S&W Victory model serial number lookup

It appears to have a 5" barrel, and is therefore very likely to be a .38/200, made for the British Commonwealth during WWII. The caliber ".38 S&W" should be stamped on the barrel. This is NOT the same cartridge as the .38 S&W Special. However, many of these had the chambers bored to accept .38 S&W Special cartridges. I doubt if yours is. .38 S&W ammunition is not easy to find, and expensive, but it is still available.
 
That fits because among the ammo he had I found 2 boxes of .38 S&W (not Special), one Remington and one Winchester.
It seems to be in very nice condition with only a few minor wear marks where you would expect them to be, no rust, and in good working order (although if it ever did come to me I would never take it to the range until it was checked by a competent gunsmith).
Do you have any idea of what the value ranges on this would be?
I know the "55" impressed onto the bottom of the wood handle is probably a local mark of some kind, but I was hoping some reader on the forum might recognize its meaning.
Do you think it would be worthwhile contacting S&W directly to see if they can tell me any more details about it?
 
An S&W factory letter will provide very little information beyond that already given above, mainly just a more precise shipping date. A good value estimate for a private sale would be around $400, assuming the chambers have not been bored for .38 Special. I have no idea what the "55" is - could be anything.

Most of those who enjoy shooting old revolvers chambered in .38 S&W load their own ammunition because of the availability and cost difficulties associated with factory ammunition.
 
Last edited:
M18386pounder said:
Here are the additional four photos that goes with my original post.
Click to expand...

Very similar to my ribbed Victory in the same SN area, V670313 w/jeweled trigger & hammer. Your rib has basically the same diamond pattern. Your rib is a mite taller and the front sight has a flying bridge of sorts.
Is that sight a notched original blade?

It appears this cross-member lines up w/slot in the blade to help secure the front end of the rib. I'd like to see close-up pics from the front, sides & top of the front sight/rib combo. From the pics it seems as if the right side of the cross-member could be pushed through perhaps allowing the rib to separate from the barrel. If that's the case you might have to pull/slide the rib forward to release a catch in the rear. [ETA: if indeed the front sight is the original still affixed to the barrel albeit customized to present shape.]

Are the .38 S&W chambers still unaltered?
 
Last edited:
Hi DWalt. I just purchased a Victory and have no info other besides it is all matched. I once had a pristine Navy model but sold it because I was afraid to shoot it. This one I like because it is a shooter and I just could not resist the grips. Appears to be non-military issue with a serial of V399886? Any approximate date on her?

.38spl.
4" barrel
No military marks
Parked
S stamped on cylinder

Thank you, Dave
 
Last edited:
I have a victory model in 38 S&W CTG it is original by the look of it it has not been reblued and it has not been bored out for 38 special. Serial number is v 404xxx it has the smooth wood grips and is marked US PROPERTY GHD on the top left strap. The bore is very nice, shines like a mirror when I put a light to it. The bluing or whatever finish it was is quite worn very evenly throughout as I would consider normal for a gun of this age and the wood grips are dented up from use.

This is part of my deceased father in law's collection which I have been tasked with selling off for my mother in law, I would like to know any history on this gun as well as an approximate value.
 
Could someone help with info on a Victory, Navy marked with SN V1902XX
Thanks,
 
Hello Medic, welcome to the S&W forum. I have two victories that bracket yours. V184422 on 17 Dec 1942 & V191467 was shipped on 28 December 1942 both to the Oakland Navy Yard. That puts yours around 26 December 1942 or so. That's about as close as you will get without a Factory letter.
 
New to site - seeking ANY info on victory model

First - what a great resource here! I have a s&w .38 victory, chambered to .38 special I am seeking some info on. It was inherited and the info will be pretty damn cool to know. Hopefully this will be enough for somebody

38 s&w ctg (shoots special)
"United States property"
5" barrel
Smooth walnut grips, not parkerized, looks blued
v138xxx
Butt has s/n, W.B, bomb mark and a "P", and 5L

I can try todo some pics but not sure how - typical newbie lol
Thanks - I'm a tad bit curious
 
Tkay62 said:
First - what a great resource here! I have a s&w .38 victory, chambered to .38 special I am seeking some info on. It was inherited and the info will be pretty damn cool to know. Hopefully this will be enough for somebody

38 s&w ctg (shoots special)
"United States property"
5" barrel
Smooth walnut grips, not parkerized, looks blued
v138xxx
Butt has s/n, W.B, bomb mark and a "P", and 5L

I can try todo some pics but not sure how - typical newbie lol
Thanks - I'm a tad bit curious
Click to expand...

