Victory data base

[Absalom]

Is this the proper place to request the two letters?

Letter Process – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

Looks like about $100 for the authenticity letter, then another application afterward for the historical letter?

Yes. The letter of authenticity is what Don talked about. And while SWHF records on Victory work during the war are sparse, a 1950 or 1960 rework does fall into the time period covered by the digitized records and could produce results for the follow-up research, which won‘t cost you anything unless Bill finds something..

 

[Igiveup]

I picked up a new-to-me Victory today at a gun show. The serial no. is v296836, flaming bomb U.S. Property G.H.D. on top strap, .38 S&W ctg., five inch barrel. Oddly to me is that there are none of the usual British proof marks usually put on the revolver when exported. I'm thinking this one was never exported or some soldier brought it home after the war. Any ideas when it was made and if it shipped out of county?

 

[Absalom]

.... The serial no. is v296836, flaming bomb U.S. Property G.H.D. on top strap, .38 S&W ctg., five inch barrel. Oddly to me is that there are none of the usual British proof marks usually put on the revolver when exported. I'm thinking this one was never exported or some soldier brought it home after the war. Any ideas when it was made and if it shipped out of county?

Mid-1943.

A BSR with no post-war proofs is less common, and more desirable to collectors, but not that unusual. Not having been exported is highly improbable.

Keep in mind that only guns sold through regular surplus dealers in Britain itself can be expected to have any commercial proofs. These guns went everywhere within the Commonwealth. A few countries like Australia and South Africa had their own markings, but lots of these either were “retired” from military service before they could be officially surplused out, like your idea of a soldier’s bringback, or were gathered up post-war by the likes of Sam Cummings somewhere in the world and never saw Britain again.

 

[JBBOOKS]

I just acquired this "Pre Victory". Serial number is 966792. It is marked "United States Property" The butt is stamped with WB in a box, there is the flaming bomb and a small P stamp. It has the lanyard loop. The pistol has been FTR in 1955. It is chambered in 38 S&W.
Something unusual is the large D^D stamp and then the small D^D stamp. I have included a picture of the stamps.
Can anyone tell me the year it was made and any information about the stamps

 

[Absalom]

.....
Something unusual is the large D^D stamp and then the small D^D stamp. I have included a picture of the stamps.
Can anyone tell me the year it was made and any information about the stamps

I answered this question about this gun somewhere within the past few weeks, but can’t remember where.

It’s a relatively early Lend-lease gun from around April 1942.

The Australians stamped some of the earlier S&W revolvers they got with military property marks, either A^F for Australian Forces or D^D for Defence Department. Generally, this stopped when the US-marked LL guns started, but some, like apparently yours, were still so stamped.

So the big D^D was applied at an earlier time than the small D^D, which came with the FTR markings in 1955.

The gun was likely refinished twice, once presumably at the FTR at Lithgow in 1955 and again later, probably after re-import to the US, because all markings are under the most recent finish, and Lithgow always stamped on top of their work.

 

[Igiveup]

Absalom, Thank you for the information. After reading your many posts through the years I became intrigued with the Victory models and their differences. I guess I just like the history, I even got Pates book on your recommendation. About halfway through it now.

 

[portugeejn]

Been meaning to post this for a while.

I have been meaning to post this for a while, and now have time. Any comments and remarks are welcome, as I don't know much about this at all. I have posted some photos and have more if they will help the database, just let me know.

Serial number V722146, numbers all seem to all match.

US Property G.H.D.

"P" marks, on the barrel flat under the ejector rod, the left side of the frame by the hammer.

"S" marks, one on the metal under the right grip panel, the other stamped on the yoke by the assembly number.

"D" on the frame above the assembly number, and on the metal under the left grip panel.

Holster marked USN Boyt 43

 

[AJ]

I have been meaning to post this for a while, and now have time. Any comments and remarks are welcome, as I don't know much about this at all. I have posted some photos and have more if they will help the database, just let me know.

Serial number V722146, numbers all seem to all match.

US Property G.H.D.

"P" marks, on the barrel flat under the ejector rod, the left side of the frame by the hammer.

"S" marks, one on the metal under the right grip panel, the other stamped on the yoke by the assembly number.

"D" on the frame above the assembly number, and on the metal under the left grip panel.

Holster marked USN Boyt 43

I have seen pictures of Naval Aircrewmen wearing holsters like that. Not sure if that have been modified by a 'rigger or not.

 

[Absalom]

I have been meaning to post this for a while, and now have time. Any comments and remarks are welcome, as I don't know much about this at all....

Serial number V722146, numbers all seem to all match.

US Property G.H.D.

"P" marks, on the barrel flat under the ejector rod, the left side of the frame by the hammer.

"S" marks, one on the metal under the right grip panel, the other stamped on the yoke by the assembly number.

"D" on the frame above the assembly number, and on the metal under the left grip panel.

Holster marked USN Boyt 43

...

It is a late-1944 (Nov/Dec) US Victory, likely Navy shipped. All standard markings. There should also be a P proof on the back face of the cylinder. The D and S are just internal factory marks.

