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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 03-27-2020, 06:31 PM
allieharp allieharp is offline
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Default New- need Victory help! (serial #?)

Hey all, I am super new to the forum thing but I figured this would be a good place to go.
I just purchased my first S&W (used) and wanting to get a little more info.
It's a .38 Victory 2in with the serial number 656566. Would anyone happen to know when this was made? I am having a hard time finding any info about this serial number. I have tried putting a V in front of it as well but from what I've read it's tricky to find info..
Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Old 03-27-2020, 07:35 PM
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Welcome from Tampa.
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Old 03-28-2020, 07:07 AM
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Welcome to the forum. Someone else might have a better answer, but I think you could contact S&W cust. serv. and they might be able to help.
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Old 03-28-2020, 01:13 PM
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Welcome from Pennsylvania!
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Old 03-28-2020, 01:32 PM
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It would be helpful if you can post pictures of both sides of the pistol, the bottom of the butt, both sides of the barrel, clear pictures of any other markings, and couple clear shots of the complete gun.

According to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, two inch Victories are scarce and are worth 4-5 times the 4" version if lettered from the factory.
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Old 03-28-2020, 03:07 PM
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Hope this is helpful!
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Old 03-28-2020, 03:18 PM
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There is a V in front of the numbers so it is a Victory. The grips are not original to the gun.

I know that a 2" Victory s/n V663xxx shipped 2/44 so serial number wise you are in the ball park for the 2" models. V635xxx shipped 7/44. I'm guessing that no matter the original barrel length of your gun it shipped in 1944.

Given the shape of the barrel out of the frame and the extractor rod I don't think it was an original 2" barrel.

There are folks on the site that will know immediately if not sooner.

Welcome to the forum.
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Old 03-28-2020, 03:33 PM
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Is it my imagination or does it look like a lanyard hole has been filled in in the butt?
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Old 03-28-2020, 03:39 PM
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No holes on the butt
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Old 03-28-2020, 04:01 PM
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Hi from North Dakota
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:00 PM
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it does not look like an original barrel to me - definite reblue + replacement grips -
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robertrwalsh View Post
Is it my imagination or does it look like a lanyard hole has been filled in in the butt?
Certainly appears the lanyard hole was filled.

What is the serial number on the bottom of the barrel (you have to roll out the cylinder to see it)? If it matches the serial number on the butt (including the V) the revolver was originally a 2".

As others said, not the original grips. Appears to have been refinished, too. If It's an original 2" Victory, neither of those things would bother me, much.
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:37 PM
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It is a refinished Victory from mid-1944 with a cut barrel, as is obvious from the missing front lug.

It almost certainly started out as a 5” barreled British Service model. Inspecting the chambers for traces of reaming from .38 S&W to Special would settle that. Lanyard hole is plugged, grips are post-war, resoldered front sight not the original. Before the re-blue, the gun was subject to extremely heavy-handed buffing.

PS: Attached a reference picture of an original 2” model. Note the differences in the barrel/rod assembly.
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File Type: jpg 6338DB7C-F438-49EC-909F-45E3D9B74B49.jpg (30.0 KB, 23 views)

Last edited by Absalom; 03-28-2020 at 05:48 PM.
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:43 PM
allieharp allieharp is offline
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Thanks everyone!
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Old 03-28-2020, 05:59 PM
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Definitely a chopped, refinished, and probably re-chambered surplus BSR from WWII. It has no collector value, just in the "Shooter" class. Boatloads (really!) of these were sold mail order during the 50s and early 60s.

If the SN is V 656566, it likely originally shipped around July-August 1944.

Last edited by DWalt; 03-28-2020 at 06:34 PM.
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Old 03-28-2020, 11:56 PM
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Mr Harp ,

Welcome to the forum. As stated , your revolver has been severely modified. The most obvious clue is the absence of a locking lug for the ejector rod. That structure did not "make the cut" when the barrel was shortened.

I hope that the seller gave disclosure as to nature of the gun , and that you are not in too deep.
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