Along with the estate consignment 422 and the Browning BL22, we also bought a commercial Victory model. 38 Special. This guy had a good eye for weapons. It is in good condition. I'm trying to get a little history on this model. It has the SV prefix serial number. Mechanically great shape.

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Nice and quite collectable. Last one I saw sell on GB as I recall went for a little over 1K. I watch for them but seldom see one for sale.

It's a very early post-WW II civilian market .38 Military & Police, with the plugged lanyard ring hole and the pre-war style Magna stocks. The V prefix started in early 1942 and reportedly ended within a couple thousand SNs (earlier) than the one you have, with the military guns of the same SV prefix having the dark gray finish and smooth stocks.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

This is a very nice example of a late SV prefix .38 Military & Police revolver. I have recorded quite a few in the 812xxx range. About half of them have the S prefix (which started at S811120) and the other half have the older SV prefix. So this was clearly a transition range for serial prefix markings.
This one is in relatively high condition, showing some wear to the finish and some minor damage to what appear to be original stocks. If you can take them off, I would greatly appreciate seeing a picture of the inside of them. The questions are 1) whether they carry the same serial number as the frame; and 2) what style retaining washers are on the back of the medallions.
There is a very good chance this gun shipped in March, 1946. A large number in this serial range did.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I'll get a pic for you. The grips do have the number on them. Not sure about the washer.

Here are a few more pics.

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Excellent! Data line now completely filled in, except for the ship date.
Thanks very much.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

By the way, mcb66, based on some very-close-by serial numbers, I think there is a good chance this revolver was originally shipped to the NYPD. I will see if I can confirm that.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Thanks! This awesome information.

JP, I have a NYPD M&P S846572 , shipped Oct. 1946. Badge/rack number
stamped 13819 on back strap.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mike, it's the officer's badge number (or rather "shield" number, the preferred term), not a rack number. Robert Vivas has record ledgers for that period and could probably tell you the name of the officer the gun was sold to.

[email protected]

P.S.: If the OP's revolver does not have such a shield number, it would be somewhat unusual for it to turn out to have shipped to NYPD; not impossible, but if it did go to an officer, at that time the requirement to have the number stamped was generally enforced. The practice didn't peter out until the 1960s.

Yep. Got that one recorded. Thank you!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Nobody mentioned this, but you have a pair of pre-war Magna grips which are quite desirable. Do not let them get away from you.

The SV series commercial models were made up from components manufactured during WWII, and left in inventory after the war's end. They were blued instead of phosphated, had the lanyard loop hole plugged, and had Magna grips.

You can be assured yours shipped in 2/46 or 3/46, probably the latter. The S series actually are fairly uncommon (statistically) compared to all Victories, but I don't know the number of either military revolvers or commercial versions which were shipped. I believe there were more commercial ones made than military.

Again thanks, this is great information. I was considering getting it lettered but I really don't see it as necessary now.