The holster is of the right type, but has seen a lot more service than the gun, whose condition indicates it may never have seen any. You don‘t indicate how you acquired both or each, or whether you think they “belong together”, but I think they met up sometime after the war.

AJ is correct about the naval aviators using these holsters with cartridge loops. See picture below.

 

[Llance]

Good Day Gentlemen. To add to the database please include SN S V 800003. This number (SN) appears in all the correct locations except under the bbl, which is of the short type (2") as seen in posting 119 by Fishnic. There is a small P stamped on the underside of the bbl when the cylinder is swung out. Crane and frame are also correctly numbered to each other, 63521.

This firearm is chambered in .38 S&W special, though it doesn't say so anywhere on the revolver, and it has not been rechambered.

When first this revolver came into my care i thought the bbl was a fake because of the crude tool marks but after having seen another like it and that one being confirmed as correct I am no longer of that belief. I'm now of the belief that it was expedient to get them on the front lines asap and they were not expected to survive long.

This firearm belonged to a good friend of mine and was gifted to me (along with some other desirable firearms) after his passing. I'd be interested in the background of such a firearm if you think it's worth the time, effort, and $$$

Llance

 

[Absalom]

Good Day Gentlemen. To add to the database please include SN SV 800003. Chambered in .38S&W spl, though it doesn't say so anywhere on the revolver, and it was not rechambered.
This number appears in all the correct locations except under the bbl, which is of the short type (2") as seen in posting 119 by Fishnic. There is a small P stamped on the underside of the bbl when the cylinder is swung out. Crain and frame are also correctly numbered to each other, 63521.

When first this revolver came into my care i thought the bbl was a fake because of the crude tool marks but after having seen another like it ....

Your SV 800003 is a very late Victory from 1945.

Given your description, it did not leave the factory with that 2” barrel. To be original, or at least period-correct, it would have to have the V serial complete underneath, not just the P proof.

Checking post #119, which you referenced, shows a 4” barreled Victory with a cut barrel. If yours looks the same, that’s what you have. The give-away is the absence of the front barrel lug, which was cut away post-surplus with the front part of the barrel (where the caliber stamping was also located).

Here is a picture of a real 2” barrel, with the barrel lug:

 

[Llance]

Thank you for the information. I guess I don't really need to scope out a letter as I'd never find the original bbl. Then again i may actually have the original bbl and it is all I'm going to ever get. No matter to me I like it the way it is. Now if someone wants this revolver I'd be willing to consider a trade and some $$ to add a good serviceable .22 S&W revolver to my family of use 'um like you need 'um guns.

Again, thank you for the information.

Now I'm wondering if our two revolvers (#119 and mine) were done by the same person? Guess we will find out when we meet the pistolsmith later on.

Llance

 

[Nahimovsky]

Victory database

Hi

I have just purchased a Victory revolver and wondered what I could find out about it from you knowledgeable folks here?

Its a 5" model with # v314131. It has US Property GHD on the top.

Thanks!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! It's a British Service Revolver chambered for .38 S&W. It was sent to Australia and was sold out of service there. Other more knowledgeable folks will be along shortly to provide more information.

 

[Absalom]

I have just purchased a Victory revolver and wondered what I could find out about it from you knowledgeable folks here?

Its a 5" model with # v314131. It has US Property GHD on the top.

It is a Victory model from mid-1943 sent to Britain under Lend-lease and then, as Guy said, sent to Australia or issued to Australian troops elsewhere by way of British resupply.

It was then refurbished in 1955 in Australia at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, shown by the FTR/MA 55 stamp.

Most of these were later re-imported to the US by Vega Arms of Sacramento CA, so there may be a Vega mark on the frame.

I also think the gun was refinished again after Lithgow, possibly in the US, since all the markings are under the latest finish; Lithgow always stamped into their finish and it shows, as in the picture below:

 

[Shotguncoach]

Another high numbered Victory to add to the database......SV810433 just came home with me. 5" barrel, blued, plugged lanyard hole, .38 Special. I'll put up pics when I get a chance.


Pics from the auction:

 

[JP@AK]

Shotguncoach
That one is very nice. It is almost certainly a postwar civilian revolver that most likely shipped in March, 1946. The serial number, commercial blue and plugged swivel hole all attest to that. Do the stocks have the correct serial number stamped on the inside of the right hand stock panel? They have the postwar style checkering on them and appear to be in the same high condition as the gun itself.

 

[Shotguncoach]

Unfortunately the stocks are numbered to a different gun....they're stamped 78826.

 

[Absalom]

Unfortunately the stocks are numbered to a different gun....they're stamped 78826.

Hm…. Then they can only have come off C 78826, a 1949 production gun.

 

[JP@AK]

Then they can only have come off C 78826, a 1949 production gun.

Well, they could have been on K78826, which could have shipped in 1949 or 1950.

I wondered because SV810433 very likely shipped with Magnas that had the prewar style checkering. Most of them that I've found with that low a number and original stocks had the earlier pattern of checking.