DWalt
Well-known member
I have pulled this information together from various sources. As I have been, in most cases, unable to get exact serial numbers, I have designated them as approximate. Please correct my information if you have better numbers or information than I have provided, as I make no representation that this information is authoritative or correct.
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Timeline of WWII S&W pre-Victory, Victory, and S-Victory S&W M&P Revolver Models
1940: The Pre-Victory Models – The S&W .38 Hand Ejector, (sometimes considered the Model of 1905, 4th Change) M&P revolvers as made beginning in 1940 for the British Commonwealth military in caliber .38 S&W are often called .38/200 revolvers, the "K-200," and sometimes the "BSR" (British Service Revolver) to distinguish them from S&W's commercial production revolvers chambered for the .38 S&W Special cartridge. The official designation used by the British military for this revolver was: "Pistol, Revolver, Smith & Wesson, No. 2". Military production began at serial number (approximately) 670000, or slightly greater, ending the year 1940 at serial number (approximately) 720000 or slightly higher. On February 19, 1940 an order for 21,347 .38/200 military revolvers was placed by the Union of South Africa. Production under this contract began on March 11, 1940, with shipments beginning in May 1940. It is possible that some of the earliest South African military contract revolvers had SNs as low as about SN 612000 (from Pate), using numbered frames in S&W's parts inventory which had been produced early in the 1930s. It has been stated that these early South African revolvers had 4" barrels, so this may be a means of identification. Many revolvers produced under the first South African order were diverted to England under the stress of wartime needs. British .38/200 revolver production was intermixed with S&W's commercial production of M&P revolvers in .38 S&W Special until October 1940 , at which time (in the high SN 690000 range) S&W's production capacity became devoted almost entirely to the production of British Commonwealth .38/200 revolvers, chambered for the caliber .38 S&W cartridge (British designation - .380 Revolver Mk 1 or Mk 2 cartridge) until late February 1941. Ultimately 590,309 (some sources state a slightly smaller number) .38/200 M&P revolvers were produced through March 1945. Most went to the British Commonwealth and allied nations, but some went to the OSS for distribution in enemy-occupied countries for use by partisans, etc. The standard metal finish applied to all revolvers during 1940 was the bright Carbonia high-polish blue, as used on civilian revolvers for many years prior to the war, along with checkered wooden stocks. S&W factory notes indicate that some use of the hot dip Black Magic oxide finish (a commercial metal finishing process) may have started as early as August 5, 1940, possibly on a test basis, but this is unsubstantiated.
1941 – On February 27, 1941, production of the M&P revolver chambered in caliber .38 S&W Special resumed for civilian sale at a SN in the (approximate) 730000-740000 range, in addition to continuation of .38/200 revolver military production for Great Britain. Serial numbers reached (approximately) 890000 at year-end 1941. M&P revolvers chambered in both .38 S&W and .38 S&W Special were serial numbered in the same series throughout WWII. Until December 4, 1941, all (or most) production continued to use S&W's high polish Carbonia "Bright Blue" finish, which was then changed to a brush-blued hot dip black oxide finish (Black Magic, a commercial metal finishing method) until March 4 or April 10, 1942 (date unclear), at (approximately) SN 940000, when sandblasting began prior to Black Magic finish application. The finish change was made to reduce the hand labor required, thereby increasing production rate. In the early part of this period some revolvers may have continued to receive the earlier commercial Carbonia bright blue finish. Most earlier military and also commercial M&P revolver production during 1940 and 1941 used 1930s civilian-style round top checkered diamond wooden stocks having small S&W silver medallions. The U. S. "Lend-Lease Act of 1941" required marking of the British revolvers by stamping "United States Property" on the topstrap. While the exact date and serial number when this started is unknown, it is certain that the stamping appeared on some pre-Victory revolvers shipped in late 1941 at a SN around 880000. Pate indicates only that property stamping was absent on some revolvers produced from 10/41 to 4/42.
1942: The Victory Models - Revolver production continued, reaching serial number 1000000 on April 24, 1942, whereupon the V-prefix (Victory) serialization was started at V1, reaching (approximately) V210000 at year-end 1942. Grip panels were changed sometime early in 1942 (in the low 900,000 SN range) from checkered wood with medallions to simpler smooth round top wooden stocks Whether this was an "official" name is unknown. It has been stated that the majority of all 1942 revolvers produced in the serial number range of V6 to V40000 will be found chambered in .38 S&W caliber, but without any doubt, some in this range were also produced in caliber .38 S&W Special. The first five 1942 Victory-series revolvers (V1 to V5) were made up in .38 S&W Special caliber as presentation pieces, having the earlier commercial Carbonia bright blued finish.
