Victory data base

[Capta]

Hello all, first post here. I just acquired my first Victory model, a .38 Special in nice and apparently original condition, with lanyard loop. Original grips as far as I can tell. I picked it up at a small gun show last weekend for $350.
Serial # V 468370 matches on butt, barrel, and cylinder.
20654 stamped on crane and crane recess. "Q4" also stamped in crane recess.
Flaming bomb mark in front of the V on the underside of the butt.
No markings on top strap.
I might be able to post pics later. Can anyone tell me about this pistol? Thanks!

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

The serial number should be stamped on the inside of the right grip. Others will be along soon to provide a shipping date.

 

[Absalom]

Hello all, first post here. I just acquired my first Victory model, a .38 Special in nice and apparently original condition, with lanyard loop. Original grips as far as I can tell. I picked it up at a small gun show last weekend for $350.
Serial # V 468370 matches on butt, barrel, and cylinder.
20654 stamped on crane and crane recess. "Q4" also stamped in crane recess.
Flaming bomb mark in front of the V on the underside of the butt.
No markings on top strap.
I might be able to post pics later. Can anyone tell me about this pistol? Thanks!

That was a good price for the condition you describe, especially if the stocks match as Muley suggested you verify.

It likely shipped in late 1943. The absence of a topstrap marking indicates this was a gun that shipped to a stateside end user on a contract through the Defense Supplies Corporation, a public entity controlling wartime distribution. It could have gone to a police agency or a defense contractor for plant security. Another, statistically less likely possible recipient would be the US Maritime Commission, which equipped non-military shipping. A history letter would tell you.

 

[Low Speed High Drag]

Hi everyone, first post here as well. I picked up this Victory a couple weeks ago for $200, and I'm hoping you guys can tell me a little bit about its origins. After looking through this thread for a while, it seems to be a bit of an oddball.

It's a .38 special, 5 inch barrel, with what looks to be the remains of a blued finish. From what I've gathered, it's probably not original, but it certainly looks old. It has the following markings:

"V 42742" on the butt, possibly preceded by an "R."

"V 42742" on the underside of the barrel.

"UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on the topstrap, with maybe a faint mark to the right.

"P 93191" on the inside of the frame in front of the cylinder.

".38 SPL" on the right side of the barrel.

"948053" on the cylinder.

"57087" on the cylinder arm.

The grips are not serialized, and, given their condition, I image they're replacements.

The right side of the gun appears to be the victim of some sort of aggressive solvent, there's no finish and some light pitting. The S&W crest is almost completely gone.

Any information on this gun would be greatly appreciated! I'm especially curious about the caliber markings, as they seem a bit out of the ordinary. .38 special cases fit just fine.

I've attached some images, if for whatever reason that doesn't work, I've uploaded an album here.

 

[DWalt]

For sure, the frame is a mid-1942 Victory. The cylinder is not original. Probably an earlier cylinder chambered in .38 Special. There is a hand-stamped .38 SPL on the barrel, leads me to believe the barrel was originally marked .38 S&W CTG (the British military cartridge). Exactly what else is stamped on the barrel? The extractor rod knob also looks odd. Can you provide a better picture?

 

[Low Speed High Drag]

For sure, the frame is a mid-1942 Victory. The cylinder is not original. Probably an earlier cylinder chambered in .38 Special. There is a hand-stamped .38 SPL on the barrel, leads me to believe the barrel was originally marked .38 S&W CTG (the British military cartridge). Exactly what else is stamped on the barrel? The extractor rod knob also looks odd. Can you provide a better picture?

Thanks for the info, that's cool stuff to know! Do you think the finish is original? I suppose if the cylinder isn't original, it probably isn't. It needs to be refinished regardless.

Also, I know people have said that shooting .38 special in converted BSR's can lead to split or ruptured cases, will this problem be lessened by the .38 special cylinder on my gun?

The barrel is marked with what looks like "FCCSA PENN N.J." on the bottom, but I suspect that's an importer's mark. The right side of the barrel with the caliber marking is otherwise bare.


I've got a few more photos I can share, but if they don't answer your question I'll have to wait until I get home later tonight to take more.

