Information needed on fake Victory revolver and leather holster

[0-65 Springfield]

I thought this forum would be the best place to get info on this revolver.It looks a lot like my Victory and i believe the grips are for a Victory.They do not fit the frame well.The barrel is plugged and is stamped Police Agent SP on the left side.This revolver is also stamped Japan on the right side of the frame.There is also a lanyard ring.Is this a cap gun? prop gun? The weight is even about the same as my real Victory.Any information would be helpful along with a value.I have never seen one of these.I am going to sell it,but would like to know what it is worth? The holster is in very nice condition and the revolver fits it well.There are no markings that i can find.It looks to have never been used.Can someone tell me what i have here and if it has value? Thank you.

 

[gunnails]

Does not look like a S&W. The holster is probably worth as much as the gun.

 

[Bosquebass]

It's not a Smith & Wesson. It looks like a knock off of a Colt.
Most likely it's a movie prop or blank gun made in Japan.

 

[opoefc]

Replica handguns, made in Japan, started right after WW2, and continue to this day. Your gun is one of these. I would estimate it is a 70s -80s era model. The holster is also a replica holster, but reasonably well made, probably from pigskin. Ownership of real handguns by civilians has been banned in Japan since WW2, so there's a going industry for replicas and Japanese magazines devoted to the collection of these are common . Ed.

 

[s&wchad]

Ownership of real handguns by civilians has been banned in Japan since WW2, so there's a going industry for replicas and Japanese magazines devoted to the collection of these are common . Ed.

Nuts, isn't it? I picked up a realistic looking Japanese "Dirty Harry" cap gun at an estate sale a while back. It had good weight, removable grips, a swing out rotating cylinder and fired plastic caps that fit in the front of reusable cartridges. In Japan and England these toys were bringing about $300, but it was illegal to import them because of criminal use!
I think I got $75 for it from a local collector.

My wife worked at Nippon Denso about 20 years ago. The home office would send mid-level executives over for a year or three to work in the US office. Almost to a man, they wanted to play golf and shoot guns as soon as they stepped off the plane!

 

[0-65 Springfield]

Any idea what this gun and holster are worth separate?

 

[deadin]

Any idea what this gun and holster are worth separate?

ASAIK there is no market for these in this country, so there is no way to estimate what one might bring.
It's worth whatever you will take for it or whatever someone else will pay.
Whichever is greater........

 

[opoefc]

Dean, These replicas are currently available in the US. I get catalogs from various vendors that list & show replicas of many different handguns ( Victory models, Berettas, Lugers, 44 mags, stubbies, Thompson sub machine guns, etc ) Prices can range for about $60 to over $300. Unfortunately, even these non-firing replicas are illegal in some states, like CA. You will also see these guns at tables of holster sellers at gun shows, as they make good displays for holster fitting. Ed.

 

[deadin]

I remember seeing these when I was stationed in Japan (1964-67). I didn't realize they were still making them.

 

[sigp220.45]

By a strange coincidence, my buddy sent me the exact same holster yesterday. He found it in a pawnshop in Billings, MT.

No markings at all, perfect fit for a 4" K frame.

Edited to add:

Looks like the holster is this out-of-stock $16.99 repro from World War Supplies.

 

[0-65 Springfield]

After doing more research,i found out that the original holsters were also not marked anywhere.How can i make sure the one i have is not original? Is it the hook on the back,color of the leather,stitching,that verifies this as a replica? I just do not want to sell this holster until i am sure it is a original or not.

 

[sigp220.45]

After doing more research,i found out that the original holsters were also not marked anywhere.How can i make sure the one i have is not original? Is it the hook on the back,color of the leather,stitching,that verifies this as a replica? I just do not want to sell this holster until i am sure it is a original or not.

I'm not sure how you would know for sure without markings. I'd say since it had a replica gun in it, and it doesn't look 70 years old (at least in your photos) the odds are that it is also a replica.

There is one with a 19.99 starting price on eBay now that claims to be original (Original WW2 WWII US Navy Revolver Pistol Holster Victory Smith & Wesson), and it looks old.

 

[0-65 Springfield]

Any other info from anyone?

 

[Alk8944]

After doing more research,i found out that the original holsters were also not marked anywhere.

Where did you find this erroneous information? Original U.S. Military leather holsters certainly were marked. The manufacturers information was stamped on the back, and U.S or U.S.N. etc. was stamped on the flap. The hook was also brass on all I have seen, not steel, as the pictured holster seems to be.

If you want to see what an original really should look like then follow this link: pacificcanvasandleather.com. Pacific Canvas & Leather makes very good replicas of all sorts of military holsters, the link will take you to the U.S. varieties. Originals also show up on E-bay quite frequently.

 

[opoefc]

As Alk8944 says, all original US issue holsters are clearly marked with various numbers & letter to designate the armory where the holster was made ( RIA, for example for Rock island Armory) or the contractor's vender & contract number, if the maker is a vendor to the military. The hook holders may, or may not be marked US, but won't have armory marking or vendor contract numbers. If you have a plain holster, with no markings, it's a repo. Ed. (PS: I just received a catalog from "Military Issue" a vendor of replica items. Listed for $25 is a repo of the WW2 Victory holster, with the repo "US"stamp and arsenal ID stamps. That's going to fool a lot of people at gun shows! )