S&W Victory model serial number lookup

[DWalt]

It's difficult to date shipment of a SV series Victory precisely. Early 1945 would be my best guess. A factory letter would definitely be in order for yours. The SV series was the first to have the improved hammer safety, beginning in very early 1945. The fact that you have one in military guise (phosphate finish) is fortunate, because I suspect there were not many of those released. There were only about 40,000 SVs made (perhaps as many as 45,000), and I have always believed that most of those were finished as commercial revolvers and sold on the post-war civilian market starting in early 1946. Numerically, an original military SV (in .38 S&W or .38 Special) is probably among the rarest of the Victories.

If yours has a 5" barrel, it would most likely have originally been chambered in .38 S&W, not .38 Special, i.e., it's likely to be a .38/200 British Service Revolver (BSR). What caliber is stamped on the barrel? Do all serial numbers match? Replacement swivels and grips are readily available. Please post some pictures.

 

[Thornn01]

The cylinder is definitely .38 Special, 38S&W cartridges won't go it. The barrel is marked 38S&W CTG. The numbers on the frame and crane match, but the one on the cylinder does not, neither is the one on the barrel; Frame - 61674, Crane - 61674, Barrel - V 288973, Cylinder - P V 799734. Does this sound like a frankenstein gun? Assembled from loose parts and refinished? Also, should I slug the barrel to see if its a .38 special bore or a 38 S&W bore?

 

[DWalt]

It's obvious what you have - a 1945 SV .38 Special with a .38 S&W replacement barrel. The crane (actually yoke) numbers are not serial numbers, but assembly matching numbers. The barrel would date from around May 1943. And it is a Frankengun (or sort of). It's possible the only replacement parts are the barrel and grips. As a shooter, it's OK, but as it is not entirely original, it will have no collector value. I wouldn't put too much money into it.

You might take a peek at the back side of the extractor star and at the rear face of the yoke arm (look through a chamber) to see if the SNs there match the one on the butt.

 

[Thornn01]

The serial number on the yoke arm matches the cylinder, not the frame. Which is odd, since the assembly number on the yoke matches the assembly number on the frame. I removed the extractor star and there is no serial number visible. Thanks for the info. Would there be any point in finding a 38 Special replacement barrel? I guess with a 38S&W barrel, accuracy with 38 Special ammo will not be very good.

 

[DWalt]

The serial number on the yoke arm matches the cylinder, not the frame Aren't the butt SN and the cylinder SN the same? (799734)

The extractor star should have the same SN as on the butt. If not, or if there is no SN, it is likely a replacement.

Even though the .38 S&W barrel has a slightly greater bore diameter, .38 Special (.357"-.358") bullets should work well enough, especially at moderate distances. I wouldn't waste the money to have someone replace the barrel. That will not increase the value of the gun any, and it probably will have only a minimal effect upon grouping capability.

 

[Thornn01]

You're right, I had so many numbers running through my head I got confused. I think I have some hollow base lead 38 Special ammo. I'll see how that shoots. I slugged the barrel and its .360".

 

[DWalt]

For a long time I used .357-.358 cast bullets to reload .38 S&W ammunition, and they worked fine in my .38 S&W revolvers.

 

[Ed C.]

New Member with Victory Questions

Hello to all. I have a S&W Model 10 Victory that I acquired from my uncle years ago. It's been in a safe for about 25 years. Got it out and looked at it today. Serial number is V272621. Left side of barrell, it has stamped "S&W Special" and what looks like "C70" (but hard to tell). Also has what looke like "U.S. BB". Original finish. Any information about this old Model 10 would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Ed C.

 

[DWalt]

Hello to all. I have a S&W Model 10 Victory that I acquired from my uncle years ago. It's been in a safe for about 25 years. Got it out and looked at it today. Serial number is V272621. Left side of barrell, it has stamped "S&W Special" and what looks like "C70" (but hard to tell). Also has what looks like "U.S. BB". Original finish. Any information about this old Model 10 would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Ed C.

