S&W Victory model serial number lookup

[DWalt]

No idea of about the first marking, could simply indicate a production line inspection of some kind. The number inside the crane is just an assembly number to keep parts together until final assembly and has no other meaning. Many mistake it for a serial number.

 

[MontanaMonty]

Dill7,

My gun has the exact same mark before the U.S. Property as yours. Some people do mistake that for a number 8 but it is actually a "Bomb". And from what I have been able to gather it is simply a U.S. Government Acceptance marking.

If I am wrong someone can correct me but I did read that yesterday while trying to learn more about my own Victory model.

 

[barnsided]

Need DOB on two Victories

I have two Victories I would love to have shipping date/info on:

First is a 4" .38 special, no U.S. property marks. On the butt is
"BAC"
"165"
The serial number is V13188

The second is a 5" .38 S&W caliber, "United States Property" mark on the topstrap, no U.S. inspector marks found, no British marks found, marked "OSTERREICH POLIZI" on the top left frame and a large "761" stamped on the left frame, just above the rear triggerguard. I assume that is a rack number.
The serial number is 966674. There is a small "N.B." on the butt, opposite the serial number.

Any help is appreciated!
Mark

 

[ordnanceguy]

I have two Victories I would love to have shipping date/info on......Any help is appreciated!
Mark

Hello Mark:

Your V13188 most likely shipped from the factory in the June, 1942 time frame. The butt marking of BAC 165 is likely that of Boeing Aircraft Corporation. We have another BAC marked gun listed in the Victory Model Database which is reported as having shipped to Boeing under DSC authorization.

Your 966674 likely shipped from the factory in the April, 1942 time frame. It had a post-war career in service with the Austrian Police.

I hope that information is helpful to you.

 

[barnsided]

Thanks for the info!
I thought it's interesting that the .38S&W caliber has no British markings. I thought they all went to the Brits and its colonies. Any thoughts on that?

 

[ordnanceguy]

Barn:

Most of the .38 S&W revolvers did, in fact, get shipped to the UK and the Commonwealth countries. Not all of those guns were marked by the recipients. A small percentage of the .38 S&W guns were retained for use by US Forces or for transfer to non-UK/Commonwealth allies.

 

[burkefj]

Was hoping to get approx dates of mfg for the following, I posted on the thread for the database, but just got a few comments about the FTR marks which I knew.

Thanks

1)5" 38 S&W united states property marked, wb and flaming ball butt marked, #918094, smooth right grip marked inside matches, original blue or midnight black finish, NZ and 2445 marked on backstrap hump. .358 bore. Probably shipped early (maybe Feb.) 1942.

2)5" 38 S&W united states property marked, wb flaming ball marked, #V25237, parkerized and MA 53 FTR D^D marked, smooth grips, right grip does not match, vega import marked. .357 bore. Probably mid-1942. Have chambers been bored to accept .38 Special?

3)5" 38 S&W united states property marked, wb flaming ball marked, #V138580, parkerized and MA 54 FTR D^D marked, smooth grips, right grip does not match, vega import marked, .361 bore. Probable October 1942. Have chambers been bored to accept .38 Special?

4)4" 38 Special not united states property marked, flaming ball only on butt, right smooth grip matches, V164920, worn matte blue finish, .358 bore. Probable November 1942. Likely intended for stateside law enforcement or defense plant guard use.

 

[gordonrick]

Not sure what you are looking for. No one can give you a a date of manufacture, only a shipping date which you seem to already have narrowed down pretty well. They did not ship in serial number order with sometimes large gaps. The victories probably shipped as close to serial number order as any model has, but it is still not a given. A letter will get you a ship date and where it was sent,although for the commonwealth guns it may be the British Purchasing Commision and parts unknown from there. The acceptance marks tell you more. For example, the broad arrow DD would be Australia, but you said you already knew that.

If you are asking if the guns have been bored out, no one but you can ascertain that. Try chambering a 38 special round. If it fits and the barrel says 38 S&W, it's been bored out. This was often done by the importers and there are no records. You find some done well and some not so well. It is nice to find one unbored inbreeding so many were butchered.

 

[burkefj]

Actually, I didn't realize someone did reply with the ship dates and I didn't even notice when I cut and pasted here...none of none of them have been reamed, they are in the original calibers, however the one 38 s&w does ave a larger cylinder throat and bore than the other two.