It has been stated that there were approximately 85,000 revolvers (both late pre-V series and V series) having factory U. S. Navy markings on the top strap, shipped from about April 1942 (starting at a SN of approximately 982000) through March 1943 against two Navy contracts and one Army contract. Thereafter, revolvers produced for the U. S. Navy, starting at (approximately) SN V267000, were obtained from S&W through U. S. Army-administered contracts and were no longer given factory U. S. Navy property markings. Some Navy revolvers are found having paint-filled U. S. Navy markings engraved on the left side of the frame under the hammer. Some revolvers with the engraved frame markings have been reported as having no topstrap Navy property stamping. Such frame engravings were not applied by S&W, and no authoritative information concerning their origin and purpose has been presented.
Beginning in late 1941, some significant revolver production throughout the war (which has been stated to be approximately 74,000 units) was directed toward essential U. S. civilian use (in caliber .38 S&W Special), intended for security guard use at defense plants, and for various civilian law enforcement agencies, civilian government agencies, etc., through the Defense Supplies Corporation (DSC) contracts (Note: DSC was a U. S. government agency established August 29, 1940, to finance and administer programs to stockpile strategic and critical war materials. DSC was dissolved on July 1, 1945). Except for the absence of any military-related property markings, such non-military use revolvers were identical in form and finish to contemporary military production. Additionally, some revolvers having no property markings were also shipped to the United States Maritime Commission (for Merchant Marine use), beginning in the high SN 900000 range (just prior to the early 1942 changeover to the Victory-series serial numbering), continuing until at least the V500000 range. The exact number is unknown. Unmarked M&P revolvers made for the OSS and a very few for the U. S. Coast Guard are also stated to be known.
1943 – Victory production reached serial number (approximately) V490000 by year-end 1943. Property marking of Navy-contract revolvers in caliber .38 S&W Special by the factory was discontinued about March 1943 at a serial number of (approximately) V267000. Navy revolvers with serial numbers above that will be marked the same as all other military Victory-model revolvers (UNITED STATES PROPERTY or U. S. PROPERTY), so it is not possible to identify late Navy revolvers, other than by obtaining a factory letter establishing where they were sent. However, it has been stated that most "U. S. Property" - stamped Victory models chambered in .38 Special were shipped to the U. S. Navy during the War, principally for use by Naval flight crews. While a precise serial number is unknown, the earlier "United States Property" topstrap stamping was replaced by the simpler "U. S. Property" probably at around SN V278000, in early 1943.
1944 – Victory production reached serial number (approximately) V740000 by year-end 1944, with few changes made in features and finish.
1945: The SV-series Victories – An improved hammer block drop safety design was developed and incorporated during the late 1944 to very early 1945 period, identified by changing the serial number V-prefix to an SV-prefix, beginning at a serial number stated to be SV769001 (this serial number is debatable, and may be lower). British .38/200 revolver shipment ceased on March 27, 1945, and it is believed that none of the SV-series revolvers in .38 S&W were shipped to the British, only V-series. Production of the SV-series revolvers in .38 Special caliber for U.S. military use continued, but "officially" ceased at serial number SV 811119 on August 27, 1945. However, higher SV-prefix serial numbers are known to exist, beyond SV 813000. At least one factory letter indicates that the SV series could have continued to approximately VS(sic)825000. Some late wartime production SV-series stamped revolver frames and components remaining in factory inventory at war's end were assembled and finished by S&W during late 1945, and sold by S&W through its normal distribution channels into the civilian market, apparently starting early in 1946. Those SV revolvers will usually have the lanyard loop hole plugged and will have a commercial blued finish and checkered diamond Magna-style wooden grip panels. There are a few such civilian SV-series revolvers said to have been factory nickel plated. The number of SV-series M&Ps with civilian features shipped is unknown, but may well represent the majority of those produced. Some earlier (pre-1945) V-series serial numbered revolvers were later converted to use the improved hammer blocking safety, and those will have "S" stampings on the upper sideplate limb and on the butt to indicate that such a conversion was performed. It is likely that only a relatively small number of such conversions were performed starting in mid-1945, as it was an expensive procedure. Furthermore, all Victory-related military revolver contracts were cancelled on V-J day, so any hammer safety conversions in progress at that date were terminated. Post-war M&P civilian revolver production is stated to have been "officially" resumed starting at serial number S 811120 (on 9/12/1945), with commercial blue finish and checkered wooden Magna service stocks. But there is some evidence to believe this starting serial number of the S-series is incorrect and may well be somewhat higher than S 811120. The details concerning transformation of serial numbers from the SV-series to the S-series during the immediate postwar period is incompletely defined and requires more research, as there are definitely serial number overlaps.
