Victory data base

Is the Victory data base still active? I have three I'd like to submit.

Yes, post the info here. Ed

Victory Model Inquiry

I have one-V723884, marked for .38 S&W, and info appreciated.

HayesGreener said:

I have one-V723884, marked for .38 S&W, and info appreciated.

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A very late gun, probably shipped in 1945. Any marking on the top strap? Probably worth investing in a factory letter on one like this. Sure would like to see a photo.

Yes, Virginia, the database is real and still actively seeking submissions! You may post your information here on the forum or e-mail me directly ([email protected], removing the "NOSPAM," of course). Please include the full serial number and a description of all markings. (Quality photos never hurt.)

Re SN V723884: It is, indeed, rather late production, but I'd estimate its shipping date closer to November/December, 1944.

Steve

I recently picked up an odd Victory I thought I'd have it added the the DB . I'm hoping for some info on it and the aftermarket sight. I'll try to post up pics later.

# V174369 Barrel, cylinder and frame all match. It's also marked P.D. Mansfield 8 With a westinghouse logo above it. There's an "S" on the frame and what looks to be the #8 stamped on the butt and under the grips. It's marked 38 special CTG. 4" barrel, unfortunately it has aftermarket grips and has been reblued sometime in it's life.

Lastly it has an adjustable sight attached to the side plate where the upper most screw near the hammer is located. I'll admit I've been out of the S&W scene for a bit. It's really not where my collection is going, but I couldn't pass it up.

It appears to be a F.D.L. "Wondersight"


thanks
bob

Victory Serial Number

Howdy All,
I am new to the sight I have a Victory in .38 S&W serial number V743875. Does anyone know when it was made. I also just picked another one up. It has a hole for the lanyard ring, but the serial number does not have a V. It is also in .38 S&W. The serial number is 946453.

Thanks,
Mark

Howdy Mark, 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.

Thanks,
Bill

Mark, V 743875 would have shipped in late Dec. 1944, or early Jan. 1945. 946453 would be a "pre-victory" , probably shipped March-April 1942. Both guns would have been shipped to Great Britain or a Commonwealth country and imported to the US, as surplus, after WW2. Ed.

Victory models

I have two; Brit. Serv. Rev S#-V161221, and commercial post war .38 Special with S#-SV809978. Photos below.

The SV809978 was lettered and shipped in March 1946 to the NYPD (see letter below) and bears the officers shield # 12095 stamped on the back strap. I had this gun lettered out of curiosity. As a police officer, I carried the same model 10 for many years and thought I recognized the wear pattern and wanted to see if it had been shipped to a PD.

Other photos available.

British Service Revolver




1946 M&P w/V serial #

letter

NEW Victory 38 Spl

Hello guys, have acquired a new 38 Spl Victory model and would like all the information you can tell me about this gun. Not sure how the data base works, so let me know if more info needed.

(1) S/N V 699640 appears on bottom of handle and on cylinder and can be seen when cylinder swings opened. The cylinder also has 3 letters around S/N, P - V - and another letter or maybe symbol, can't tell what it is for sure. Will attempt better pictures when have more time.
(2) 4" barrel has SMITH & WESSON on one side and 38 S & W SPECIAL CTG on other side. What does CTG stand for.
(3) The lanyard ring is missing. Are original's available and where.
(4) Stocks appear to be walnut and in such good condition I wonder if they are original.
(5) 4 screws showing, don't know if a 5th is under stock as have not had stocks off yet. One screw has slight 'bugger' but not bad. Sideplate has trademark. Would call the finish black (maybe its called blue, my first vintage). Finish appears really good to me with only slight holster wear.
(6) Yoke has S 5 0 2 7 and I'm not sure if S or 5 is that.
(7) What is the procedure to get a factory letter. Do you have to belong to SWCA or Historical Society to do that.

Thanks for your time.

Hello Rob:

I can help with your questions, which are much easier to answer since you provided good pics and a complete serial number.

(1) S/N V 699640? Based on the info in the Victory Model Database, which my pal LWCmdr45 and I administer, I can estimate for you that your Victory was likely shipped in the October, 1944 time frame.

(2) What does CTG stand for? That is the abbreviation for "Cartridge".

