38 special ctg SV

[sjsevier]

I need info on a 38 special ctg SV 812xxx please what year, value, rareity and so on thank you very much.

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum. You have a late WW II production .38 Victory Model, as per the V stamping. The S indicates it has the (then) new style hammer block to prevent the gun firing when dropped. SV stamped guns are uncommon, but the value depends on its finish and mechanical condition. Are you able to post a photo?

[Lee Barner]

i'm betting with that ser nr that it is a blued gun vs military wartime finish. am i correct? if so, there should be a plugged lanyard hole in the bottom of the grip frame between the SV and ser nr. may be hard to see as they were polished very well before blueing. what barrel length? pictures are worth a 1000 words. lee

[Goony]

I also welcome you to the forum. The gun you are requesting information on is a particularly interesting one. It is actually almost certainly a postwar commercial Victory, virtually all of which shipped in March of 1946.

See: The Postwar Commercial Victory Model

Posting a photo here or in the linked thread (or better yet, both) would very much help folks here in accurately assessing your revolver.

[wheelgun28]

I have a gun with a serial number within five of the OPs

I look forward to pictures

Whats the history of it?

It is a 1946 gun.

I might have another tidbit on it IF I can find a certain email, looking like a big IF right now unfortunately...

[sjsevier]

Thanks everyone for all the info, you guys really know your stuff. Here is a pic, my camera is not so great but here goes anyway.

[wheelgun28]

can you take a picture of the bottom of the grip frame, where the serial number is stamped.

I am curious if it has any other numbers stamped in there.

[sjsevier]

it has SV 812xxx I will try to get a pic

[DCWilson]

That may be one of the last M&P revolvers with the SV prefix. It appears to be the case that the V disappears from the prefix and the S begins to be found by itself a little above the 813000 level (numerical portion only, prefix ignored for obvious reasons).

[Goony]

Originally Posted by DCWilson

That may be one of the last M&P revolvers with the SV prefix. It appears to be the case that the V disappears from the prefix and the S begins to be found by itself a little above the 813000 level (numerical portion only, prefix ignored for obvious reasons).

Of course, there are few, if any, absolutes when dissecting Smith & Wesson production. I'm repeating information contained in the thread to which there is a link in post #4 above, but how do we account for S811120, that number being shown in the database as shipped Sept. 12, 1945? But I think as a general statement, David does have it right. SV913132 is the highest recorded example with that prefix, shipped April 4, 1946. But finding those oddball exceptions to the rule, or examples that extend the previously established serial number ranges, that's what makes collecting S&W's so fascinating.

[wheelgun28]

Sorry I havet gotten back to this thread. I thought I had an email or PM with a list of relevant info. I was wrong it was a thread!

Jumped into my first 5 screw Victory? Updated with pics

Unfortunately the OPs gun isnt on the list so its of no help, off by one number...

[Texas Star]

Are those the original grips? BTW, the gun is a Military & Police Model, OP. The SV is not the model, just part of the serial number.

The "CTG." on the barrel abbreviates Cartridges, in this case, .38 Special.

[sjsevier]

so is the SV more sought after than the V?

[sjsevier]

I went to a gun shop and the guy offered me 250 and I turned him down. Do you guys agree?