Question for the Victory Database

Waidmann · #1 03-17-2012, 08:22 AM

Is V1908XX a valid serial number for a US NAVY marked gun?
Or, is it too late production?

Thanks,
Waidmann

Masterpiece · #2 03-17-2012, 09:43 AM

Waidman,

I show a more than a few that shipped to the Navy as well as the Coast Guard in the 189,000-191,000 Serial No. Range & quite a few much later than that!! Only a Research Letter will tell the tale for sure!! Hope this helps!!

Waidmann · #3 03-17-2012, 10:07 AM

Yes, it does. The gun in question appears to be correctly (top strap) marked. My flawed memory was that only lower numbers were legitimate candidates for such markings. Later models were all bought by the Army then distributed to whomever with the two styles of US Property markings with the exceptions being Defense Supplies Corporation and some later OSS guns.

I can't imagine it is to the point of faking Victories, but given prices lately, maybe it is?

Anyway, Thank you,
Waidmann

Goony · #4 03-17-2012, 03:29 PM

I have one all the way up in the 261000 range that has the "U.S. NAVY" topstrap marking, but... it also has an "SV" prefix, which means it went back to the factory just after the war for the new hammer block retrofit, so whether that marking was originally applied or done upon the later occasion could be a legitimate question. That said, it doesn't especially look as if the later style military markings were scrubbed off to permit the naval type to be then put on, but I can't absolutely exclude that possibility, either. I've posted a photo of the marking so that folks can judge for themselves.

Waidmann · #5 03-17-2012, 04:05 PM

Same; same, in my perception.

LWCmdr45 · #6 03-18-2012, 04:02 PM

To confirm, based on information in the database maintained by Charlie ("ordnanceguy") and me, it wasn't until the mid-V260000 range that the top strap markings were changed.

Steve

Goony · #7 03-18-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWCmdr45

...it wasn't until the mid-V260000 range that the top strap markings were changed.

Thanks, Steve, but just to clarify, does "mid-V260000" mean between V260000 and 261000, or somewhere around V265000? And as to the time frame, what would that be, around the first half of 1943?

I'd also presume that, as is typical with S&W production, there isn't a clear demarcation in the serial number sequence between the two types of markings, but that rather there's a sprinkling of each around the "point" at which the change was made?

LWCmdr45 · #8 03-18-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goony

Thanks, Steve, but just to clarify, does "mid-V260000" mean between V260000 and 261000, or somewhere around V265000? And as to the time frame, what would that be, around the first half of 1943?

To date, the database shows the highest SN with the "U.S. NAVY" top strap marking to be V267571.
The highest SN with the old "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" Lend-Lease top strap markings is V286588.
The lowest SN with the newer "U.S. PROPERTY" (along with the "flaming bomb" and G.H.D. initials) marking is V203202. (That frame must have been *way* at the back of the shelf!)
All of these changes occured about the Spring of 1943.

[/QUOTE]I'd also presume that, as is typical with S&W production, there isn't a clear demarcation in the serial number sequence between the two types of markings, but that rather there's a sprinkling of each around the "point" at which the change was made?[/QUOTE]

100% kee-rect!

Steve

Goony · #9 03-18-2012, 05:51 PM

Well, that puts to rest the thought that my "SV" prefixed gun might have originally borne the later style military top strap markings.