38 Special Victory

[CaptainDoRight]

I am cleaning up a S&W Victory for a friend. It has serial number V298548 in the various places where those numbers are usually stamped (including on the back side of the extractor). The letter S is added to some of those numbers. There is a separate number, 53344, stamped on the frame under the yoke and the same number with an added s on the underside of the yoke. Since the part of the frame under the yoke is a fixed part of the frame, I am not sure what the extra number is for.

The finish is in pretty bad condition, but the cylinders and barrel are reasonably clean.

All the pictures I have of it exceed the max size allowed for attachments, so I will try to get them reduced in file size by reducing the resolution.

The top strap has the ordinance bomb and "U.S. Property G.H.D." The grips have the same serial # on the inside. The barrel has ".38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG" on the right side. It is a "five screw" model.

Anyone have an idea of the year?

What does the added serial number on the yoke mean?

 

[DWalt]

It probably shipped around mid-1943, highly likely it was a Navy issue. The other numbers are assembly numbers to keep matched parts together during assembly, otherwise they are meaningless. They are not serial numbers.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[CaptainDoRight]

Thanks, DWalt, for the info on assembly numbers. I was not aware of that.
I agree that it was likely a Navy issue but have no way to confirm. The revolver was inherited by a friend but she has no info about it.
The finish is somewhat deteriorated and it may have spent some time in salt water (Navy pilot?). The "running gear" is generally in good shape.
Anyone have an idea of what it is worth?

 

[DWalt]

Virtually all of those in .38 Special with 4" barrels which have a topstrap property stamp initially went to the Navy. Very early ones were unmarked, then U. S. NAVY, then UNITED STATES PROPERTY, and finally, U. S. PROPERTY. Mostly, but not exclusively, they were used by Navy flight crews.

 

[Muley Gil]

Virtually all of those in .38 Special with 4" barrels which have a topstrap property stamp initially went to the Navy. Very early ones were unmarked, then U. S. NAVY, then UNITED STATES PROPERTY, and finally, U. S. PROPERTY. Mostly, but not exclusively, they were used by Navy and Marine flight crews.

Fixed it for you.

 

[DWalt]

An additional piece of trivia. One of the uses of this revolver by aviators was as an emergency signaling device, using ammunition having red tracer bullets.