Hello, I am new to this forum. I just acquired a Victory Model .38 Special (4" barrel) and would like to find out more about it. The strap above the cylinder is stamped "US Property - G.H.D." When I open the cylinder, there is a number on the bar descending from the barrel "53 533". The same number is repeated on the inside of the bar attached to the cylinder. There is a V number on the bottom of the barrel and on the butt of the grip "V 695314". There is a "P" following the number stamped on the bottom of the barrel.

Can anyone tell me when this gun was manufactured and which branch of the service it may have been issued to?
Thanks,
dbmilles

First off, welcome to the forum.

The only number that matters is that "V" prefixed serial number appearing on the barrel and butt (it should also be on the rear face of the cylinder). That is a fairly late gun that most likely shipped toward the end of 1944. Despite its "Army" topstrap markings, the conventional wisdom is that most of these still went to the U.S. Navy. The only way to know for certain how it served the war effort is to get a factory letter.

Posting a photo would greatly assist folks here in further evaluating your gun.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Welcome as well and with respect to Goony, save your money. About V300000 the inspector's initials changed. Col. (later BG) Guy H. Drewry took over the chore. The Army had by this time taken over responsibility for inspection and distribution for all the Victory revolvers. Those destined for the Defense Supplies Corporation were not U.S. Property marked. The supposed vast majority of those so marked, were allocated to the Navy. This also included USMC airmen, Coast Guard and the Maritme Commission.

A letter at this point in time will indicate the Hartford Army Depot in all likelihood.


These comments apply to 4" .38 Specials. The Brits and Commonwealth are another matter.

The ones that went to the United States Maritime Commission were under a separate contract and like those allocated by the Defense Supplies Corp. were unmarked. A very few actually did go to the Army, but I have to agree that lettering one on that slim possibility may not be cost effective.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I have just purchased a true 2 inch Victory. Serial V 633481, it has the short lug barrel & the S & W stamping is in minature on left side of barrel. Serial on the cylinder & Butt match...I do plan on obtaining a factory letter , just for resale value..It will require a little rework but I feel it is a valuable piece---any ideas on Truro age & value,,,thanks, Larry

Hi Larry:

The 2 inch barrel Victory Models are the scarcest of the breed. Legitimate ones in good shape are very difficult to find.

From the Victory Model Database I can tell you that your number is a little bit below the range recognized for the batch of 2 inch guns shipped in 1944. If your gun is a legit two incher then it would extend the known range south a bit. The 1944 2 inch guns went to civilian users under DSC authorization.

Can you please post some pics of the gun? That is always helpful in trying to answer questions about a gun. It is not really possible to offer a meaningful opinion on the value of something that is unseen.

What is it about the gun that requires "rework"? Are there any post-factory markings on it? Are the stocks original to the gun?

I encourage you to get the factory letter and post its results back here as there is a lot of interest in the 2 inch guns.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Gentlemen, Since the last post I have received a letter from ROY JINKS, the gun was made late in the war and shipped to the Tusia Ok., Police Dept in 1945. I received the gun with a peeling and beat up nickel finish. Ford's Refinishing of Chystal River , Florida refinished the original factory Mid-Night Blue/Black. The smooth wood grips are numbered to the gun and all numbers match. I do not have the knowledge to attach pictures to this post but email me at [email protected] and I will forward the images. Thanks, Larry Austin

Gentlemen:

TPRLOC/Larry forwarded the pics to me of his 2 inch Victory and I am posting them here with his permission. The before and after shots of the refinishing are rather dramatic.

This is important. Larry's factory letter reveals that his Victory shipped as a 2 inch barreled gun to the Tulsa, Oklahoma Police Department on 8/20/45. After reviewing the Victory Model Database it appears to me that, while there are confirmed 2 inch guns with higher serial numbers, this V633481 was shipped later in the war than any other known 2 inch Victory. Unless and until another one shows up I think it deserves the crown of being called "the last" 2 inch Victory Model shipped during WW2.

Thanks to Larry for sharing his interesting and historical Victory with us.

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Charlie Flick
SWCA 729 HF 215

Thank you Charlie for posting the pictures, they came out perfect, I do plan on Auctioning the gun so your information being extremly helpfull will be entered in the attempted sale.