Here is what I think is a somewhat odd Victory. It is parkerized and in 38s&w not opened up to 38 special. Grips number to the gun and it is in really good unmolested condition. It has no import marks or lend lease markings. I have only seen 38 special in U.S. service models. This one does have some freckling popping up. It will clean up nice after a good soak. #V158352 if it needs to go in database.
Found another victory
- Thread starter mcb66
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kwill1911
Member
Congratulations on a very nice gun. I believe it is a Lend-Lease gun which is why it is marked United States Property. It managed to make it out of the UK without the post-war commercial proofs.
That is a really nice revolver, .38 s&w is a neat cartridge to shoot
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Indeed, as Kevin says, it is a perfectly normal L-L British Service Model with exactly the markings you would expect.
Contrary to popular misconception, the British did not apply any government/military proof marks or property marks to these before they issued them; only those were proofed commercially that had been surplused out in Britain for civilian sale post-war, which obviously did not happen to this one.
It could have been a private war bringback or assigned to a Commonwealth country other than Britain.
The only truly odd thing is its state of preservation, considering the low serial from late 1942. It appears unissued except for storage blemishes. That, together with not retiring through normal channels, might indeed indicate it was diverted from service early in its career, possibly in an irregular fashion, here or in Britain.
Of course, it could have also just been issued to some desk-bound officer and spent the war in a drawer, not getting turned back in, and making its way back here through private channels.
Speculating can provide endless fun
Truly a great piece, very pass up a Victory
Nice looking piece! Most likely Nov/Dec 1942 ship date. Where did you find it?
Normally not a big fan of the Brit Victory's, but would definitely love to own that one!
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DWalt
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An unmolested S&W BSR in high condition, especially one which is not sporting the usual postwar proofmarks, is a somewhat more unusual find than most would suspect given the large number of them made. They just do not appear that often.
Green Frog
Member
My scenario: An American soldier swapped a couple of cartons of cigarettes or a bottle of Scotch for it early on in the war. He kept it clean and hidden and brought it back stashed away in his duffel and threw it in a drawer after the war as he got on with his life. When he passed away at age 95, his grandchildren discovered that worthless old relic and were pleased to get $50 or so for it from the local pawn shop. This story or variants of it will be repeated countless times over the next few years. 
Froggie
Froggie
I am pondering that scenario ...
It seems to me that trading off a government issued firearm early in the war would be a dicey proposition. As in strongly frowned upon and very punishable.
Late in the war , when the outcome was pretty well secured , things got pretty loose , but early on , well , that's different.
It seems to me that trading off a government issued firearm early in the war would be a dicey proposition. As in strongly frowned upon and very punishable.
Late in the war , when the outcome was pretty well secured , things got pretty loose , but early on , well , that's different.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I’m known as a letter junkie, but on this one, it’s probably not worth it unless you want to gamble that its condition indicates it was diverted from the Lend-lease path for some exciting official purpose right at the factory. Or that it was stolen at the factory after ordnance stamping, in which case it would letter as “open on the books“ (never shipped).
If not, it was sent to Hartford Ordnance Depot like all the L-L guns, where the trail ends. S&W records do not show how and where they were distributed afterwards. All the letter gets you is the exact ship date.
DWalt
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There are a few Victories unusual enough to warrant lettering (such as the 2" snubby or possibly a suspected OSS gun) but generally a letter won't impart enough information of value to justify the expense. Especially so given the recent increase in the price of getting an historical letter.
