Questions about the Bavaria Municipal Police Victory Model?

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I just acquired a Victory model marked "Bavaria Municipal Police." All numbers match (frame, stocks, yoke, cylinder). SCSW indicates that the Victory was produced from 1942-45. How did the Germans (in Bavaria) acquire it? After WWII? During the Occupation? Any information about the history of this piece would be appreciated. It's in very good condition - any ideas about approximate value? Thanks in advance.
 

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Nice looking Victory!
Jim Mock has put together an incredible web site concerning US weapons that were given/loaned to Germany /Austria after WWII. The attached link will get you to the info regarding the Victory and other handguns. Be sure and look through the rest of his site. I think you'll find it quite interesting.
I have several Victorys, and recently was able to pick up a very nice, all matching number "Bavarian Municipal Police" marked gun as well. I really like the idea of these guns, along with the "Bavarian" carbines I've owned, having a "second", post-war history in addition to their time with the US Military.
As for value, I'd say somewhere between $300 - 600+, depending on condition and where you live.
Nice find.........attached are some pics of mine.
JB

U.S. M1 Carbines in Germany
 
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Interesting that the two posted Bavaria Municipal Police marked Victory's are 4in barrel.38Spl. I have a 5in .38 S&W Victory marked Bavaria Rural Police. Most of the German and Austrian marked Victory's I have seen and heard of have 5in barrels in .38 S&W cal.
 
Did the 38 Spl Bavarian pistols come from the US and the 38 S&W 938/200) come from Britain? I know that Britain, France, the US and the USSR all helped rearm Austria after WW II (The USSR contributed Lugers; they had no use for them, the pistols were obsolete and chambered for a caliber they didn't issue).
 
Thanks for the excellent website link Kikokat (JB).
Good one, Saxon Pig!
John Wyatt and Cyrano mention .38 S&W (.38/200), which are also referenced on the website. Both of our 4" Victories have the "U.S. Property G.H.D." marking. Are the 5" .38 S&W's marked similarly?
 
In the mid 1950s a lot of these revolvers, issued to the civilian police dep'ts in Germany by the occupying Allied Forces ,were purchased as surplus guns by American importers and sold here in the US. I recall going into a Montgomery Wrads store one day here in San Diego and a table piled high with these guns was on sale for about $9.95 ea. I went through the pile and picked out about a dozen guns, all with different German Police stampings. A WW2 vet friend of mine, that had served with the occupation troops in the American sector, said that the guns turned over to the Germans by the British were marked in German, by the German units in the British sector with the various dep't stamps where the gun were issued. The guns issued in the American sector by the Americans were marked in English with the unit's designation, so that American MPs, etc. could then tell that a German with one of these guns was probably a legitimate member of the local law enforcement, should he be in plain clothes. Ed.
 
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Had to share a pic of my German Victory Model. This one letters as having shipped to the U.S. Navy, Norfolk, Va., but apparently was passed around to at least two German police units after the War. It is marked"Railway Police, Frankfurt", and stamped over that mark is a "BP"....

What "BP" stands for is a mystery, Berlin Police, Bavarian Police, who knows. Another one that if it could talk could tell a tale or two.

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Also, sometime in it's life, someone inletted a compass into the left grip panel, something you don't see every day.
 
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Thanks for the excellent website link Kikokat (JB).
Good one, Saxon Pig!
John Wyatt and Cyrano mention .38 S&W (.38/200), which are also referenced on the website. Both of our 4" Victories have the "U.S. Property G.H.D." marking. Are the 5" .38 S&W's marked similarly?

My 5in .38 S&W is marked US Property GHD on the left top strap. Ser# is in the 666xxx range and I believe the ship date listed in the factory letter is in Sept. 1944.
 
Thanks John Wyatt.
So Saxon Pig is correct - both models (.38 Special and .38 S&W) were sent to Germany.
If I may ask, to whom does your factory letter indicate that it was shipped?
 
Thanks John Wyatt.
So Saxon Pig is correct - both models (.38 Special and .38 S&W) were sent to Germany.
If I may ask, to whom does your factory letter indicate that it was shipped?

Shipped on Sept. 18th 1944 to Hartford Ordnance Depot, Springfield Mass. The letter also states that Hartford Ordnance Depot was responsible for firearms supplied under the Lend Lease program.
 
Shipped on Sept. 18th 1944 to Hartford Ordnance Depot, Springfield Mass. The letter also states that Hartford Ordnance Depot was responsible for firearms supplied under the Lend Lease program.

John, what type of stamping or German designation is on yours?

Thanks!
 
Not exactly a revolver, but this one is a German-issued Browning Hi Power, made in 1953. In very nice shape, with post-war holster.
Bob

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Here is my new to me Victory.... All matching numbers including the grips, no import marks, "US Property GHD" on topstrap, 38 S&W, Bavaria Municipal Police owned.

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I had read that the German police didn't care much for revolvers and dumped them as soon as semi-autos went back into production.
 
Here is another interesting Victory that ended up in Germany post-war in Hesse. The gun originally shipped to the OSS then made it's way Germany and Israel before returning home. I am sure Ed will recognize this one.



 

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