Thanks for any help with the age of this one V11962 it has been nickeled .

If indeed that's five digits after the "V" and not six, it most likely shipped in May or June of 1942. Too bad it was nickeled. Which caliber is it?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

It is 5 digits,and it is 38 special, and I hate that it has been nickeled. I have one pic on my computer and most forums I can post but here won't work don't know why maybe low post count?Will search for instructions maybe pic is too big.Thanks for the info.[http://speednut.smugmug.com/Other/pl...Guns-221-M.jpg

I have s/n "V285415", a four inch complete.US PROPERTY WITH GHD,still all original... ?? DOM
Thanks

That should've gone out the door in 1943. If you can post a photo or two, you will likely be able to find out a bit more about your gun and its originality from the folks here.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks, I'll see if I can do that tomorrow.

Any help with V469814 marked "US Property G. H. D." on the top strap and "38 s&w ctg" on right side of barrel. It is a complete numbers matching gun including grips. Thanks.

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Gun Control is not Crime Control

My 13 year old boy just picked up his Victory today.
S/N V 383737 , all numbers match even the right grip panel, I'm thinking it's 85-90%, stamped US PROPERTY GHD, right side of the barrel is stamped 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG.
Anyone know when this may have been made?
We haven't shot it yet but we will.
Sorry but I can't figure out how to down load pictures with my DROID .
If someone will send me their email address I'll send you the pictures and you can down load them for me.

That one probably shipped sometime in late 1943, although early 1944 is not out of the question.

How about posting a photo or two? Also, have you checked to see if the cylinder has been modified to accept .38 Special?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Thanks for the quick response. I don't think it was ever converted to .38 special. But here are some pictures anyway.

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Gun Control is not Crime Control

hey guys , i picked up another victory model a us property ghd marked version all original and i believe it is still in 38 s&w serial number v654xxx.

on the back of the handle between the two wood grips it is marked
HF - M

anyone know what this might mean?

A pretty late gun that most likely shipped in the latter part of 1944. A lot of these, especially in that .38 S&W chambering, ended up being surplus for the U.S. Gov't (or whoever they furnished it to) once the war was over, and under those circumstances, its disposition and later employment could be very difficult to pin down. If somebody knows what that cryptic "HF-M" marking means, it'll just be a matter of good fortune.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

And this is his lucky day. If longdongsilver will provide the complete serial number of the revolver by posting it here, by PM or by email to me I can interpret that marking for him based on information in the Victory Model Database.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

pm sent , thanks a bunch

LongDong:

Thanks for your PM sending me your complete serial number.

I believe that the marking on your Victory's back strap is not HF-M but rather HE-M. These markings were hand-stamped and since the back strap is not a flat surface there was often some trouble in getting a complete marking.

The HE-M marking designates a revolver that served with the Municipal Police of the West German state of Hessen, which was located in the US Occupation Zone. These revolvers were provided by the US Military in the late 1940s.

From the Victory Model Database, which my pal LWCmdr45 and I administer, I can estimate for you that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the August-September, 1944 time frame.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

It is certainly all our good fortune to have guys like Charlie who have labored to compile information like this, and be willing to share it.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Amen to that!!

received tons of great info from ordnanceguy and want to thank him for his efforts in providing me with some answers on my victory model , thanks a ton my friend!

decided to take some pics and post them for anyone interested.

I have V223047 in a 38 special, 2 inch barrel. Stamped US Navy, numbers match on grip, butt and cylinder.

Fishnic:

Thanks for posting the data on your Navy Victory. I will get it added to the Victory Model Database.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

I bought this one yesterday. Serial number v405602 it is marked u.s property ghd. It is all original and all numbers match except the grips. The barrel is marked .38 s&w special ctg.
I made the mistake of not researching it until after I bought it so I think I overpaid.

First off, welcome to the forum.

