Pre Victory question

[policerevolvercollector]

I saw a M&P with the serial # 999xxx w/ a 4" bbl. in .38 Spl.,smooth wood stocks & a lanyard ring. I didn't see any British proofs etc. & it isn't in .38-200. So, would this be manufactured for use stateside before the U.S. entered WWII? When did the "V" prefix start?

 

[Skeetr57]

The V prefix started when the cumulative serial numbers for K frame guns reached one million, I believe in 1942 or '43. The rough wartime finish and smooth grips are usually associated with Victory models, but your gun is so late in the pre Victory serial number range that it may have gotten the wartime finish originally.

 

[gordonrick]

Yours would be early 1942. The "V" series started after the serial numbers reached 1M, as Tom said, in late April '42. You are probably correct that it was a defense industry security weapon and was probably parkerized (or the S&W version of that) originally. Check out the Victory database thread and you'll find a bunch of interesting info on these wartime guns.

Rick

 

[DWalt]

Officially, the Victory V prefix started production on 4/24/42 at V1, but that one may have shipped later than that. Without a "United States Property" topstrap stamping, it would most likely have gone for stateside service (law enforcement, defense plant guards, etc.). That one would likely have been originally blued, not with the later phosphate finish.