Post war SV Commercial 5"?

[Retired W4]

I have in my safe SV812256 which is a 4". I have never seen one of these commercial post war Victory models in the 5" barrel length. As the 5" BSR's were chambered in 38/200 (38 S&W) I figured S&W did not bore the barrel (or the chambers) for 38 S&W Special until after the war. This is not one of the many Victory models that had the chambers bored for 38 special after the fact because the barrel is marked 38 S&W Special and the letter confirms it was shipped as such.

Yes, I'm the one who won the bidding war (skirmish) for this gun. I just had to have it to go with my 4". My question for the experts (you know who you are) is approximately how many of these 5" guns were produced? One of the cool features is it's wearing pre-war K magnas. I'm guessing the magnas were laying around in a parts bin, fitted to an earlier gun, then pulled and refitted to this one, much like my pre-war/post war commercial 1917 (one of approx. 1000). Photos when I have it in hand.

 

[Retired W4]

Moderators, I posted this in the wrong section. That's what I get by trying to post before my second cup of expresso.

 

[JP@AK]

Actually, during the S prefix period of commercial shipments (including the postwar SV units), the 5" barrel is the second-most common length. Nothing unusual here.

The lowest number in my personal collection of postwar M&Ps is SV776161. It has the 5" barrel and shipped in March 1946, with prewar style Magna stocks. I also have S814325, which is a 5" unit. It also shipped in March 1946 with prewar style Magna stocks. There are plenty of others in my database that fit these criteria.

You didn't supply the serial number of your latest acquisition. Please provide it to me (in a PM if you wish) so I can record it in the database. Also, are the prewar style stocks numbered to the gun? Thanks.

 

[Retired W4]

Actually, during the S prefix period of commercial shipments (including the postwar SV units), the 5" barrel is the second-most common length. Nothing unusual here.

The lowest number in my personal collection of postwar M&Ps is SV776161. It has the 5" barrel and shipped in March 1946, with prewar style Magna stocks. I also have S814325, which is a 5" unit. It also shipped in March 1946 with prewar style Magna stocks. There are plenty of others in my database that fit these criteria.

You didn't supply the serial number of your latest acquisition. Please provide it to me (in a PM if you wish) so I can record it in the database. Also, are the prewar style stocks numbered to the gun? Thanks.

Well that just burst my balloon. I was hoping it was a bit more scarce.

For your data base: SV773572. Another March 25, 1946. The other thing that attracted me to this one was the fact that it shipped to Beck & Gregg Hardware, right here in Atlanta. My 44 Magnum, S130881 was also shipped to Beck & Gregg.

Edit: don't know about the SN on the magnas...yet. Will report.

 

[JP@AK]

Turns out it was already in my database with shipping to Atlanta in March 1946. I'm betting the prewar style Magna stocks will match. Your confirmation will be appreciated. Cheers.

 

[Retired W4]

Would you venture a guess as to the number of 5" SV commercials out there?

 

[Goony]

My early postwar 5", serial number SV7702XX. Apparently I've never asked Roy to verify when it shipped, although March of 1946 would seem most likely.

 

[JP@AK]

Would you venture a guess as to the number of 5" SV commercials out there?

At the moment, no. But I'll be running a new analysis of the database soon, in preparation for a Journal article. When I have an approximate number to suggest, I'll try to remember to let you know.

 

[JP@AK]

Here is S814325, mentioned in Post #3 above. 5", prewar style stocks, etc.

 

[DWalt]

A theory is that an SV prefix civilian finish M&P revolver would have been one made up from military manufactured components (at least the frame) remaining in factory inventory at war's end and then given a commercial finish and grips.The postwar M&P SV and S revolvers appeared on the civilian market in early 1946, as did yours. Just how many of the SV series revolvers were shipped to the U.S. military prior to VJ Day is uncertain. Allegedly none were shipped to the British in 1945. Your SV is almost certainly among the final SVs that were made.

 

[JP@AK]

The SV-marked units run up into the low SV813000 range. After that, they are marked simply S. Above SV811119 the SV and S numbers are mixed together. Starting at about 812000, S numbers begin to predominate.

 

[JP@AK]

Just how many of the SV series revolvers were shipped to the U.S. military prior to VJ Day is uncertain.

That is correct. However, we do know that they were shipping to the Navy from January 1945, all the way up to August 1945.

The lowest number I've recorded is SV732261 (shipped June 29, 1945) and the highest is SV802722. That last one went to Norfolk on August 13, 1945! That is the very day Japan capitulated.

1200 units shipped to the Oakland Navy Yard on February 23, 1945.

The problem is that other units in that range (SV732261 to SV802722) didn't ship until after the war. A large number of them were shipped to the NYPD, and many others went to various distributors, beginning on March 1, 1946. A large order was shipped to the Cleveland Police Department in February 1946, which is the earliest postwar civilian shipment that I have found. But the Cleveland guns had much higher serial numbers.

 

[bdGreen]

Here is mine.

Enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

 

[larryofcc]

# SV 809976 shipped to HD Folsom Co. 4-4-1946. It too has the pre war stocks, and the swivel hole plugged. Big Larry

 

[Retired W4]

Picked it up yesterday. The stocks do match the gun. The auction house had the name and address blacked out, but it turns out, the letter was addressed to SWCA's own Mike Priwer. I will post some photos after the dust settles around here.

One additional note on the stocks; they have the blued milled type stock circle inserts.

 

[larkworthy]

I am on the hunt for a SV M&P to add to my small Victory pile. I did find a box for one recently that RKMESA was kind enough to let me win. I have not seen this configuration of box before. Regards, Lyle

 

[JP@AK]

The tan boxes do exist. This is the third one I've seen, all from during the SV prefix period. One of them is only about 30 numbers off from yours.