Help Identify

[WI Shooter]

I have what I believe is a S&W Victory Model Cal. 38S&W. It must have been used as for training as it is painted black and has #8 painted on the right side. Going through your how to identify section I have: hand ejector, fixed sight, 5 screw, strain screw, 5" barrel with a butt swivel. Under the barrel it is stamped SI OR T, ST., ALB (?), V1. On the cylinder face is stamped a P and a V. Also partaily stamped out is 7095**. The SN#856386 is stamped there as well as on the butt strap. Other than the pain the condition is fairly good.
Would like manufacture date, any value and other info.

How do I find the reply back? New forum to me.

Thanks from Wisconsin

 

[Absalom]

I have what I believe is a S&W Victory Model Cal. 38S&W. It must have been used as for training as it is painted black and has #8 painted on the right side. Going through your how to identify section I have: hand ejector, fixed sight, 5 screw, strain screw, 5" barrel with a butt swivel. Under the barrel it is stamped SI OR T, ST., ALB (?), V1. On the cylinder face is stamped a P and a V. Also partaily stamped out is 7095**. The SN#856386 is stamped there as well as on the butt strap. ......

Welcome to the forum.

You have indeed a British Service Model. The serial situation seems a bit confusing, as you apparently describe both a pre-V serial 856386 and a V7095xx. So it’s either 1941 or 1944 or parts from both. The V cannot go with the other number.

At any rate, the black paint and number 8 on the frame indicate a gun refinished in Pakistan after 1948, and based on the importer stamp (I think you’re misreading some letters) re-imported after 1986 by Century Arms in St. Albans VT.

 

[WI Shooter]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. My son picked it up a few years ago at a show and it finally ended up in my hands. After laying around some more I started asking questions.
Thanks again. Looks like the old Smith has a few miles on her.

 

[CapnB]

Welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of information available here, including lots of expert knowledge on all aspects of your wartime hand-ejector revolver. Stick around and others will chime in shortly, I’m sure.

 

[Targets Guy]

I have s/n 877769. In shipped 12/41 as a Blue finish, Lend Lease revolver.

The Brits changed it to a 4" .38 Special. I changed it back to a 5" .38SW.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I know this might be asking a lot, but can you post some pictures?

Guy

 

[WI Shooter]

Victory Model - Post Pictures

I would like to post pictures. Tell me how as I am new to the forum. My Smith has been reassembles and is not all original parts.
Send me the picture post instructions.
Thanks for all the help. Great forum

 

[Absalom]

I would like to post pictures. Tell me how as I am new to the forum. My Smith has been reassembles and is not all original parts.
Send me the picture post instructions.
Thanks for all the help. Great forum

This works if you have the photos on your computer or mobile device:

Click on Go Advanced below the Reply window.
Scroll below the text window until you see Manage Attachments.
Click and follow the prompts in the window that opens to attach up to 5 photos directly from your device’s photo library.

 

[WI Shooter]

Victory Model - Post Pictures

Couple pictures of my Smith Victory model SN 856368 and a box of ammo.
Hope this works. I am not to good at this.

 

[Absalom]

Couple pictures of my Smith Victory model SN 856368 and a box of ammo.
Hope this works. I am not to good at this.

Yes, that confirms my diagnosis. This is the classic relatively crude black paint refinish with number usually attributed to Pakistan; it’s much rougher than the British suncorite. The writing on the ammo box may be confirming the origin, although I must admit that my usual know-it-all attitude does not extend to Asian scripts

PS: Interesting. The writing on the box is Hebrew, as I was able to confirm with a learned friend, although he doesn’t read it well enough for a translation that makes sense yet.

 

[WI Shooter]

My V Model

Thanks for all the help with my old Victory Smith. Is there published books or some place I can find out additional information?
Allthe best to all.

 

[JP@AK]

Depends on how detailed you want to get. Here are a couple options:
The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition, by Supica and Nahas. This is the definitive book on all things S&W. It contains a few pages of info on the Victory and earlier WWII sidearms produced by the company.

If you really want to get much farther into the matter, you should pick up a copy of U.S. Handguns of World War II: The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers, by Charles Pate. I believe this to be the best authority on the subject at the present time.

Both can be found on Amazon. The second one may be a bit more expensive.

 

[JP@AK]

Here you go:

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Handguns-World-War-II/dp/0917218752/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522032406&sr=1-7&keywords=Charles+Pate[/ame]


[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Catalog-Smith-Wesson/dp/1440245630/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522032463&sr=1-1&keywords=Supica[/ame]