I have had an oddly marked Victory Model for a couple of years now, just got around to getting it lettered. It is a 4", .38 Special caliber, marked "U.S. Property GHD" on left top strap, no "P" proof mark, marked "Railway Police Frankfurt/M" on left frame, stamped over the Railway Police marking is a "B.P". Serial number V453605. I thought for sure it would letter as a U.S. Army or OSS gun, but Roy Jink's letter shows it as a U. S. Navy Contract gun!


"We have researched your .38 Victory Model, United States Navy contract, caliber .38 S&W Special, revolver in company records which indicate that your handgun, with serial number V453605 was shipped from our factory on November 29, 1943, and delivered to United States Navy, Norfolk, Va."

Here's a pic:



You can see that somewhere along the line, a compass was inletted into the left grip. If this one could talk, it could tell some tales, at least of travels! I think the Frankfurt Railway Police mark speaks for itself, anyone have any ideas about the "B.P"? Anyone ever hear of U.S. Navy Victory Models not having Navy markings?

I have had an oddly marked Victory Model for a couple of years now, just got around to getting it lettered. It is a 4", .38 Special caliber, marked "U.S. Property GHD" on left top strap, no "P" proof mark, marked "Railway Police Frankfurt/M" on left frame, stamped over the Railway Police marking is a "B.P". Serial number V453605. I thought for sure it would letter as a U.S. Army or OSS gun, but Roy Jink's letter shows it as a U. S. Navy Contract gun!


"We have researched your .38 Victory Model, United States Navy contract, caliber .38 S&W Special, revolver in company records which indicate that your handgun, with serial number V453605 was shipped from our factory on November 29, 1943, and delivered to United States Navy, Norfolk, Va."

Here's a pic:



You can see that somewhere along the line, a compass was inletted into the left grip. If this one could talk, it could tell some tales, at least of travels! I think the Frankfurt Railway Police mark speaks for itself, anyone have any ideas about the "B.P"? Anyone ever hear of U.S. Navy Victory Models not having Navy markings?

Nice find! It seems to me that this is the second time I have heard of a Victory revolver that came back from overseas with a compass installed. Anyone else remember this?

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Frosty
S&WCA # 2816

Quite a few of these revolvers with various German and Austrian markings showed up in the mid 1990s... I think Century imported them...

The U.S. and British provided M&P revolvers to police agencies in occupied Germany and Austria.

I expect the B.P. is for Bahn Polizi, German for Railway Police.

I have seen them marked for Augsburg, Munich, and Nurnburg railway police IIRC, as well as for Austrian Railways (OBB.) We tend to forget the allies divided Austria into occupation zones just like Germany...

Most of the guns I have seen were chambered for 38/200 so your is an especially nice find.

V/r

Chuck

Interesting...

Yes, I do remember someone on the forum here posting a pic of their Victory with a compass.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

As a sailor, I'd think that a compass let into the grip of a steel handgun would be pretty useless, as the the needle would be just as likely to point towards the muzzle as North.

Although this case was probably one where the onwer wished to personalize his revolver with some (inexpensive) ornamentation, a back-up compass could come in handy. You could always remove the stock panel and separate it from the gun.

Steve

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CHL/NRA Instructor/RSO/Referee

Well, that is true. However, your would have to carry a tool to remove the stock panel for your theory to make sense. Why not just carry the compass?

For years, Randall has installed optional compasses in knife handles. Iv'e always wondered how accurate they could be?

Has anyone here used one?

As for removing the grip to use the compass on this .38, the small screwdriver blade on a Swiss Army knife will do that easily. No need for a separate tool.

But would the compass needle have been affected after being next to the steel gun for so long?

For giggles I just played around with a couple Victories and knife compasses. The frame does throw an old 50's era compass off, but less than a newer one. The suprise to me was that the hammer and trigger throw them off more than the frame. Don't understand that...maybe somebody knows why?

Randall charges $10 today for a 1/2 compass and that's installed. Although they do point to north I personally would not have high expectations for pinpoint accuracy.

Bob