Finally! 100% Correct Victory Model

[Kilroy was here]

After a long and arduous search for a 100% correct Victory model, I found one at the local fun show. I purchased one about a month ago, but it had an issue (we discussed that on the forum). I was able to return it to the seller and decided to hold out for a correct one. A trip to the local fun show today provided me with this beauty. The finish on it is about as good as I've ever seen on a Victory. The serial number is V359882, so I think that's somewhere in the middle of production. Maybe 1943 or 1944? The barrel, cylinder, extractor star, and right grip match the frame. It exhibits the US Property marking as well as GHD stamping. Mechanically, it is as tight as a new one and the double action pull is smooth as silk. The bore is flawless. The fellow that had this gun gave a me a good deal on it, so I just couldn't pass it up.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Smith with its cousin from Colt, the Commando. The Commando is a early production 1942 piece. I plan on having a shoot off between the two soon. Perhaps that will end the debate about which is the better revolver. Ha! I also scored the original Coltwood grips for the Commando today at the show, so it was a productive day. Hope you enjoyed my new toy.

 

[Kilroy was here]

And the rest of the pictures...

 

[Art Doc]

Well, they maybe come a bit nicer than that...but not by much...and I've never seen one.

 

[DWalt]

V359882 would probably have shipped about August 1943. Great find in that condition, especially one chambered in .38 Special.

 

[brigham33]

Congrats! The more pristine ones are getting very hard to find - I know because I keep looking!! That's a nice one!

 

[Kilroy was here]

Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. I've been looking for "the right one" for a while. As we all know, this is a large task. Whether it be a firearm, car, or woman, patience is key. Ha! I've seen many, but they were well used and more often than not, were missing the lanyard ring or had commercial grips.

And DWalt, thanks for the month and year. I'm glad I took your advice and sent the other revolver back. It really paid off.

 

[Camster]

Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. I've been looking for "the right one" for a while. As we all know, this is a large task. Whether it be a firearm, car, or woman, patience is key. Ha! I've seen many, but they were well used and more often than not, were missing the lanyard ring or had commercial grips.

And DWalt, thanks for the month and year. I'm glad I took your advice and sent the other revolver back. It really paid off.

I hate it too,when the well used women that I find,have commercial grips. ;-P

 

[opoefc]

For what it's worth, V360425 was shipped in March 1943, and V 358522 shipped in July 1943, so I think we can say V359882 is a 1943 shipped gun, but w/o a factory letter the exact date is unknown. Congrats on a very nice example of the Victory Model. A close serial number, V361858, was Pres. George H.W.Bush's Victory Model which he was carrying when he was shot down Sept. 2, 1944 in the North Pacific Ocean during WW2 and was rescued by a passing American Submarine. Bush gave the gun to an officer on the submarine. In 2007 the officer's descendants returned the gun to Bush. Ed.

 

[Kilroy was here]

I hate it too,when the well used women that I find,have commercial grips. ;-P

Exactly! When I found mine, she was missing the lanyard ring. I've since replaced it, but when we go to the mall, she usually breaks the lanyard strap and goes off on her own.

Thank you, opoefc. I remember reading about H.W.'s gun back a few years ago. As I recall, it was in very nice shape considering it spent a while in the Pacific. I would like to know where my pistol was shipped to. I've read material suggesting most US property marked revolvers went to the Navy even though they weren't Navy marked. And then again, some went to domestic law enforcement agencies. Have we ever concretely determined that the non-property marked revolvers were mainly for police/factory guards? It seems that most of the ones I've seen did. I guess the next question is, were there any US property marked Victories delivered to police/factory guards during the war?

 

[DWalt]

I've not seen any authoritative numbers as to exactly how many went to the Navy, but I believe that Roy Jenks was quoted as saying that most of the .38 Special Victories made for the U. S. military during the war were for Navy service. Somewhere around 70,000-80,000 of the early pre-Victories and Victories, up to about SN V267000, went to the Navy and were stamped "U. S. Navy" on the topstrap. After that, all Victories were made on Army contracts and had the typical "United States Property" or "U. S. Property" topstrap stampings, even though they went to the Navy. Somewhere around 72,000 revolvers obtained through DSC contracts went to defense plant guards, law enforcement, etc., and had no topstrap property stampings. There were others without topstrap markings which went the the U. S. Maritime Commission (Merchant Marine), the OSS, and maybe even a few to the U. S. Coast Guard. Point is, the only way to know where any Victory in .38 Special went first is via a factory letter.

 

[Kilroy was here]

DWalt, thanks again for the info. I figured as much on the S&W letter. I'll be putting in for one soon. I'd love to have an OSS lettered S&W, but I'm sure those bring a nice premium.

 

[DWalt]

I don't think a letter will specifically state that it was shipped to OSS as a destination. More like to the Navy at Rosslyn VA, I think.

 

[Kilroy was here]

Ah, yup. I figured as much. The OSS was hush-hush during the war. I've seen several "OSS" Colt Detective Specials lately. It appeared the OSS liked revolvers with their procurement of DSs, Commandos, and Victories. I guess because revolvers were cheaper and more easily attained than the 1911A1s?

 

[oberon]

My best shootin'38 is a Victory. Nowhere near as nice as that one, but better that ones I have seen at shows around theses parts. And cheap money to boot.

 

[ordnanceguy]

After that, all Victories were made on Army contracts and had the typical "United States Property" or "U. S. Property" topstrap stampings, even though they went to the Navy.

To the extent that this statement can be interpreted as saying that Victory revolvers marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the top strap were shipped to the US Navy it is an incorrect statement. Navy-shipped Victory revolvers were not marked on the left top strap "UNITED STATES PROPERTY".

 

[ordnanceguy]

I don't think a letter will specifically state that it was shipped to OSS as a destination.

Incorrect.

 

[kwill1911]

Ah, yup. I figured as much. The OSS was hush-hush during the war. I've seen several "OSS" Colt Detective Specials lately. It appeared the OSS liked revolvers with their procurement of DSs, Commandos, and Victories. I guess because revolvers were cheaper and more easily attained than the 1911A1s?

I don't think it was an issue of "hush-hush" or expense. Donovan seemed to have almost unlimited resources for the OSS. But the other branches were all distrustful and wary of the OSS. The Army and the Navy had their own intelligence organizations and didn't see the need for OSS. Hoover (FBI) kept them out of the western hemisphere and some theater commanders, e.g. MacArthur wouldn't let the OSS operate in his AO. So, they took what they could get when it came to resources, even buying quite a few pistols and revolvers on the open market from hardware and sporting goods stores.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

 

[DWalt]

To the extent that this statement can be interpreted as saying that Victory revolvers marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the top strap were shipped to the US Navy it is an incorrect statement. Navy-shipped Victory revolvers were not marked on the left top strap "UNITED STATES PROPERTY".

Not the correct interpretation. Army contract Victories after late 1941 had either "United States Property" (earlier) or "U. S. Property" (later) topstrap stampings. I don't know if any of the un-Navy marked Navy Victories had the earlier stamping, but they certainly did have the later "U. S. Property" stamping, even those that went to the Navy.

 

[j38]

Re: U.S. Property stamped Victory revolvers shipped to the Navy. I have 2 guns with such markings that both lettered to the U.S. Navy in Oakland. One carries an SV prefix.

Jerry

 

[383 magnum]

Great find!