Help with some Victory history for a newbie.

Zach623 · #1 07-22-2020, 01:35 AM

Just picked it up at my local store for 399, was hoping to find some history behind it.
SN: V 328284 (There is a lot smaller either “u” or “p” marking Before the V, might not be significant)
Along the barrel Smith and wesson with a British proofs “BNP” under a crown, then 38 •767’ (over) 3 1/2 tonsH2B with the cross swords behind trigger on left side
Smith and wesson Springfield mass pat along the top of barrel
38 S&W CTG
No U.S Property markings (besides “made in usa”)
The S&W trademark on the right face is starting to get worn, cant read the last 3 in “ Reg us pat ...”
Under the grips on the frame was a 4, i can also make one out to the left of the front sight by the tip of the barrel, not sure what to make of it

Any help would be appreciated!

Absalom · #2 07-22-2020, 02:20 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Your Victory is a British Service model from mid-1943. The additional letter on the butt is a standard military P proof applied before shipping. The other non-factory stampings along the barrel are post-war British commercial proofs, required before surplus sale likely in the 1950s.

The gun has been heavily buffed and refinished in blue. All British Victorys had a US property mark on the left topstrap, so if that isn’t there, it was removed during the refinish. These were all so marked for Lend-Lease shipment to Britain. The stocks are the correct style, but I believe they are modern reproductions.

It might be good to check if the chambers have been bored out to accommodate .38 Special, which happened to a lot of these that were reimported to the US. If still original, they should look like the photo below, with distinct shoulders halfway in.

Zach623 · #3 07-22-2020, 03:07 AM

Thanks for the news! Shame that it was buffed and refinished but i have no idea when that would’ve been and who to blame! Lol

The cylinder is original and not bored out for .38 special

Are there any other ways besides the s&w letters to find where these might have shipped to?

Absalom · #4 07-22-2020, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach623

....
Are there any other ways besides the s&w letters to find where these might have shipped to?

Once these revolvers began being supplied under Lend-Lease (late 1941), S&W shipped all of them, including yours, to one location not too far away: Hartford Ordnance Depot. The official recipient was Uncle Sam.

And that’s all the S&W records and a letter can reveal (other than the exact date). They were handled from there by Lend-Lease authorities whose records we don’t have. Most went to Britain first and were centrally distributed from there.

DWalt · #5 07-22-2020, 02:08 PM

Yes, a historical letter is not really worth the $100 cost in this case, as it won't tell you very much beyond the exact shipment date and what has already been provided. Plus all collectible value for yours has been lost by the refinishing. Your V 328284 probably shipped in June 1943. Regarding the British proof marks, those were all done well after WWII (1950s-60s) as a requirement under British law for their being sold commercially. Here is a site with considerable general information about Victories:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/v...and_wesson.htm

Mk VII · #6 07-23-2020, 04:34 PM

Submitted for proof in 1957.