Pre Victory Questions
- Thread starter Mark4
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opoefc
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mark4, Welcome to the Forum. The classification of "Pre-Victory" is usually applied by collectors to those revolvers purchased by and/or, shipped to Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand & Canada, prior to the beginning of the V series production in Feb 1942 Most of those were in the British caliber of .38/200, known to us as the .38 Smith & Wesson caliber. Very few of these Pre-Victories were in .38 S&W Special caliber, and the majority of the Pre-Victory gun were finished in the standard polished blue finish and had walnut checkered service stocks, and had .38 Military & Police Model 1905, 4th change serial numbers under 999,999. Sales of these guns to the above recepients occured from early 1940 to mid 1942, some by direct contracts with S&W, others by purchases by Remington Arm Co., Britain's Agent for US purchases, and the British Purchasing Commission, as well as the Lend Lease progarms.. The total number is believed to be 571,629 revolvers, broken down as follows: 112.854 directly to the British Purch. Comm., 21,347 to South Africa, 45,328 to canada, 8,000 to Australia, and the remaining 384,100 were supplied through the Lend Lease program.
Your question specifically mentions the ".38Spl." and unfortunately there is no real source of identifying how many of the above revolvers were in that caliber. Only a handfull, in my opinion, as the vast majority were in the .38/200 British caliber. I hope this helps, Ed.
Your question specifically mentions the ".38Spl." and unfortunately there is no real source of identifying how many of the above revolvers were in that caliber. Only a handfull, in my opinion, as the vast majority were in the .38/200 British caliber. I hope this helps, Ed.
Ed, thanks for the information. I recently came across an old
S&W s/n 941xxx and have been trying to determine if it would be considered a 1905 4th change or a pre victory. It looks exactly like my Victory model except for the blue finish and very worn checkered grips. It even has a lanyard loop but no government markings. I will post a photo as soon as I figure out how to get them uploaded.Thanks again for the reply and the welcome, this is a great sight, I have enjoyed looking around over the last couple of days since registering.
S&W s/n 941xxx and have been trying to determine if it would be considered a 1905 4th change or a pre victory. It looks exactly like my Victory model except for the blue finish and very worn checkered grips. It even has a lanyard loop but no government markings. I will post a photo as soon as I figure out how to get them uploaded.Thanks again for the reply and the welcome, this is a great sight, I have enjoyed looking around over the last couple of days since registering.
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