(3) The lanyard ring is missing. Are original's available and where? Yes, lanyard rings are usually available on Gunbroker.com and Ebay.com. Don't forget that you will also need the small pin that will secure the lanyard ring in place.

(4) Stocks appear to be walnut and in such good condition I wonder if they are original? Yes, they are walnut. I suspect that they are also original to the gun based on how they appear to fit in your photo. To find out for sure, take the stocks off. There will be a single serial number, without any prefix, inside the right stock panel. If original to the gun that serial will match the gun's serial. Victory stocks were hand-fitted to each revolver which required that they be serialed.

(5) 4 screws showing, don't know if a 5th is under stock as have not had stocks off yet? Yes, you have a 5-screw gun. (All Victory Models were 5-screw guns.) The 5th screw is located on the forward side of the frame just above the trigger guard.

(6) Yoke has S 5 0 2 7 and I'm not sure if S or 5 is that? It is probably a 5. These numbers are of little consequence.

(7) What is the procedure to get a factory letter? Do you have to belong to SWCA or Historical Society to do that? All that is required is a written request with details on the gun and payment of the fee of $50. Follow this link for the thread by Handejector and click on the blue link that says "factory letter request form." http://smith-wessonforum.com/swca-public-area/96291-information-about-swca.html Print that out, fill it out and send it in. If you do get a letter please post back here with the results so that we can add that information to the Database.

Am I correct in assuming that there are no markings on the left top strap of your Victory? It is a very nice example.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Thanks Charlie for your prompt reply. This is great news for me as it fits perfect with my search for a birth year Victory. I will pursue the factory letter and forward that information.

There are no markings on left top strap.

Hello all, I just found this forum, and have done some quick research. I believe my question belongs here. I was given my Grandfathers .38, years ago and not being a gun person it's been in a drawer until this morning. the serial # on the butt and cylinder match and is V 742150. On the right side of the barrel is 38 S&W CTG. On the same side of the barrel near the cylinder there appears to be another stamp that I can't quite make out, what I can says NP 3.5 38 "767". Above the NP appears to be some sort of hallmark maybe an eagle with out stretched wings. If anyone has any info I'd greatly appreciate it.

mojo-jojo said:

Hello all, I just found this forum, and have done some quick research. I believe my question belongs here. I was given my Grandfathers .38, years ago and not being a gun person it's been in a drawer until this morning. the serial # on the butt and cylinder match and is V 742150. On the right side of the barrel is 38 S&W CTG. On the same side of the barrel near the cylinder there appears to be another stamp that I can't quite make out, what I can says NP 3.5 38 "767". Above the NP appears to be some sort of hallmark maybe an eagle with out stretched wings. If anyone has any info I'd greatly appreciate it.

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Welcome to the forum. Your gun sounds like a Victory model that was shipped to the Allies during WW2. Our Allies, England, Canada, etc. all used guns in 38 SW caliber rather than 38 Special. The markings on the side of the barrel are most likely British proof marks that were applied when the gun was sold as surplus post-war. Is this a 5" barreled gun? Measure from the end of the barrel to the front of the cylinder. Many of these guns were converted to 38 Special and reimported to the US, if it is converted there may be problems shooting 38 Special ammo as the dimensions of the two calibers are different. Pictures of the gun and markings would be a considerable help with positive identification. You might want to start a new thread in this section of the forum describing your gun to elicit more responses and information. I hope this helps a bit.

London proofs indicating the .38 S&W cartridge. If it will chamber .38 Specials (many do) the chambers were further reamed afterword. The problem is the British round was in the .361 diameter range not the .357 of the special.

It is best to start a new thread specific to your gun with pics if possible.

Welcome and Happy New Year.

Thanks for the info so far guys, working on getting pictures. It will not chamber the 38 special rounds, they only go about half the way in. Top strap left side, I can very faintly read US PROPERTY_ _D, can't make out the 2 spaces, second might be an H

The mark you refer to is GHD the initials of Guy H. Drewry, the Army inspector at the Springfield Armory.

Thanks, I started a dedicated thread for this with pics,

One More To Add

Here is another Victory for your data base. It shows honest wear, but everything matches except the grips. SN is: V159113.