There is no method to determine if a specific M&P serial number is associated with the caliber or to where the revolvers were shipped by the factory, other than by obtaining a factory letter. The caliber (.38 S&W or .38 S&W Special) will be stamped into the right side of the barrel. Revolvers made for wartime U. S. service (for both civilian and military use) in caliber .38 S&W Special will most commonly have 4" barrels. Production for the British Commonwealth military in caliber .38 S&W will most commonly have 5" barrels, and as previously stated, the early South African revolvers may have 4" barrels. There are exceptions, as both shorter (2") and longer (6") factory barrel lengths are known. Victory-series revolvers chambered in .38 Special having 2" factory-original barrels are unusual and of very high collector interest. A few were made up early in the war for possible military use, the details of which are unknown, but most (an unknown number, but likely less than 500) were made up starting in 1944 for DSC distribution to essential civilian users. After 1941, revolvers intended for military use (both U. S. and British) will normally have property stampings on the top strap such as "United States Property" (until about SN V 278000, possibly higher), "U. S. Property" (balance), or "U. S. Navy." The former two property markings were used on revolvers made for the British Commonwealth because after the passage and implementation of the U. S. Lend-Lease Act of 1941, all revolvers (and most other items of war material) supplied to the British Commonwealth (and other Allied) forces during the war technically remained U. S. Property.
Many wartime production British .38/200 revolvers chambered in .38 S&W (and, in some cases, U. S. revolvers in .38 S&W Special) may be found having non-military modifications. During the post-war period, from the late 1950s and extending through the late 1960s, the .38/200 revolvers were declared surplus by the British government and sold to various U. S. arms importers for domestic sales. Modifications were made to them by the importers, involving shortening of barrels, re-boring .38 S&W chambers to accept .38 S&W Special cartridges, replacing wooden stocks, and re-finishing (including bluing and nickel plating), in order to enhance customer appeal for their mail-order sale on the U. S. civilian market (legal until 1968), and also sale through U. S. retailers. These post-war modified surplus .38/200 revolvers have neither collector nor significant monetary value and are best avoided by the collector, even though they do retain some utility for both casual shooting and personal defense for those interested in them.
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Timeline of WWII S&W pre-Victory, Victory, and S-Victory S&W M&P Revolver Models
1940: The Pre-Victory Models – The S&W .38 Hand Ejector, (sometimes considered the Model of 1905, 4th Change) M&P revolvers as made beginning in 1940 for the British Commonwealth military in caliber .38 S&W are often called .38/200 revolvers, the "K-200," and sometimes the "BSR" (British Service Revolver) to distinguish them from S&W's commercial production revolvers chambered for the .38 S&W Special cartridge. The official designation used by the British military for this revolver was: "Pistol, Revolver, Smith & Wesson, No. 2". Military production began at serial number (approximately) 670000, or slightly greater, ending the year 1940 at serial number (approximately) 720000 or slightly higher. On February 19, 1940 an order for 21,347 .38/200 military revolvers was placed by the Union of South Africa. Production under this contract began on March 11, 1940, with shipments beginning in May 1940. It is possible that some of the earliest South African military contract revolvers had SNs as low as about SN 612000 (from Pate), using numbered frames in S&W's parts inventory which had been produced early in the 1930s. It has been stated that these early South African revolvers had 4" barrels, so this may be a means of identification. Many revolvers produced under the first South African order were diverted to England under the stress of wartime needs. British .38/200 revolver production was intermixed with S&W's commercial production of M&P revolvers in .38 S&W Special until October 1940 , at which time (in the high SN 690000 range) S&W's production capacity became devoted almost entirely to the production of British Commonwealth .38/200 revolvers, chambered for the caliber .38 S&W cartridge (British designation - .380 Revolver Mk 1 or Mk 2 cartridge) until late February 1941. Ultimately 590,309 (some sources state a slightly smaller number) .38/200 M&P revolvers were produced through March 1945. Most went to the British Commonwealth and allied nations, but some went to the OSS for distribution in enemy-occupied countries for use by partisans, etc. The standard metal finish applied to all revolvers during 1940 was the bright Carbonia high-polish blue, as used on civilian revolvers for many years prior to the war, along with checkered wooden stocks. S&W factory notes indicate that some use of the hot dip Black Magic oxide finish (a commercial metal finishing process) may have started as early as August 5, 1940, possibly on a test basis, but this is unsubstantiated.
