S&W Victory barrel markings

[Tommy Gun 1256]

Good morning, I just purchased a Victory model V 5931XX. I'm hoping someone can help me with barrel markings. The marking are ND .38' 767' 3.5 TONS. Above the ND there is a line and 2 cross or check marks (see attached picture). Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[murphydog]

These are commercial proof marks, placed on the gun after leaving military service and before sale into the civilian market. .38 caliber, .767" case length and 3.5 tons pressure, a whopping 7840 psi. NP is Nitro Proof; many of these guns were tested in Birmingham so BNP is a common mark.

 

[Tommy Gun 1256]

Murphydog thank you very much for the information. Any thoughts what the marks are above the NP?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Any thoughts what the marks are above the NP?

It's a crown. https://www.nramuseum.org/media/940944/proofmarks.pdf

 

[kwill1911]

Guy, I think it is an arm holding a sword.

 

[DWalt]

These are commercial proof marks, placed on the gun after leaving military service and before sale into the civilian market. .38 caliber, .767" case length and 3.5 tons pressure, a whopping 7840 psi. NP is Nitro Proof; many of these guns were tested in Birmingham so BNP is a common mark.

My understanding is that the British proofing methods and standards of that time differ greatly from SAAMI and CIP, and are not equivalent. I cannot elaborate on why and how because I have no idea. However, under the 1954 British proof rules, 3.5 Tons (I assume those would be long tons) actually equates to a chamber pressure around 11,000 psi. Maybe someone reading this has familiarity with British proofing and can explain what 3.5 Tons under the 1954 rules means vs. SAAMI or CIP.

 

[murphydog]

I have a long ton of pressure at 2240 psi?

 

[Tommy Gun 1256]

This gun has a serial number of S 5931XX. Does anyone know the date it would have been made?

 

[DWalt]

This is sort of an explanation of British proof, but for shotguns. I gather that the 3.5 tons is the working pressure of the ammunition, not the proof ammunition's pressure which would be greater. And nothing about how pressure measurements are to be made was given. There was some mention that LUP was used under the 1954 rules. Maybe that was just for shotguns. Proof marks - BASC

 

[desi2358]

Guy, I think it is an arm holding a sword.

What I see in the pic IS an arm holding a sword which is a London Proof House mark. Brimingham used a crown over BP as their mark.

 

[murphydog]

This gun has a serial number of S 5931XX. Does anyone know the date it would have been made?

My guess would be early-mid 1944, but someone here can probably narrow it down more precisely.