My Lowest Serial Number Victory (So Far)

[LikeOldGuns]

My recent acquisition of a four-digit serial number Victory. Nothing special in terms of markings, but all matching, including the grip. Now, if I could only find a three-digit model.

"We have researched your Smith & Wesson .38 Victory Model, United States Defense Supply Corporation Contract, caliber .38 S&W Special, revolver in company records which indicate that your handgun, with serial number V2150, was shipped from our factory on July 28, 1942, and delivered to Chevrolet Bay City, Bay City, MI. This firearm was shipped with a 4 inch barrel, military midnight black finish, butt swivel, and smooth walnut grips."

 

[CDMead]

Great pistol.

I did a quick Google search on the Bay City Chevrolet plant and found, "WWII - Plant produced parts for the Pratt Whitney aircraft engines, military trucks and armored cars."

I suspect you have a guard gun that if it could talk.....

 

[opoefc]

Nice find! I have a few early numbers in my Victory stash and/or data base. V6, V8, V10, V12 & V18 all went to the Hartford Ordnance Depot (British) in May/June 1942. V 16 was shipped to the Brits on June, 2, 1942, V 114 is a Defense Plant gun shipped Aug. 11, 1942 to W.McHarper, Corvallis, OR. V 369 shipped June 18, 1942, to W.VA. Ordnance Works, and V 1 has two ship dates, the first being a gift signed out on Dec 12, 1942 to Lt. Gen. William Knudsen, formerly head of General Motors , who was appointed to head all wartime production by Pres. Roosevelt and commissioned a Lt. General, US Army, to allow access to military bases. This gun was returned to S&W after WW2, reworked to add the new hammer safety block, and then presented to Pres. Truman by Carl Hellstrom, S&W President on June 22, 1947, as a memento of the Allied victory in WW2. Somewhat of a mystery surrounds this V1, (see my article in the S&WCA Journal, Vol 33 No. 3, Winter 1999.) Six Victory Models, serial number one million and V1 thru V5 ,were not included in the standard production run but were set aside and sent to the service dep't at S&W for special handling and finishing. They are polished blue guns with fancy grain smooth walnut stocks and were set aside for VIPs. V5 was presented to an Army Ordnance Officer but was returned later and is currently in the CVHM S&W collection and V1 is in the Truman Memorial Library at Independence, MO. Wherabouts of V2, V3 and V4 are unknown to collectors, so keep your eyes peeled at gun shows & auctions, etc. If you see one of those three Victory Models, they are high polished blue finish , so don't pass them up thinking they are refinished guns! Unfortunately for us collectors, Carl Hellstroms notes, correspondence and personal records on these VIP guns were thrown out by an ambitious new employee told to straighten up the files, after Hellstom's death. Ed #15