Pictures would help. Also, some additional details. The barrel length (if it is marked ".38 S&W Special CTG" on the barrel) should be 4" from front face of the cylinder to muzzle. Stocks should be smooth wood, and the metal finish a dark gray to blackish dull phosphate (like Parkerizing). Bluing would be incorrect. One key ID factor is what is stamped (or not stamped) on the topstrap. At that time, virtually all Victory Models (Note: Model 10s did not exist until 1957) made for military use had "U.S. PROPERTY" stamped on the topstrap. If not present, it was probably made for civilian use - stateside police or defense plant guards, etc. The SN would date its shipment to about April or May 1943. I have no idea what U. S. BB would mean. Can you supply a picture showing it, and where located?

 

[Ed C.]

DWALT,
I'll check the barrel, but sure it's 4". It does have the dull "parkerized" finish. It had checked grips on it when I first got it. I put Pachmayrs on it. Changed nothing else. I'm 99% sure it has "U.S. Property" stamped in the topstrap. It's in my brother's safe, so i don;t have it front of me. I've forwarded him your questions, and hope to have more pictures soon. Haven't figured out how to insert pictures here yet. I'll give it a try. Thanks! Ed C.

 

[Ed C.]

Victory Questions - Pictures

DWalt, Here are the pictures I have. I'll send others as soon as I get them...

 

[hardscrabble]

DWalt, is anyone still building a data base of these SN? If so, I picked this one up this week:

Pre-Victory Model, .38S&W (38-200), ordnance mark/WB on butt, “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” on top strap, SN 889549, all matching, 90+% original polished blue finish, no British proofs/export marks, smooth wartime service grips number to gun.

 

[hardscrabble]

Duplicated post.

 

[DWalt]

There are others with much more extensive data bases than mine. They'll pick up your information. That one would likely have shipped sometime in late 1941, possibly early 1942, but I cannot get any closer than that. A blued finish would have been correct at that time, also (probably) diamond checkered wooden stocks with small silver medallions. If it got here by other than through "official" channels, it would likely have no British proof marks. The topstrap property stamping merely means it is a Lend-Lease revolver.

 

[DWalt]

DWalt, Here are the pictures I have. I'll send others as soon as I get them...

It seems correct, except for the Pachs. Period smooth wood stocks and lanyard swivels (and I imagine the original swivel is missing) are not difficult to find.

 

[Ed C.]

.38 Victory

DWalt, Called my brother. He was able to confirm that on the topstrap is stamped "U.S. Property G.H.D." In front of the "U.S." is a small insignia that he can't ID. Left side of the barrel has ".38 S. & W. Special CTG". On top of the barrel is stamped "Smith & Wesson Springfield, Mass." with patent dates of Feb 8, 1908; Sept 14, 1909; and Dec 22, 1914. Right side of frame behind the cylinder is "Made in U.S.A." and a trademark stamp (?). Close-up pictures forthcoming.
Thanks!
Ed C.

 

[Ed C.]

.38 Victory - More Pictures

DWalt,
Have a few mores pictures.
Thank you!
Ed C.

 

[DWalt]

GHD is (Col) Guy H. Drewry, the commanding officer of the Army's Hartford Ordnance District, responsible for contract administration. Appears on Victory revolvers from about SN V151350 onward. Everything seems Kosher about it. The little insignia is probably the "flaming bomb," an Ordnance acceptance mark. It's found on all sorts of military weapons beside these revolvers.

 

[Ed C.]

Thank you DWalt. I'm interested in buying a set of original gerips and the lanyard. Where can these be found? Prefer used grips to better match the condition of the VM, but not trashed.
Thanks, again. Ed C.

 

[DWalt]

Look on eBay. Both grips and swivels show up there frequently. Also get on SARCO's website, they often have used grips - sometimes very used. There are other sources. Just Google around.