Help request for older S&W

[Scot Templar]

Thanks in advance for whatever help may be returned. Have recently acquired older parkerized S&W in caliber 38 S&W, (appears to be K-frame)Ser# 556xxx, with 5" bbl, lanyard ring, est 90%+ finish, has been carried but has tightest lock up I've seen for quite a while. Marks on the 4-screw frame include D↑D / FTR M4 54 / m(w/underscore) over 30 / ↑. Would like to obtain approx., date of mfg and value range (this unit was in an estate lot of several firearms that I won bid on). Thanks again for any help possible. Regards

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! This sounds to be a WW II era .38/200 (.38 S & W) British Service Revolver. The extra stampings are from an Australian rework program in the mid-1950s. There should be the letter V stamped to the left of the butt swivel that makes it a Victory Model. Late 1943 (others here are better at age estimates for these)? Hope this is helpful.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Is there by any chance a V in front of the serial number? I am far from an expert on the markings but this sounds an awful lot like the revolvers produced for the UK during WWII.

 

[Scot Templar]

Thanks for the quick responses, there was a light struck "V" to the left of the lanyard that I missed on the inspect.

 

[DWalt]

Definitely Australian rework markings from 1954. V556xxx would likely have shipped from S&W in the 4/44-5/44 period. This may interest you:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/victory_model_smith_and_wesson.htm