I think I got took

[H Richard]

Does it look like this?

Roy tells me the checkered medallion stocks would be correct for a "pre-Victory". This one is s/n 83335X and shipped Oct. 1941.

 

[larryofcc]

Check under the bbl, for import marks. If they are there, you DID get ripped off. Big Larry

 

[Frederick]

No import marks under the barrel. It does have the Vega mark on the left side below the cylinder.
It looks similar to the pics above. A couple differant numbers.
The link that was provided has one that is the same as mine except the grips. Some of the comments say the plain wood is correct.

 

[hsguy]

Check under the bbl, for import marks. If they are there, you DID get ripped off. Big Larry

Larry, I disagree, I think the days of dirt cheap Australian Victory's are behind us. They seem to sell for up to $400 quite regularly today. OP may have paid a premium but not a terribly heavy one.

 

[H Richard]

The plain Victory grips were pretty standard after awhile, but early guns did leave the factory with whatever was available. In war time they used everything.

 

[bettis1]

Fredrick,

Let me welcome you to the Forum and I'm glad to learn that your purchase wasn't too far from what you were looking for.

You can rest assured that everyone here has made deals that they regretted in the past. It's just one way to learn about these things. When I started collecting many years ago there was a saying that new collectors always were directed to: "Buy a book for every gun that you buy". It is old advice but no less valid for new collectors today than it was 60 years ago. If Victorys are what you are interested in, I would suggest that you try to pick up a copy of Charles Pate's seminal book: U. S. Handguns of World War II.

Bob

 

[Texas Star]

I don't see why the grips are confusing. Those before April, 1942 are normal checkered, with silver medallions. After that date, smooth wood, like on the US Victory Models.

But guns that have been rebuilt may not have the original grips. It's that simple!

Same for the finishes. Jinks's and other books tell about the bluing being less bright after a year or two, then the dull gray Midnight Black that resembles Parkerizing. That came with the smooth grips in April, 1942. The guns made after that time also have many more tool marks that weren't polished out, to increase production at the cost of nicities.

 

[KframeRob69]

Guys,

I think the Colt Cobra came out in 1960 - I believe it was a 1961 Cobra with the factory installed hammer shroud that Ruby used. Ruby's connections to law enforcement were substantial - in fact, a Dallas Police Officer bought the Colt Cobra (alloy frame snubby) for Ruby at an iconic Dallas gun store, Ray's Hardware, that still exists today (though shopping there is out of my pay grade).

-RC

 

[Malysh]

Guys,

I think the Colt Cobra came out in 1960 - I believe it was a 1961 Cobra with the factory installed hammer shroud that Ruby used. Ruby's connections to law enforcement were substantial - in fact, a Dallas Police Officer bought the Colt Cobra (alloy frame snubby) for Ruby at an iconic Dallas gun store, Ray's Hardware, that still exists today (though shopping there is out of my pay grade).

-RC

See post #18 in this thread. The Cobra was introduced in 1950. 1,500 were made in 1950, 5,500 in 1951, 13,700 were made in 1952, etc, etc. Ruby's Cobra was a 1951 with a hammer shroud and the plastic Coltwood grips of the era. The Cobra was the 2nd aluminum alloy frame gun ever produced, after the 1949 introduction of the Colt Commander 45 (lightweight).

You are correct in that Ruby had a number of connections in the Dallas P.D., and he also had mob connections from Chicago.

 

[chud333]

Fredrick,

Let me welcome you to the Forum and I'm glad to learn that your purchase wasn't too far from what you were looking for.

You can rest assured that everyone here has made deals that they regretted in the past. It's just one way to learn about these things. When I started collecting many years ago there was a saying that new collectors always were directed to: "Buy a book for every gun that you buy". It is old advice but no less valid for new collectors today than it was 60 years ago. If Victorys are what you are interested in, I would suggest that you try to pick up a copy of Charles Pate's seminal book: U. S. Handguns of World War II.

Bob

Frederick,
Bob is correct. I was told long ago when i started collecting
U.S. coinage. Buy the book before you buy the coin. This holds
true on guns as well. You may have learned a valuable lesson
this time that hopefully won't be too expensive.


Chuck