1941 – On February 27, 1941, production of the M&P revolver chambered in caliber .38 S&W Special resumed for civilian sale at a SN in the (approximate) 730000-740000 range, in addition to continuation of .38/200 revolver military production for Great Britain. Serial numbers reached (approximately) 890000 at year-end 1941. M&P revolvers chambered in both .38 S&W and .38 S&W Special were serial numbered in the same series throughout WWII. Until December 4, 1941, all (or most) production continued to use S&W's high polish Carbonia "Bright Blue" finish, which was then changed to a brush-blued hot dip black oxide finish (Black Magic, a commercial metal finishing method) until March 4 or April 10, 1942 (date unclear), at (approximately) SN 940000, when sandblasting began prior to Black Magic finish application. The finish change was made to reduce the hand labor required, thereby increasing production rate. In the early part of this period some revolvers may have continued to receive the earlier commercial Carbonia bright blue finish. Most earlier military and also commercial M&P revolver production during 1940 and 1941 used 1930s civilian-style round top checkered diamond wooden stocks having small S&W silver medallions. The U. S. "Lend-Lease Act of 1941" required marking of the British revolvers by stamping "United States Property" on the topstrap. While the exact date and serial number when this started is unknown, it is certain that the stamping appeared on some pre-Victory revolvers shipped in late 1941 at a SN around 880000. Pate indicates only that property stamping was absent on some revolvers produced from 10/41 to 4/42.
1942: The Victory Models - Revolver production continued, reaching serial number 1000000 on April 24, 1942, whereupon the V-prefix (Victory) serialization was started at V1, reaching (approximately) V210000 at year-end 1942. Grip panels were changed sometime early in 1942 (in the low 900,000 SN range) from checkered wood with medallions to simpler smooth round top wooden stocks Whether this was an "official" name is unknown. It has been stated that the majority of all 1942 revolvers produced in the serial number range of V6 to V40000 will be found chambered in .38 S&W caliber, but without any doubt, some in this range were also produced in caliber .38 S&W Special. The first five 1942 Victory-series revolvers (V1 to V5) were made up in .38 S&W Special caliber as presentation pieces, having the earlier commercial Carbonia bright blued finish.
It has been stated that there were approximately 85,000 revolvers (both late pre-V series and V series) having factory U. S. Navy markings on the top strap, shipped from about April 1942 (starting at a SN of approximately 982000) through March 1943 against two Navy contracts and one Army contract. Thereafter, revolvers produced for the U. S. Navy, starting at (approximately) SN V267000, were obtained from S&W through U. S. Army-administered contracts and were no longer given factory U. S. Navy property markings. Some Navy revolvers are found having paint-filled U. S. Navy markings engraved on the left side of the frame under the hammer. Some revolvers with the engraved frame markings have been reported as having no topstrap Navy property stamping. Such frame engravings were not applied by S&W, and no authoritative information concerning their origin and purpose has been presented.
Beginning in late 1941, some significant revolver production throughout the war (which has been stated to be approximately 74,000 units) was directed toward essential U. S. civilian use (in caliber .38 S&W Special), intended for security guard use at defense plants, and for various civilian law enforcement agencies, civilian government agencies, etc., through the Defense Supplies Corporation (DSC) contracts (Note: DSC was a U. S. government agency established August 29, 1940, to finance and administer programs to stockpile strategic and critical war materials. DSC was dissolved on July 1, 1945). Except for the absence of any military-related property markings, such non-military use revolvers were identical in form and finish to contemporary military production. Additionally, some revolvers having no property markings were also shipped to the United States Maritime Commission (for Merchant Marine use), beginning in the high SN 900000 range (just prior to the early 1942 changeover to the Victory-series serial numbering), continuing until at least the V500000 range. The exact number is unknown. Unmarked M&P revolvers made for the OSS and a very few for the U. S. Coast Guard are also stated to be known.
1943 – Victory production reached serial number (approximately) V490000 by year-end 1943. Property marking of Navy-contract revolvers in caliber .38 S&W Special by the factory was discontinued about March 1943 at a serial number of (approximately) V267000. Navy revolvers with serial numbers above that will be marked the same as all other military Victory-model revolvers (UNITED STATES PROPERTY or U. S. PROPERTY), so it is not possible to identify late Navy revolvers, other than by obtaining a factory letter establishing where they were sent. However, it has been stated that most "U. S. Property" - stamped Victory models chambered in .38 Special were shipped to the U. S. Navy during the War, principally for use by Naval flight crews. While a precise serial number is unknown, the earlier "United States Property" topstrap stamping was replaced by the simpler "U. S. Property" probably at around SN V278000, in early 1943.
