I have just got hold of an Australian marked Victory.Could someone tell me when it was made?
The serial number is V 505955 , it is marked US PROPERTY GHD .It's a 5 inch 38 S&W with D^D FTR MA 55 markings. It's in really good condition except for the grips which have some chips but they are not recent so they don't look to bad.Did many Aussie marked Victories make their way back to the US.
Thank you .
DAVE

I have just got hold of an Australian marked Victory.Could someone tell me when it was made?
The serial number is V 505955 , it is marked US PROPERTY GHD .It's a 5 inch 38 S&W with D^D FTR MA 55 markings. It's in really good condition except for the grips which have some chips but they are not recent so they don't look to bad.Did many Aussie marked Victories make their way back to the US.
Thank you .
DAVE

I can't date it for you but the last symbols indicate that it had a "factory thorough repair"(,a British expression for an overhaul) in 1955 at M? arsenal.

Can't help you with the date, but quite a few Aussie Victories made it back to the US. Mine has similar markings, but was a Pre Victory. Far as I know, most all were 5" 38 S&W, and quite a lot were in excellent shooting condition. The chambers and barrel on mine were near mint, but the exterior has a few dings and wear. I did obtain a additional 38 Special cylinder, and it shoots pretty well in spite of the fact it has a slightly larger bore.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Aussie Dave, Your Victory Model was shipped in Jan. 1944.

I have not shot it yet as i have no ammunition.As far as I can tell the only factory ammo available in Australia is Winchester but there is none in the country. But I have got hold of some Starline brass so when I get some dies I will reload.
Thanks for the shipping date info.
Dave

Aussie Dave,

I also have an Australian "Pre-Victory" (no "V" prefix serial number), 5", .38 S&W caliber, marked on top strap "United States Propery", "FTR/MA 54" and an "L" (Broad Arrow) "26". I have heard that the "L" indicates it went through the Lithgow arsenal for re-work.

I have several British Service revolvers, and this one shoots the best, has the best trigger. I think this is because when they went through re-work, they were put back and not used until they were surplused out. I handload for it, I found the best load was 3.1 grains Unique with a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullet. With this load, the revolver shoots to point of aim, and I can keep all hits in the black on a 3 1/2 inch target at 15 yards.....

You'll be a lot happier handloading for your revolver vice shooting factory .38 S&W, it is weak as water to protect all of the old top break revolvers out there chambered for .38 S&W, and none of it I have tried shoots to point of aim in my Victory Models.

I have one very similar to it that I bought a couple of years ago. Here's a few pix....