 

[DWalt]

Definitely a post-WWII import as it has the importer's stamp - required after 1968 by GCA-68. Yours started life as a British service revolver (BSR) chambered in .38 S&W. At some later time, someone replaced the cylinder with one which was probably chambered in .38 Special. Many similar BSR imports had the original chambers reamed out to accept .38 S&W Special ammunition. You can often tell if that happened by looking down the chambers. If you can see what looks like two rings (actually shoulders), that's what happened.
----------------------------
FWIW, I have a fairly extensive list of gun importer stamps. FCCSA PENN NJ is not among them, so I cannot say which one it is/was. A quick search on the internet revealed several other guns with the same import stamp, but without information as to what it stood for. Maybe someone reading this will know.

 

[Absalom]

.....
The barrel is marked with what looks like "FCCSA PENN N.J." on the bottom, but I suspect that's an importer's mark....

Definitely, but apparently a rare one, unless we're misreading some letter, which I don't believe. Some searching produced exactly one other mention of an identical FCCSA PENN N.J. stamping on a French MAB pistol. No indication what it stands for, but likely a company located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey .

 

[DWalt]

Definitely, but apparently a rare one, unless we're misreading some letter, which I don't believe. Some searching produced exactly one other mention of an identical FCCSA PENN N.J. stamping on a French MAB pistol. No indication what it stands for, but likely a company located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey .

Or in Pennsauken NJ. I also found mention of a Swedish AG42b rifle with the same import marking.

 

[Absalom]

Or in Pennsauken NJ. I also found mention of a Swedish AG42b rifle with the same import marking.

Bingo! Now we're getting somewhere. It is actually ESSCA, which was supposedly the import mark of the Cross Roads Gun Shop in Pennsauken. Someone on the Luger Forum figured that out.

 

[Capta]

That was a good price for the condition you describe, especially if the stocks match as Muley suggested you verify.

It likely shipped in late 1943. The absence of a topstrap marking indicates this was a gun that shipped to a stateside end user on a contract through the Defense Supplies Corporation, a public entity controlling wartime distribution. It could have gone to a police agency or a defense contractor for plant security. Another, statistically less likely possible recipient would be the US Maritime Commission, which equipped non-military shipping. A history letter would tell you.

I checked the grip and it does not have a serial number or anything else stamped on the underside. I'm still very pleased with it, as the finish is otherwise good with just a little normal wear.

 

[dogmandan]

As my first post on this forum, I have a with Serial # 4434XX. Its all original, looks like its never been shot basically. Excellent condition. Do you have any information on this from your database?

 

[Muley Gil]

As my first post on this forum, I have a with Serial # 4434XX. Its all original, looks like its never been shot basically. Excellent condition. Do you have any information on this from your database?

Welcome to the Forum.

Do you have a Victory model, with the "V" prefix to the serial number that is located on the butt?

Need to know barrel length, caliber markings, finish, etc. BTW, the barrel is measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. Generally, 4" Victories are chambered in .38 special and 5" Victories are chambered in .38 S&W.

Pictures are VERY helpful.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Dan!

 

[dogmandan]

Photos

I'm hoping this isn't a double post as my buddy is inquiring on the same information... It's really his pistol but we're both curious if it's history. Serial 443478, I was told was probably made in about October '43. Stamped with the flaming bomb and GHD mark.
It's a great gun, I know now not to let him shoot 38+P out of it... Whoops.
Anyone got any history?

 

[Absalom]

I'm hoping this isn't a double post as my buddy is inquiring on the same information... It's really his pistol but we're both curious if it's history. Serial 443478, I was told was probably made in about October '43. Stamped with the flaming bomb and GHD mark.
It's a great gun, I know now not to let him shoot 38+P out of it... Whoops.
Anyone got any history?

We got that one covered here:

Need help to identify old S&W

 

[dogmandan]

Yup, that'd be it!

 

[Sugar River]

Here's a Navy marked Victory I bought when there was a bunch of them on the market in 1994 for $125, V90442.
All numbers match except the grips.
It's no problem to keep a soda can bouncing at 25 yds with 125 gr Nyclads!

 

[RILEY31]

I just traded for this one. Anyone have any history information on this one? It is marked U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. with a flaming bomb on the top strap

 

[RILEY31]

Thanks DWalt, The serial number on the grips does not match the rest of the gun.