Yours likely shipped in October 1942. It is a British .38/200 service revolver. They were originally chambered in .38 S&W (British name: .380 Revolver Mk2), and a 5" barrel length was standard. These were supplied to the British Commonwealth under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 throughout WWII. That's the meaning of the "United Stated Property" stamping. They were legally US property, on loan to the British. W.B. are the initials of Waldemar Bromberg, a U. S. Army Ordnance officer who accepted these revolvers. Yours has had its chambers rebored to .38 Special, and therefore has lost any collectible value. OK as a shooter, however. Many .38/200s imported into the USA after the war met the same fate.
 
Thanks dwalt. It appears it isn't a special tho. The paperwork states it's a special,but all the ammunition is .38 S&W. What would a mid range shape one be worth considering it wasn't messed up and rechambered
 
Without good pix, difficult to say. One in good condition and not messed with would be maybe $400 or a little more in a private sale. In very high original condition, maybe $500 is closer. The British .38/200 version usually does not bring as much as the US .38 Special Victories, as .38 S&W ammo is a little tough to find and expensive, so it is not that attractive to those who like to shoot Victories.
 
To add more information on my Victory Model serial number V 652134 that I was wondering if anyone could tell me the History of?? It has a "P" on one side if that would help? And it is Blued. The front sight is a little different then most of the other Victory Models I had and seen but the barrel serial number is the same as the other parts on the gun. Can anyone tell me about this Gun?? Many, Many Thanks.
 
Last edited:
JJP - You still have not provided the necessary information and pictures requested in response to your earlier posting. So no one can be very specific about what you have, except that it's a Victory.
 
Hi DWalt and everyone, I don't have a way of taking a photo at this time maybe someday, I don't know what other information you need?? I have limited time on the net for these days. The serial number on most guns would be the key. Again V 652134. I may have missed the post your are talking about that you ask for more information? This is what I posted before "To add more information on my Victory Model serial number V 652134 that I was wondering if anyone could tell me the History of?? It has a "P" on one side if that would help? And it is Blued. The front sight is a little different then most of the other Victory Models I had and seen but the barrel serial number is the same as the other parts on the gun. Can anyone tell me about this Gun?? Many, Many Thanks." John is the name here by the way. I would like to know more about the history when made and sent and etc.? If you can give me some information that would be great and I Thank you for taking the time to look and help anyway. Many Many Thanks John
 
Last edited:
SAP Victory Model

Good Day All

I have a Victory Model SN: V750096. It has a 5 Inch Barrel, Still Chambered to S&W 38/200. With the Stampings SAP on the left hand side. I have attached a few pictures. Any information on the Revolver would be greatly appreciated, i.e. Age, Value, First owner, etc

I am in South Africa so I am Assuming the SAP Markings are for the South African Police, therefore it would be a Lend agreement Revolver, to the British Commonwealth







 
It probably left S&W about March 1941. That's too early for it to have been a Lend-Lease revolver, and it would not have the "United States Property" topstrap stamping. It's obviously been re-finished and has later replacement grips, neither of which is surprising if it has been in police service.
 
Hello all. I have one with a 5 inch barrel marked 38 s&w ctg(not bored out for 38sp) and on the other side above smith and wesson is F.R. R.F.I. 1968. It has the lanyard ring with Serial v107190. Where it is marked made in usa there is a mark below it that looks like a upside down V with a line in it going 2/3 up the V looks like an arrow sort of. US property on the left strap. From what i can tell there is SI ALB. VI. on the bottom of the barrel. Thanks for your help im puzzled and have been researching all night.
 
dougthebruce said:
Hello all. I have one with a 5 inch barrel marked 38 s&w ctg(not bored out for 38sp) and on the other side above smith and wesson is F.R. R.F.I. 1968. It has the lanyard ring with Serial v107190. Where it is marked made in usa there is a mark below it that looks like a upside down V with a line in it going 2/3 up the V looks like an arrow sort of. US property on the left strap. From what i can tell there is SI ALB. VI. on the bottom of the barrel. Thanks for your help im puzzled and have been researching all night.
Click to expand...

