I recently acquired a Victory s/n V182183. The gun is a 5" 38 SW caliber with markings as follows; "United States Property" on the top strap, "P", flaming bomb and "GHD" on butt forward of the swivel and s/n aft of the lanyard ring. No British proof marks or import stamps. Grips are matching.
The gun is probably 95% in my conservative opinion with a hint of it being fired based upon faint recoil shield mark.

I am curious as to the history of the gun, a letter would probably reveal it went to the British Purchasing Commission or a depot. With so little wear I wonder if this gun made it overseas or were some retained in this country? Any information or speculation would be welcomed.

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John. SWCA #1586

hsg, Someone with a better handle on things will estimate the month/year. GHD on the butt in that range seems a bit off-beat WB (Waldermar Broberg preceeded Guy H. Drewry). On post V300,000; U.S. Property G.H.D. Ordnance bomb (on top) is the norm. I would think in your range it went to Hartford (post-BPC) unless it went to the OSS or their Navy proxies. The two latter would be kind of a long shot.

The Brits would not have marked a Victory unless it was done by the Birmingham or London houses upon entering commerce. The Canadians, Aussies, NZ-ers and So. Africans more routinely put national marks on their military Victories.

waidmann

John, Speculation is about all that can be done. I think the chances are are about 90+% that a factory letter will only show a ship date to the British Purchasing Comm. in approx. Dec. 1942 However, with S&W you can never be sure. I had a close serial number Victory Model that was shipped to Harold Wesson, Pres. of S&W. in Dec. 1942. The fact that your gun is a 95% gun, with no marks indicating any British possession is not all that unusual, as the Brits did not normally put any stamps on incoming Victory Models in that time period. When the gun got to a specific unit, or another Commonwealth nation, unit markings are some times seen. Also, if the gun was in the Brit's inventory at the end of WW2 and declared surplus, and sold to a British gun dealer, then it got the full proof marks before it could be sold to a British civilian. If the gun was surplus, and sold to an American dealer, before the 1968 Gun Control Act, then it could have arrived back in the US w/o any import stamps. Most of those guns were then converted to .38 Special, but not al. There are ads in 1950s gun magazines offering .38/200 ( .38 S&W ) guns for sale, as is. If your gun shows little use, it may have been issued to a Home Guard unit, Air Raid Warden, etc. by the Brits and never saw any uses outside of being carried in a holster occasionally, then found it's way back to the US via import before the 1968 Act. Now having said all that, let's really speculate! "The gun was issued to a British soldier just before Dunkirk, and he was captured by the Germans and his weapon ( your gun) was added to the pile of Victory Models captured and stored. These stored guns were turned over to the US at the end of WW2, and sold surplus to US gun dealers." Hope that helps! Ed.

Ed and Waidman, thank you your replies. I always marvel at the fact that a gun was built in the U.S.A., sent to England for the War, sold off as surplus and sent back home to a dealer and survives in almost pristine condition. I suspect these guns were not handled with extreme care at most any point of their journey. Heck, I have more wear than this gun when I return from England. Ed, as you mentioned, most of my other Allied shipped guns suffered at the hands of stamp happy inspectors, proof houses or importers, it is refreshing to find an original example.

Ed, as to your final speculation, perhaps you are right on the money. I believe I found what may be a few grains of French sand and a whiff of Teutonic gun oil in the inner workings.

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John. SWCA #1586