New Victory and unknown stamp on backstrap

[MelvinWalker]

This came to me while at a Tampa range last week. The shop had it in a case with 50 other Sigs and Glocks, looking very out of place.

It was marked "unknown Smith and Wesson"...I went back today and bought it...The pictures don't do it justice, but looks nearly new and as tight as the day it was made. No muzzle wear or holster wear. It has the tiniest turn line. Bore is crisp as new. Original grips..Right grip matches serial number

The shop manager said it was included in the store sale when they bought the business and it was from a glass case that the former elderly owner had in his office for decades and hasn't been for sale...The shop has zero interest in it or anything about it... Price to me was $650

The finish is original black magic with 99% original finish.. Serial is V645051 with flaming bomb and "P" proofs on left side and cylinder face. No topstrap markings...Non-import of course. I checked the database and there are a few around it, but nothing definitive...This one is not in the database.

However, the backstrap has an odd marking...It looks like "upside down capital "T" with number 077 and followed by another upside down "T". It was factory stamped because it is under the original black magic finish.

Sorry for the not-so-great pics. I'll try to post better ones later. I'm thinking this one may need a letter?

Any ideas on the backstrap markings?

 

[DWalt]

Very likely a DSC revolver. Gripstrap stamping is probably an inventory identification number and the upside down Ts are probably 1s. Might be worth getting a letter.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

It was marked "unknown Smith and Wesson"...

Any ideas on the backstrap markings?

In 2025 the average gun person is not familiar with WWII, Victory Models or DSC.

Rack Number for the Agency that received it. I think it is "10771".

Nice find it is all original.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I agree with the likely rack number scenario, just because I can't think of anything else it is likely to be. It sure does look like it was put on before the final finish. I confess to being puzzled.

 

[MelvinWalker]

In 2025 the average gun person is not familiar with WWII, Victory Models or DSC.

Rack Number for the Agency that received it. I think it is "10771".

Nice find it is all original.

Yeah, I thought so...I told the shop what it was last Friday before I bought it yesterday...They said they had already entered it in their bound book as "unknown", so that's what they were riding with.

 

[ordnanceguy]

I agree that it is a rack or inventory number of some sort.

I believe that the revolver has been refinished. That would account for the backstrap number appearing under the finish rather than above it.

Is the ejector rod blued? It does not appear so in the pics. If not blued then that is another indicator of a refinish.

The lanyard loop looks odd to me as well. You might want to compare it to others to see if it is a non-S&W replacement.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[Uraldriver]

Wouldn’t a victory model have the rounded half moon front sight?

Also, that’s a pretty neat revolver, lanyard rings rule.

 

[Retired W4]

I agree that it is a rack or inventory number of some sort.

I believe that the revolver has been refinished. That would account for the backstrap number appearing under the finish rather than above it.

Is the ejector rod blued? It does not appear so in the pics. If not blued then that is another indicator of a refinish.

The lanyard loop looks odd to me as well. You might want to compare it to others to see if it is a non-S&W replacement.

Regards,
Charlie

I concur. That butt swivel may be a replacement, installed during refirb. I doubt S&W placed the rack number on the back strap. I believe it would have been placed there by the end user.

 

[Alk8944]

Look closely at the front sight, it appears to have been re-shaped from the original half-moon. I agree the gun has been re-finished which explains the number on the backstrap being under the finish. I don't know if the factory would have stamped a service date under the left stock when re-finishing a victory model. Pull the stocks and look.

 

[gunbarrel]

Look closely at the front sight, it appears to have been re-shaped from the original half-moon. I agree the gun has been re-finished which explains the number on the backstrap being under the finish. I don't know if the factory would have stamped a service date under the left stock when re-finishing a victory model. Pull the stocks and look.

Agree with the comments above. Either the front sight was reshaped, or the barrel was replaced with one from a newer model (e.g. 10-5) when the gun was refinished.

 

[DWalt]

I did not earlier notice the front sight shape. Definitely modified from the original by someone at a later time. Could be a replacement barrel, but I’d think it more likely that somebody took a file or Dremel tool to the original sight.

 

[kimporter]

Question,would the cylinder have a plum color if refinished?

 

[MelvinWalker]

I agree that it is a rack or inventory number of some sort.

I believe that the revolver has been refinished. That would account for the backstrap number appearing under the finish rather than above it.

Is the ejector rod blued? It does not appear so in the pics. If not blued then that is another indicator of a refinish.

The lanyard loop looks odd to me as well. You might want to compare it to others to see if it is a non-S&W replacement.

Regards,
Charlie

The ejector rod is blued. The picture was taken last night under a incandescent light, so it just doesn't show up well. The lanyard loop looks identical to my other Victory, except less wear...Again, lighting.

 

[MelvinWalker]

I did not earlier notice the front sight shape. Definitely modified from the original by someone at a later time. Could be a replacement barrel, but I’d think it more likely that somebody took a file or Dremel tool to the original sight.

It is actually serrated very slightly at the back of the sight on the "ramp"...Looks almost factory.

 

[Com 45acp]

That is not a factory lanyard ring. That is much larger than what S&W used.

 

[MelvinWalker]

That is not a factory lanyard ring. That is much larger than what S&W used.

Correct...I measured it and the ring itself is identical to my other Victory, but the base is much larger. I took the grips off and the pin is the same too, but the base is definitely different.

 

[gunbarrel]

It is actually serrated very slightly at the back of the sight on the "ramp"...Looks almost factory.

Melvin, does it look like this? If it does, this is a post-war M&P Model 10-5 front sight.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Melvin, does it look like this? If it does, this is a post-war M&P Model 10-5 front sight.

It looks very much like that. I got one of my Model 10's out and it matches identically sans finish...Could a gunsmith have modified this in years past or could S&W have done it postwar by owner request?

However, I took the grips off once again and it has a prominent "S" stamped under the left grip on the lower frame...Possible factory rework? I don't see a date stamped.

 

[RM Vivas]

None of you'se thought to ask me? I'm hurt!

Thats Nathan Manas's gun. He came on 'da Job December 1945. He bought that gun out of the Equipment Bureau on 16DEC45. Thats his shield # on the back: 10771.

Probably retired to Florida like most of the Dinosaurs and when he shuffled off to that Eternal Footpost In The Sky his family probably sold it.

It is, of course, a DSC supplied Smith & Wesson Victory .38. NYPD took in about 950 or so during The War.

I'd be interested in it.

If you want it lettered, PM me your email address and snail mail address.

Best,
RM Vivas

(most verily, I rocketh!)

 

[gunbarrel]

I love happy endings to these mysteries!