Victory Database Addition

[jpage]

V87950, “U.S. NAVY” on topstrap. Did all the Navy’s have the V next to the serial number, rather than on the opposite side of the swivel ? Also, the grips are un-numbered. Were these period replacement grips ?

[DWalt]

Some early Navy-marked guns were pre-Victory (no V prefix). I'm not sure when the V was separated from the number. I'd assume grips are replacements, but whether they are factory or not, I can't say. Closest Navy-marked SN on my list to your V87950 is V89795 which shipped on 9/2/42. But S&W was making around 1,000 per day at that time, so yours would likely have shipped around the same date.

[Absalom]

Whether it’s a Navy or DSC or Maritime Commission gun is not related to the serial; all three got Victorys in that time frame.

The Williams notes say that the V in front of the swivel, rather than with the digits, started at V100,000, so at six digits, but that is quite clearly not correct. There are plenty of Victorys in the 100-thousands with the V still crunched with the numbers. Only once the first of the six digits is a 2 have I not yet come across one where the V wasn‘t separated.

[DWalt]

I am fairly sure that the 5-digit Victories (and earlier) had the V immediately before the digits. Beyond that, I am not sure.

[chiefdave]

Here is a couple that are fairly late in the V100,000 to V199,999 range and both have the V to the right of the swivel loop. I've never seen a Victory in this s/n range with the V to the left but would guess that some examples may exist.

[ordnanceguy]

JPage:

Thanks for your contribution to the Database. It has now been entered.

[reccpd101]

Am attaching photos of Navy Victory lettered to 1943

Please add to database

V 35330 belonged to my father at his death. He served in WWII
on Navy PB4Y2 as radioman and machinegunner.

It is now in possession of my niece and her husband, Sarah and Allen Shearl of Franklin, NC [email protected].

[ordnanceguy]

Originally Posted by reccpd101

Please add to database. V 35330 belonged to my father at his death. He served in WWII on Navy PB4Y2 as radioman and machinegunner.

What a marvelous piece of American and family history there. Thank you for posting it.

To help refine the addition of it to the Database, could you also tell us what the exact date of shipment and shipping destination were as revealed by the factory letter, please?

[reccpd101]

My niece has the letter I have asked her husband to scan a copy and send to me. As soon as I have it I'll forward it.

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by reccpd101

Am attaching photos of Navy Victory lettered to 1943
....
V 35330 belonged to my father at his death. He served in WWII
on Navy PB4Y2 as radioman and machinegunner.
...

I don’t know whether you’re aware of this, but besides the heirloom value, that gun is also quite unusual in having both Navy property markings, the topstrap rollmark and the frame engraving. These do occur together, but not often.

The frame engraving would originally have been filled with red paint, and the topstrap left un-colored.

The fact that both are now colored with what appears to be the same white paint indicates it was done later to enhance the appearance. Some collectors do this to make markings appear more clearly in photos, others hate it and reach for a brush and acetone immediately if they get a gun like that