A Scarce Victory Variation

[JP@AK]

Here is mine marked US Navy, with the SV serial.

That one is in my database. It is one of the Navy guns returned for the upgrade. It probably originally shipped in early 1943.

At that time, the full serial number, including the V, was stamped to the right of the swivel. So, when they went back for the upgrade, the S was stamped to the left of the swivel.

 

[Inkgardener]

Did you read my #35 above?

I did, and I learned some great information. In my post #31 I asked if they were refinished after they went back for modifications. When you stated no factory parkerized for military shipped guns, I would consider that to mean not when they were originally made.

 

[Inkgardener]

That one is in my database. It is one of the Navy guns returned for the upgrade. It probably originally shipped in early 1943.

At that time, the full serial number, including the V, was stamped to the right of the swivel. So, when they went back for the upgrade, the S was stamped to the left of the swivel.

Yes sir, I sent you the s/n to this one and you educated me on the finish when I started collecting last year.

What does a letter typically tell you on these? Shipped to the Navy?

 

[JP@AK]

What does a letter typically tell you on these? Shipped to the Navy?

The date it shipped and usually which Navy yard it shipped to. Norfolk and Oakland are common, but it could be somewhere else.

Regarding the finish, apart from a very short period (maybe two weeks?), no Victory Models were Parkerized, and those were not Navy guns, as DWalt stated. As for the return trip for the sliding hammer block, it is my impression that none of them were refinished at that time. The turn-around time was limited, due to the demands of war conditions and the production schedule. I can say with a high degree of certainty that yours was refinished after the war by someone other than S&W.

 

[DWalt]

The modified Navy revolvers remained government property, and if any refinishing was needed, it would have been done according to Black Magic military requirements. Allegedly, the postwar SV and S series revolvers made for civilian sale beginning in 1946 were finished using S&W's prewar commercial blue procedure, and commercial wood checkered Magna grips replaced the smooth wood military round top grips. Others may be able to substantiate that better than I.

 

[Goony]

As for the return trip for the sliding hammer block, it is my impression that none of them were refinished at that time.

I'm inclined to disagree on this point. The evenness of the finish on my example coupled with the added "S" on the butt and the other on the sideplate both showing no evidence of being stamped through the existing finish suggests to me that at the very least they were given a quick dip in the course of the overhaul process.

 

[Tommezgun]

Yes. The retrofitted guns will have that "S" prefix added to the serial number on the butt, as well as another smaller "s" on the upper left corner of the sideplate.

Thanks. Mine does not have the S prefix marked on the butt. I also looked inside without removing the side plate and it does look different from my more modern M15-3 (1970) vintage.

 

[DWalt]

The absence of the additional S prefix to the butt serial number makes it certain to not have been one of those modified.