Frank

 

[autowrench]

Hello! I'm trying to find out what information I can about a Smith and Wesson pistol that has been in my family for quite a few years. It has serial number 905979 and WB(?) and the ordinance flaming bomb on the butt. A large P is stamped above the left grip. Checkered grips, no lanyard loop.United States Property on the top strap. 38 S&W Ctg on the barrel, although I know it is modified for 38 special. Along the left side of the barrel are 3 symbols that look like circles with a crown on top and 2 letters inside. The letters look like BV or RV. Preceding the symbols it says "not English make".The same characters are repeated once below the top strap between the cylinder and barrel. The finish is not blue . Thanks for any info you can give me!

Tom

 

[DWalt]

You have a pre-Victory model S&W M&P revolver made for the British during WWII. Yours would likely date from early 1941. You do not provide a picture. However, the originals normally had a 5" barrel length (measured from the front face of the cylinder), and a blued finish. Unfortunately, the modified chambers destroy any collector value, but it could be a good shooter. It is safe to fire .38 Special ammunition, but the cases will bulge as the chamber diameter is oversize.

 

[vinnen]

Victory Model S/N

V53254 was shipped in Aug. 1942, Close serial numbers went to the US Navy and to the Hercules Powder Co., so with out a factory letter, you won't know if the gun was a military shipped gun or sent to a war plant's guard unit. It was shipped in S&W's military non-glare finish Sand Blast Blue" so it has been refinished. Ed #15

I noticed that most Victory Models have the V stamp in the same block as the numerical stamp. The one I have has the stamps separated by maybe 1" on the butt. On the cylinder, a l (or maybe a 1) precedes the V. The l and V are together and appear to be stamped lighter on the butt. This is a nickel with a 6" barrel. Is this even a Victory model?

 

[DWalt]

I noticed that most Victory Models have the V stamp in the same block as the numerical stamp. The one I have has the stamps separated by maybe 1" on the butt. On the cylinder, a l (or maybe a 1) precedes the V. The l and V are together and appear to be stamped lighter on the butt. This is a nickel with a 6" barrel. Is this even a Victory model?

Pictures would help, along with more information, such as caliber. I don't remember ever seeing anything like an IV or 1V. Is that only on the cylinder? How about the SN on the bottom of the barrel? Is there a SN stamped inside the right grip panel (assuming smooth grips)? What is the rest of the SN? IF it is a V-model, the 6" barrel would suggest the British version (.38/200) in .38 S&W (that should be stamped on the side of the barrel). If nickeled, there is an extremely high probability the plating was NOT done by S&W.

 

[vinnen]

The s/n on the butt matches the one on the rear cylinder face. It is l V 541219. The right side barrel stamping is 38 s&w special ctg. The grips are checkered with the s&w medallion. The walnut grip on the right side covers one of the four frame bolts. The butt is corroded some so that I can't tell if the l is also on the butt. It does not have a lanyard ring. I find no other marks indicating it was police or military. I will try to get meaningful photos.

 

[DWalt]

Does it have the hole for the lanyard loop? If it is a Victory, it would have shipped about March 1944. Grips do not seem original for a Victory of that time. We'll wait for some pictures before making any other pronouncements. But the |V is strange, at least to me.

 

[AndrewS.]

Hello, i have a smith & wesson Victory model number V 430422. Could you tell me the year OF production? Thank you very much!!

 

[vinnen]

VINNEN

 

[DWalt]

Hello, i have a smith & wesson Victory model number V 430422. Could you tell me the year OF production? Thank you very much!!

Probable shipment during late October, 1943.

 

[DWalt]

View attachment 117391

View attachment 117392

I do not see anything before the V on the rear cylinder face. Am I missing something? Without any other markings (such as a U. S. Property stamping), it was probably made for stateside use by law enforcement or defense plant security personnel. The nickel plating is not original. The factory would have not plated these during wartime, but even if it did, the hammer and trigger would not have been plated. Also, the grips are from a much later date. Unfortunately, as it is not in original condition, it has no collector value, only as a shooter - therefore it may be worth only maybe $200-$300.

 

[Desmodude]

Victory model serial numbers

I have a U.S. Navy marked Victory model, serial #V246255. How do I go about finding out any information on this weapon. There is a lanyard loop hole at the bottom of the metal grip. It is missing a layard. Anyone know where I might find an original to complete the weapon? Thanks.