Hello,
I have always been a fan of Smith and Wesson revolvers since I was a child.
I am not a serious collector, more of a shooter and my knowledge stops at models, frame sizes, and screw numbers.
However there is something about the Victory series that I absolutely love! It was as if S&W was able to hue out a rough chunk of steel that still was polished like a swiss watch on the inside. S&W knew where they could cut corners in fit and finish and still turn out guns with great triggers and outstanding accuracy!
I have never chased Victories, but over the years I have had a couple fall into my lap. Mind you where I live is almost completely bereft of ANY S&W revolvers let alone Victories.
The poverty and rural attitudes toward handguns in Southern Missouri and having to ask permission from the Sheriff for every handgun you bought up until 2007 meant that very few were in circulation.
My first acquisition was a U.S. Navy marked example that a guy brought into a local gun shop. He had no idea what it was and I was knowledgeable enough to at least know it was a Victory from the "V" in the serial number. After the gun shop owner passed on it, I offered him $250 which he accepted and I was the proud owner of my first Victory Model.
I was a bit bummed out the topstrap was not marked "U.S. Property", but after a bit of research I found out Navy marked guns were actually more desirable than Property marked ones! Again I was a bit of a Noob!
The last one was bought off of a forum member on another online forum that caters to a more tactical type of weapon. He posted a what is this thread and after I noticed he was in the same state as me we arranged a FTF deal.
I picked it up with the rubber grips and no lanyard loop for $350. $50 later I had a so so set of original replacement grips and a replacement lanyard loop on the way.
So that's the story on my pair of Victories!
Any insight on shipping dates would be a plus!
I'm not one to letter my guns!