Serial number blocks for US Navy Victory's

Ben Cartwright SASS

Ben Cartwright SASS

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Does anyone have the serial number blocks for .38 Victory Revolvers sent to the US Navy?
I was thinking that would be a way to get an idea if an unmarked revolver may have gone to the Navy
 
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Charles Pate's book on Secondary Pistols and Revolvers of WWII provides some of that information, but the only sure way to know is to submit a Letter of Authentication request (and $50) to S&W.
 
I have Pate's excellent book, the only info on S&W's is on page 152 the the US Navy Contract #88769 on 3/2/42 was for 20,000 "some have no government markings" and Supplement Order 6/30/42 for 45,000 "last 9,500 delivered in 1/43

I know someone had said that there were rough estimates of serial number ranges, that would be good to find out.

My Victory V424139 was delivered on Oct 26 1943, per my factory letter, to the US Navy and has no markings, which is what peaked my interest in the serial numbers of non-marked guns.
 
Charlie Flick's data base is the only place I know of that can sometimes give you an idea whether a particular gun has a chance of being Navy shipped, based on the surounding serial numbers that were Navy shipped. However, there are too many exceptions, also proven by Charlie's data base, to rely on the assumption any particular gun was Navy shipped, just because the serial numbers surrounding it went to the Navy. Ed #15
 
I just acquired another Victory this weekend. It is a matching, unmarked, 4" barrel .38 S&W Spl, serial number V21XX. It is my lowest serial number Victory. According to Pate's book, serial numbers rolled from 1,000,000 to V1 in 04/24/42. That should put V21XX manufacturing date at May 1942, plus or minus a couple of weeks. I have sent in a authentication request (and $50) to S&W. I'll be happy to share it and the full serial number, LOA, and photos when I know what I have.
 
Last edited:
Hi Ed:

The Victory Model Database project is actually an ongoing collaboration I have with another member here, my friend LWCmdr45, who does much of the heavy lifting involved with keeping the Database organized and up to date.

I have responded to emails from both of the above posters with information about their Victory Models that I hope will be useful to them.
 
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