I inherited a revolver V 1927xx from my grandfather after he passed in 2018. I never got around to actually looking into the history of the gun and I heard from my friend that I could probably find out on this website. I've tried to do my own research but haven't had success. I took a bunch of pictures and hopefully you guys can help.
This is a Victory Model from WW II. If it is a 5" and is stamped .38 S&W on the barrel, it went to the British Commonwealth troops. If it is a 4" chambered in .38 special, it was either issued to US forces, usually the Navy or Marines, or sold to a business involved with war production for their security officers.
Others will be along soon with much more detail. I'm tired and on the way to bed, so if I wasn't clear or got something wrong, old & sleepy is my excuse and I'm sticking with it!
This is a Victory Model from WW II. If it is a 5" and is stamped .38 S&W on the barrel, it went to the British Commonwealth troops. If it is a 4" chambered in .38 special, it was either issued to US forces, usually the Navy or Marines, or sold to a business involved with war production for their security officers.
Others will be along soon with much more detail. I'm tired and on the way to bed, so if I wasn't clear or got something wrong, old & sleepy is my excuse and I'm sticking with it!
Thank you for the reply!
I was under the impression that the victory models serial numbers all started with a 3. This one has a 1 which is what threw me off.
I was under the impression that the victory models serial numbers all started with a 3. This one has a 1 which is what threw me off.
I was just reading about these in the last few days... According to the SCSW 4th edition, the Victory serial numbers ranged from V1 to V769,000 and then switched to SV.
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! It appears to have a 5" barrel which would make it a British Service Revolver made in late 1942. There should be a caliber stamp of .38 S&W CTG on the right side of the barrel.
You most definitely have a WWII Victory revolver. Since yours is marked US Property...it probably was part of the lend-lease to Allied countries in 38 S&W caliber (NOT to be confused with 38 Special which was all US 4" bbl versions).
The GHD and flaming bomb are US military proof and inspector marks applied to the lend-lease guns before shipment overseas.
My Victory is a US Navy 4" 38 Special, and per Letter of Authenticity shipped December 17, 1942. Mine is s/n V192216.
Some other details that might assist you are in the copy of my factory Letter attached. Should you want to know exact details of yours you would have to send for a Factory Letter, but since you inherited your gun, maybe you have family back story that will give you (and us...if you care to post) much more personal detail about how this gun spent the war, or how it came to be in your possession. WE LOVE back stories too!
It would be helpful to just see full pictures of the entire gun from both sides in natural light to be certain.
But by all appearances, you do indeed have a standard Lend-Lease British Service model of the Victory from late 1942, all original with 5” barrel, original finish and stocks.
On the second-to-last photo, there appears to be a circular area of rust or other finish damage on the left back frame. I’d like to see that area up close. If a stamping was removed there, that could explain why the gun seems to be without British post-war proofs and otherwise unmodified.
You most definitely have a WWII Victory revolver. Since yours is marked US Property...it probably was part of the lend-lease to Allied countries in 38 S&W caliber (NOT to be confused with 38 Special which was all US 4" bbl versions).
The GHD and flaming bomb are US military proof and inspector marks applied to the lend-lease guns before shipment overseas.
My Victory is a US Navy 4" 38 Special, and per Letter of Authenticity shipped December 17, 1942. Mine is s/n V192216.
Some other details that might assist you are in the copy of my factory Letter attached. Should you want to know exact details of yours you would have to send for a Factory Letter, but since you inherited your gun, maybe you have family back story that will give you (and us...if you care to post) much more personal detail about how this gun spent the war, or how it came to be in your possession. WE LOVE back stories too!
It would be helpful to just see full pictures of the entire gun from both sides in natural light to be certain.
But by all appearances, you do indeed have a standard Lend-Lease British Service model of the Victory from late 1942, all original with 5” barrel, original finish and stocks.
On the second-to-last photo, there appears to be a circular area of rust or other finish damage on the left back frame. I’d like to see that area up close. If a stamping was removed there, that could explain why the gun seems to be without British post-war proofs and otherwise unmodified.
One of two things was removed from that spot: either a Canadian C/arrow military property mark or a circular post-war Austrian police stamp. Both were about the same size and stamped there.
One of two things was removed from that spot: either a Canadian C/arrow military property mark or a circular post-war Austrian police stamp. Both were about the same size and stamped there.
My guess would be the Canadian mark.
My grandfather was a dentist who liked to make jewelry in his free time. He had a knack for modifying things for no clear reason, like putting beeswax in car interiors, or adding to a colonial rocking horse (he didn't know at the time). I'd guess that he wanted to make the gun more American so he removed the stamp or whatever was there since he was a person capable of doing it.
I always encourage folks to get a letter, especially on guns that are relevant to family history.
But to save you any disappointment, be aware the letter will not be able to solve the mystery of the missing mark. All Lend-Lease Victorys, including this one, were shipped from the factory to Hardford Ordnance depot. From there, the Lend-Lease office processed and shipped them on, and none of that will be in the letter since the S&W historian has no access to their records.
From ding a little reading over the last few days, it is my understanding that neither the .38 spl nor the .38 S&W chambered guns were fired very much by the people they were issued to, including the .38 spl and the 38 S&W?
I wold guess that the Military of any country would not see a small caliber handgun as anything than a defensive weapon of last resort, as compared to a .45 ACP, or a rifle, or almost any other weapon. That may account for why so many are in relatively nice shape today, not including any abuse inflicted by us civilians...
That spot does not seem unique to your Victory. So your grandfather may not have been the one who did that, it may have come to him in that condition. See attachment. (While doing some searches I came across a picture with the same discolored spot)
Something else that is interesting (to me anyway): That gun (in the pic I downloaded, not yours) shows the fading of the finish over time. It must have worn later Magna stocks for many years before the smooth Victory type grips were put back on. The area UNDER the top of the Magnas is much darker than the rest of the finish.
Where and when is this revolver from?
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