Your Victory should've shipped in 1943. Can you post a photo?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I have had 2 Victory model pass into/through my collection, both 4" .38 Specials. The first was U.S. Navy marked and was SN V105509. The other was U.S. property marked and is still in my collection. SN V395721

(these may have already been added to your database years ago if I just posted about them, but I 'm pretty sure I've never specifically posted about them in your threads)

Rob

Milsurpmaster:

I join Gooney in welcoming you to the Forum, and thank you for providing the data on your revolver for the Database.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Teddydog:

Thanks for providing the data on your two Victory Models. We did not have either one in the Database. Every bit helps.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

832546, a pre-Victory without any military markings at all.

Hi Guys,
I just bought V329695 from the grandson of a WWII vet. .38 Special, 4 inch barrel, nice original grips and lanyard ring. Parkerized finish. "U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D." on topstrap. I suspect mid 1943. Am I close? Thanks.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

I have a USN, Ser. # 238863 w/ original Boyt air holster and Lend-Lease Ser. # 151994 w/ British BNP proofs. I think the USN dates to 1942, but how about the Brit? It has original (I think) brush blue finish. I intend to letter them soon.

Thanks -

Your Navy Victory ought to have shipped in early 1943. Your British Service Revolver is from 1942 and should've also originally had a phosphate finish. The important thing to check with that one is that it doesn't chamber both .38 S&W and .38 Special.

How about posting some photos?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

1. S/N V86187 stamped US NAVY

2. S/N V319983 stamped US PROPERTY GHD

Both are also stamped S.P.D. on the left side. Both are .38 Special.

I have a collection of guns that belong to my dad. He was a lieutenant in the navy and served aboard a mine sweeper in the Pacific. He brought back an S&W 38 special, a 45 automatic and an m1 carbine. The 38 has a serial no of V424979. I have my dad’s discharge paper showing the 45 sign out to him and release to my dad. Now this is all type out on onion paper with all the dates and everything. The thing is that also on this same paper is written out in ink is the 38. This looks like it is my dad’s hand writing. I never really asked my dad about it. There are no papers with the m1 carbine. He told me that it was issued to him but he did not have to sign for it. That’s ok as I have checked this happened sometime. However the 38 bothers me because as I understand how the gun came to him does not match up with having the gun sign out to him. I think the story of how he got the gun is the true story. I think my dad later listed the 38 on the release papers for the 45. Why he would have done this I do not know.
I am going to send for the information so I can have all the paper work to go with it. If anyone on the forum has any information on this gun I would like to know.
One other thing is that it does not have us government or us navy on it. It is however parkerized.
I am sorry the pictures are not that good.
Thanks Ron

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First off, Ron, welcome to the forum. No need to apologize for any photos posted....

A Victory just several hundred before the serial number of your dad's is known to have shipped in October of 1943. Guns without a topstrap marking usually shipped per contracts with the Defense Supplies Corporation or the U.S. Maritime Commission.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

The story I got was that he got the 38 from a pilot. I think he said he was a marine pilot. So I am wondering how a marine pilot would have come by it. Oh I should also mention that my dad had something to do with the navy seabees. He was part of men who started the Tampa squadron.

Jag:

Thanks for posting the data on your Victory Models. On V86187 are the Navy markings on the left top strap? Do both have the smooth walnut stocks? Any idea as to the origin of the SPD marking, which is presumably a post-war police department marking? Salinas, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Seattle ...Police Department?

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Hello Sandspur:

Thanks for posting the data on your Victory. It will go into the Victory Model Database. Your guesstimate on the shipping date is right on. The Database indicates it likely shipped in the June-July, 1943 time frame. Chances are good that it was shipped to the US Navy, so you might want to consider getting a factory letter to confirm that.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Howdy all . I have one V31941 .Was wondering About what year it was built. Any info would be nice . Cal .38 special Barrel 5 inch Pearl handle . Will try to get pics. Thanks

Hi USA:

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you give us a little bit more info to work with? Caliber, barrel length, type of finish, markings on the left top strap and butt, any other post-factory markings, type of stocks? That kind of additional info, in the absence of good photos, makes it much easier for us to diagnose what you have and when it was likely shipped.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

The Navy markings are on the left top strap. They both have smooth walnut stocks. We can eliminate Sunnyvale (SVDPS) and Saratoga (uses the Sheriff). Possible Salinas, Stockton, Seattle, or ?.

