border....

Ah. I forgot about the round butt. You’re right; I think those indeed continued to be fitted with the pre-war style stocks for a while after 1945. I do believe however that square butts got magnas right away starting with the first commercial SV M&P’s in early 1946. As far as the stock serial and a possible prefix goes, a six-digit serial starting with a 9 is too high for a V or SV, and an S-prefix square butt from later 1947 would definitely have magnas.

VM · #9 09-01-2018, 11:11 AM

Chiefdave, can you post a picture of the insides of the stocks?

cgt4570 · #10 09-01-2018, 11:54 AM

My vote is that someone simply installed medallions in a pair of Victory stocks.
I have a .400" forstner bit for small medallions and a .500" for large.

kthom · #11 09-01-2018, 02:48 PM

I dunno what these grips are, original in that condition, or (more likely I think) a set of originals that have had the medallions nicely installed. A picture of the inside of the grips probably would shed some light on this situation.

What I do know is that I would definitely like to own this set of grips!!! You did well by grabbing them, Sir!

chiefdave · #12 09-01-2018, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VM

Chiefdave, can you post a picture of the insides of the stocks?

Here's the inside.

murphydog · #13 09-01-2018, 05:13 PM

With that SN (can't tell if the numbers match but they seem close?), they appears to be Victory Model style stocks with medallions added. Someone did a nice modification job.

Absalom · #14 09-01-2018, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

With that SN (can't tell if the numbers match but they seem close?), ...

If I understand Chief Dave correctly, there is nothing to match; he bought the pair of grips without the gun attached. I think the third digit is murky, but it seems to be 93x612.

Hondo44 · #15 09-01-2018, 06:18 PM

The medallions have been added to smooth refinished stocks. Factory post war medallions have a large washer on the back.

Postwar medallions are supposed to be nickel plated solid brass.

VM · #16 09-03-2018, 11:30 AM

Thanks for inside pics. Agree with others - medallions have been installed on a set of victory grips.

chiefdave · #17 09-21-2018, 05:08 PM

I found the following quote in SCSW 4th;

"The earliest .38 M&P's shipped after WWII were fitted with leftover plain walnut Victory stocks fitted with pre-WWII flush chrome plated medallions."

With the aid of a bright light and magnification I came up with s/n 83x612. A pre Victory in this range would still likely have checkered grips but a post-war in this range would surely have Magna's. At least I know that S&W did ship some revolvers with this style of grips.