The SN would date shipment of your .38/200 Victory from September 1942, originally a Lend-Lease revolver. That's what the "United States Property" stamp on the topstrap means. It's very good it has not been rechambered for .38 Special, nor the barrel shortened. The V with a line is the famous British "Broad Arrow" marking indicating Crown property. Century Arms, Inc. was (is?) a gun importer in St. Albans, VT, and that "SI(T) ALB. VI(T)" is their import marking. I can't say for sure what the other "F.R. R.F.I. 1968" stamping means. Probably some other property stamping or possibly a refinishing stamping. I would guess the latter. I have seen it on other Victories. Someone else will probably know.

This is an interesting link which explains everything about the Broad Arrow: http://www.wilkinsonfscollection.com/wilkinsonfscollection.com/The_Broad_Arrow.html
--------------------------------------------
A possible meaning for "F.R. R.F.I. 1968": Factory (or Full) Refinish, Rifle Factory Ishapore, 1968 (India).
 
Last edited:
Info on a 29-2

I have a 29-2, 8 3/8" blue Serial # N68743 that was given to me in the mid 80's. Any info on it's origin available for it?
 
Victory Shipping Date

Just got a Victory & wanted to know shipping date. It has been cut down to a 2 1/2" barrel, so I know it's not a collectors item. It has also been nickel plated at some point & I think some info has been lost. The SN is V 37187. I have noticed from older post that a lot of people don't know what the original barrel length was. Well the SN on the underside of my barrel is 553187, could the extra 5 at the start of the SN signify it was a 5" barrel? There is also a different number behind where the cylinder swings out, M 92 506. Thanks for any help with this.
 
V 37187 indicates original shipment at about July 1942. I won't bother going into everything incorrect about it. Suffice it to say its market value is minimal, just like the many thousands of chopped and bored Victories just like it. The original barrel length of these was 5". Yours may have a replaced barrel.
 
Last edited:
Is there any reason I couldn't shoot the 38 short cartridges in one of the Victory 38 Specials? I figure the recoil would be easier on my wife.
Thanks in advance.
 
Big Tex said:
Is there any reason I couldn't shoot the 38 short cartridges in one of the Victory 38 Specials? I figure the recoil would be easier on my wife.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

.38 Short Colt should work OK, if you have it. As yours probably has bored-out .38 S&W chambers anyway, you might use .38 S&W ammunition instead. Neither caliber is easy to find at most retail outlets, so you might have to look at gun shows, order it from internet sources, or have a dealer special order it for you. Another light-recoiling round would be .38 Special wadcutter target loads, which would be cheaper than the other options..
 
Refinish V

The V gun I have was nickel plated a long time ago & needs to be refinished. Does Smith & Wesson do this? About how much in nickel & how much for bluing? Would cerecoting be better? It would probably be cheaper. I bought this gun for my wife & if she really likes it I'm gonna have it refinished in some form, whatever it cost, I just want the best job that can be done. I don't mind paying top dollar as long as I get my monies worth. Also the insignia in worn, could the factory refurbish it? Thanks for any help.
 
First, S&W won't touch it with a 10-meter pole. Second, you are talking some substantial expense to refurbish a revolver with very little monetary value, and afterwards, the revolver won't be worth any more than it was. Why don't you just buy her a new revolver? That would be better and cheaper.
 
I've just acquired a Victory Model that I'd like to get some information on. Its in .38 Special with a 5" barrel, parkerized finish, marked "US Property GHD" on the top strap, the serial number is S V 799734, it also has a "P" stamped on the left side of the frame near the hammer. Unfortunately the original grips and lanyard ring are gone, but I am working on getting the parts to return it to original configuration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Victory Model Identification
Replies
3
Views
759
DWalt
DWalt
G
Victory model questions
Replies
11
Views
465
VinnieL59
V
C
S&W Victory 4 inch info.
Replies
7
Views
510
DWalt
DWalt
S
S&W Victory Information
Replies
7
Views
712
sam-dt1
S
R
Victory model
Replies
5
Views
664
Timothy2700
T

Latest posts

Back
Top