I know an elderly man who has been collecting WW2 militaria. He allowed me to look at his WW2 Smith & Wessons. These are the notes that I took:

V15360 - .38 Special crossed swords with MB5 proof mark, no other marks

V53067 - US NAVY .38 Special

V90292 - "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" .38 S&W barrel, 6" barrel, CAL. 38 SPECIAL stamped on left side of the frame, WB and flaming bomb on butt. NZ with the arrow on back of frame just above rear grip strap.

V117326 - .38 Special on barrel, no serial number on barrel, WB on butt, BNP proof marks and "ENGLAND" stamped on cylinder, cylinder rebored to .38 Special, cylinder serial numbered to frame.

V281089 - U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. .38 Special

V325679 - .38 S&W on barrel, cylinder rebored to .38 Special, no other marks

V504669 - .38 Special, no other marks

V624597 - .38 S&W, 6" barrel, cylinder marked BNP and rebored to .38 Special,US PROPERTY G.H.D. on top strap

V763638 - .38 S&W converted to .38 Special by Cogswell & Harrison, London. No other markings

937145 - "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on top strap, .38 S&W, parkerized finish, butt marked with WB, Bottom of left grip "MADE IN AUSTRALIA", bottom of right grip. "LIBERTY ARMS CORP", "REBORED IN AUSTRALIA" , FTR\MA55, and AS with arrow all on right side of the frame

Thank you, Jag312, that is very helpful to our Victory Model Database efforts. All of this data will be incorporated into the Database on a confidential basis.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Sacramento, Syracuse, Schenectady...but what would be cooler than if it turned out to be Springfield, Massachusetts?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I'm guessing the second gun is crowding April of 1942, when Lend-Lease took effect. My questions regarding 946453, which finish? Which grips? "United States Property" marked? I have an extreme curiousity concening the Pre-V's.

The victory is a .38, 5inch barrel, Pearl grips,blued finish I will try to post pics soon

Newbie member, just bought a British victory model 38 S&W (and paid way too much). I could use some help with year of assembly. Serial # is V161160 with BNP (Birmingham, England) proof stamps on the frame and cylinder. There is also a G.H.D. acceptance proof on the butt with the serial number. Only problem is the barrel has been cut down to 2inch which kills it's collector value. Any help out there?

946453 - it has a parkerized finish, plain wood grips, and 'UNITED STATES PROPERTY' is on the left side of the top strap and it is in quotations. I couldn't take the grips off to determine if they are numbered to the gun. I assume from the A(arrow)S and the other Australian marks that the revolver was issued to Australian military forces.

First off, welcome to the forum.

Your gun dates to 1942. Can you post some photos, as that would help in determining if it is a commercial or owner's modification. The important thing to check is whether your revolver chambers both .38 S&W and .38 Special.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I will work on the photos. It ONLY chambers .38 S&W. The .38 Special round only goes into the cylinder about a third of its length.

Ok, here are some pics but ****** quality from a cell phone.

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Those photos are better than most, cell phone or no.

My impression is owner or "gunsmith" conversion. Barrel shortened, entire gun then polished and blued, early magna stocks, all in all a fairly normal snubnose makeover for the 1950's era. You still need to check that chambering issue - but even if it will accept .38 Special only, I'd be shooting strictly the lightest loads with it as the ejector rod no longer makes any contribution to the cylinder assemby's locking into its closed position. How is the front sight attached, so far as you can tell?

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I was surprised to find the "half moon" sight was expertly attached with no sloppy weld marks or scratches.

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One other item I'm reading calls the shortened 2inch barreled S&W Victory model the "Oswald Special" since it was the revolver that Oswald used to kill Officer Tippett.