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06-04-2012, 04:03 PM
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Another "Victory" serial number question.
To all concerned, I searched the archives of this forum looking for a source for information on serial numbers and found that the best method is to just ask. If I am wrong please correct me but if not then here goes. I have a S&W revolver chambered in .38 S&W with a 5 inch barrel, serial number V691155. I would guess this a BSR because of the cartridge, barrel length, no US Property mark, and the fact that it still had traces of Black British Ordnance paint on it. The odd thing is that it has no British proof marks. It has the small "P" on the top left side of the frame and a "C" and "I" stamped on the butt in front of the serial number and that is all nothing else accept the usual patent, caliber, and Smith and Wesson information on the barrel and the crest and "Made in USA" on the side plate. It has the smooth walnut grips, lanyard ring, and standard "sand blasted blue" finish. I would greatly appreciate any information on the serial number and what the "C" and "I" stampings might mean.
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Robert Clanton
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06-04-2012, 05:05 PM
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Robert,
Sounds like a British Service Revolver, all right. It would have shipped from the S&W factory around September, 1944. In addition to the "P" proof at the upper left frame, the same marking should also be found at the rear face of the cylinder and the underside of the barrel. You may confirm the stocks are original by checking the inside surface of the right panel for a stamped SN.
The absence of any postwar civilian proofs simply means the revolver was probably "liberated" and made it back to these shores in the duffel bag of a returning American (or Canadian) vet.
You'll get better estimations of the "CI" butt marking by posting a picture.
Steve
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06-04-2012, 05:25 PM
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Welcome to the forum, Robert. Excellent first post, except I agree that we'd all like to see a photo or two. LWCmdr45 is a real expert on the Victory model. I'd just add that there was a recent thread in which a earlier revolver (shipped in 1940) chambered in .38 S&W lettered as going to the British Purchasing Commission, but it also had nothing in the way of proof or property marks. So one like yours is not unheard of.
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06-05-2012, 12:52 PM
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Thank you for responding to my post. I will try to post some photos.
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Robert Clanton
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06-05-2012, 02:22 PM
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My understanding is British proof marks would have been on a gun sold through commercial channels after military service, so it probably served "over there" and came back "unofficially". The P indicates it was proof-tested before shipment here.
The absence of "United States Property" or the other usual stampings may have been an omission...or maybe it was used for an OSS or SAS black op? Just kidding.
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06-05-2012, 03:04 PM
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Robert, Yes, the above advice is very good and good photos are needed, especially of all stampings. The best way to find out the info. on your gun is to get a factory historical letter, which will tell you when it was shipped, to where or whom, and the configuration of the gun when shipped. I'm not sure what you mean by "British Black Ordnance" paint, the gun left S&W with a "Black Magic Blue", or sometimes called "Sand Blast Blue" finish. Various Allied entities sometimes rebuilt these guns after WW2, especially Australia, and their refinish is a very dark dull application and the guns are usually marked with the date of the rebuild, etc. That's not the case with your gun, apparently, as you do not mention any rebuild marks. It appears, with out a photo as yet, that the "C.I." stamp on the butt is probably the Canadian military mark, and the factory letter may say the gun was a shipment to Canada. Many of these Canadian guns came back to the US civilian markets after WW2 and before any importer's stamps were required. Is the stamp a large "C" with the "I" inside the "C" ? (If so, it may not be an "I" but an arrow point) Ed.
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06-06-2012, 04:03 AM
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Thank you for your input and sorry no photos as yet but I will have some on shortly. If I may be a bit more specific, the paint is called "Suncorite" and you find it mostly on Common Wealth SMLE rifles. I think they used it as a rust preventative. The "C" and "I" are stamped independent of each other and are about the size of the "V" in the serial number. They look to have been stamped by hand almost like someone's initials.
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Robert Clanton
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