1944 – Victory production reached serial number (approximately) V740000 by year-end 1944, with few changes made in features and finish.
1945: The SV-series Victories – An improved hammer block drop safety design was developed and incorporated during the late 1944 to very early 1945 period, identified by changing the serial number V-prefix to an SV-prefix, beginning at a serial number stated to be SV769001 (this serial number is debatable, and may be lower). British .38/200 revolver shipment ceased on March 27, 1945, and it is believed that none of the SV-series revolvers in .38 S&W were shipped to the British, only V-series. Production of the SV-series revolvers in .38 Special caliber for U.S. military use continued, but "officially" ceased at serial number SV 811119 on August 27, 1945. However, higher SV-prefix serial numbers are known to exist, beyond SV 813000. At least one factory letter indicates that the SV series could have continued to approximately VS(sic)825000. Some late wartime production SV-series stamped revolver frames and components remaining in factory inventory at war's end were assembled and finished by S&W during late 1945, and sold by S&W through its normal distribution channels into the civilian market, apparently starting early in 1946. Those SV revolvers will usually have the lanyard loop hole plugged and will have a commercial blued finish and checkered diamond Magna-style wooden grip panels. There are a few such civilian SV-series revolvers said to have been factory nickel plated. The number of SV-series M&Ps with civilian features shipped is unknown, but may well represent the majority of those produced. Some earlier (pre-1945) V-series serial numbered revolvers were later converted to use the improved hammer blocking safety, and those will have "S" stampings on the upper sideplate limb and on the butt to indicate that such a conversion was performed. It is likely that only a relatively small number of such conversions were performed starting in mid-1945, as it was an expensive procedure. Furthermore, all Victory-related military revolver contracts were cancelled on V-J day, so any hammer safety conversions in progress at that date were terminated. Post-war M&P civilian revolver production is stated to have been "officially" resumed starting at serial number S 811120 (on 9/12/1945), with commercial blue finish and checkered wooden Magna service stocks. But there is some evidence to believe this starting serial number of the S-series is incorrect and may well be somewhat higher than S 811120. The details concerning transformation of serial numbers from the SV-series to the S-series during the immediate postwar period is incompletely defined and requires more research, as there are definitely serial number overlaps.
There is no method to determine if a specific M&P serial number is associated with the caliber or to where the revolvers were shipped by the factory, other than by obtaining a factory letter. The caliber (.38 S&W or .38 S&W Special) will be stamped into the right side of the barrel. Revolvers made for wartime U. S. service (for both civilian and military use) in caliber .38 S&W Special will most commonly have 4" barrels. Production for the British Commonwealth military in caliber .38 S&W will most commonly have 5" barrels, and as previously stated, the early South African revolvers may have 4" barrels. There are exceptions, as both shorter (2") and longer (6") factory barrel lengths are known. Victory-series revolvers chambered in .38 Special having 2" factory-original barrels are unusual and of very high collector interest. A few were made up early in the war for possible military use, the details of which are unknown, but most (an unknown number, but likely less than 500) were made up starting in 1944 for DSC distribution to essential civilian users. After 1941, revolvers intended for military use (both U. S. and British) will normally have property stampings on the top strap such as "United States Property" (until about SN V 278000, possibly higher), "U. S. Property" (balance), or "U. S. Navy." The former two property markings were used on revolvers made for the British Commonwealth because after the passage and implementation of the U. S. Lend-Lease Act of 1941, all revolvers (and most other items of war material) supplied to the British Commonwealth (and other Allied) forces during the war technically remained U. S. Property.
Many wartime production British .38/200 revolvers chambered in .38 S&W (and, in some cases, U. S. revolvers in .38 S&W Special) may be found having non-military modifications. During the post-war period, from the late 1950s and extending through the late 1960s, the .38/200 revolvers were declared surplus by the British government and sold to various U. S. arms importers for domestic sales. Modifications were made to them by the importers, involving shortening of barrels, re-boring .38 S&W chambers to accept .38 S&W Special cartridges, replacing wooden stocks, and re-finishing (including bluing and nickel plating), in order to enhance customer appeal for their mail-order sale on the U. S. civilian market (legal until 1968), and also sale through U. S. retailers. These post-war modified surplus .38/200 revolvers have neither collector nor significant monetary value and are best avoided by the collector, even though they do retain some utility for both casual shooting and personal defense for those interested in them.
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