Yesterday, I was one bid away from winning a Victory, but I have no idea what I didn't get. It was #V172407, 38 Special, no military markings, smooth stocks, parkerized, SIX INCH BARREL. Star on the butt, rework 1.47, but matching number on the barrel.
Hopefully, the buyer will weigh in with explanation.
Small world... bought that one yesterday. Still working on getting info on it. Very nice condition. Also has a triangle with a letter "B" in the center.
i'm happy..
PS I also posted the info in the victory database forum on this site. Interesting to see what comes up there.
Without military markings, that is probably a DSC (Defense Supplies Corporation) gun intended for stateside law enforcement agencies or guards at defense plants or other essential industries. The six inch barrel is unusual but not impossible. The gun may have been rebarreled on its return to the factory. I don't think we can know without a letter. The postwar S&W records may have information about the work done on this gun's return to the factory, but they are not yet available for easy research.
(That is another subtle plug for support of the S&W Historical Foundation, which is digitizing company records as money becomes available to do so.)
OK received the S&W letter. The letter indicates it was shipped from the factory on May 21, 43 and delivered to C.H. Masland & Sons, Carlisle, PA. It was shipped with a 4 inch barrel. Masland made canvas for the government and used German POWs to manufacture tents for the war effort. (Used by the guards?) The gun was returned to the factory and overhauled on Jan 1947 (stamped on the grip) to include a new 6 inch barrel. (Re-serial number to the gun, without the V prefix)
Who sent it to the factory is unknown as the S&W society does not have digitized, searchable records beyond 1941. I would sure like to know who spent the money to refurbish this old war horse.
update from the society. New firearms of any type were hard to come by in the years following WWII. If a fellow had a damaged military or guard gun that he got on the cheap, he could have it refurbished and adapted to his needs or wants a lot easier than waiting for a new one. Labor and mil-spec parts were not prohibitive as now. As it was, he had an as new gun without the wait or having to give up much lunch money.
"The letter indicates it was shipped from the factory on May 21, 43"
Interesting. Others around that SN shipped in late 1942. Appears that this one sat in the S&W warehouse for several months.
Victory Model- What didn't I win?
Linear Mode
