S&W Victory model serial number lookup

[Ed C.]

Thank you, DWalt!

 

[mrwillyt]

Looking for the manufacture date or shipping information on a civilian Victory with SN# V 555640. No military markings or proofs, but with a lanyard ring and civilian textured stocks.

 

[DWalt]

V555640 would indicate shipment in the March-May 1944 period. With no topstrap property stampings, it would likely have been made for stateside civilian use. Original stocks would have been smooth wood, not checkered. It should also have a phosphate finish, not blued.

 

[ordnanceguy]

MrWilly:

I assume that your revolver is a 4 inch .38 Special. If that is the case I can tell you the following. The serial numbers in the range recorded in the Victory Model Database are scattered over much of 1944. Understanding that the Victory was not shipped from the factory in strict consecutive serial number order, from close serial numbers in the Database I would estimate that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the June-August 1944 time frame.

With no markings as you describe the revolver likely was a DSC shipment. These went to many DSC-authorized destinations such as defense plants, law enforcement agencies and public utilities. In this case you would need to get a factory letter ($50) in order to obtain a precise ship date and destination.

I hope that information is helpful to you.

 

[Hammercrg29]

Hello, I am hoping to find out some info on a victory model I have. Does anyone know how to find out what year it might be from? The serial number is V71507 and it is a 4" and has smooth grips and lanyard ring on the butt end. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Absalom]

Hello, I am hoping to find out some info on a victory model I have. Does anyone know how to find out what year it might be from? The serial number is V71507 and it is a 4" and has smooth grips and lanyard ring on the butt end. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

That's a pretty early one, late summer/early fall 1942. Since it has a 4" barrel, I assume it's in .38 Special? Does it have the US property stamp on the topstrap?

 

[DWalt]

Hello, I am hoping to find out some info on a victory model I have. Does anyone know how to find out what year it might be from? The serial number is V71507 and it is a 4" and has smooth grips and lanyard ring on the butt end. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

1942 for sure - but early Victory SNs don't seem to track so well with shipping dates as the later ones do. Mid-1942 should be close. With a 4" barrel, it should be chambered for .38 Special and smooth wood grips and a lanyard swivel should be correct. The SN should also be stamped on the inside of the right grip panel if the grips are original to the revolver. If military, it should have a property stamp on the topstrap.

 

[ChARLES N DE VALLE]

Hope some on can help on the model and year of mfg.
I purchased an 38 smith and Wesson handgun the serial number is 524574 it appears to be an M&P or a Victory double action.
Thanks

 

[Absalom]

Unless there is a V in front of the number, this is the wrong thread, and you might want to start a new thread. The number as such indicates a mid-1920s M&P.

 

[Bigtcopley]

Serial number info on victory model

Hello, I'm a new owner of a victory model with no us military markings. On the barrel 38 s&w special ctg and the serial number is v170520 any info would be greatly appreciated thanks...

 

[Absalom]

Hello, I'm a new owner of a victory model with no us military markings. On the barrel 38 s&w special ctg and the serial number is v170520 any info would be greatly appreciated thanks...

Assuming that the finish is original and no markings have been removed, your gun shipped most likely in late 1942, November or December, (but possibly in early 1943), on a contract from the DSC (Defense Supply Corporation) to a non-military user in the US somewhere or to the US Maritime Commision at one of its receiving depots. When factory letters are available for order again, that may be an option (unlike on military Victorys, which didn't ship to end users). Sometimes DSC guns went to interesting recipients.

 

[DWalt]

One of DSC's functions was to supply guns for essential home-front civilian users, typically law enforcement or security guards at defense plants. Ordinary citizens could not buy new guns at that time, as virtually all production went to the military, just like cars (although limited numbers of Plymouth autos were available to certain civilians). DSC guns were made in larger numbers than for the US Maritime Commission, and yours is statistically more likely to be a DSC.

 

[Bigtcopley]

Thanks very much! I will post some pics later today. I found a flaming bomb on the butt last night.

 

[IowaFarmBoy1964]

I have a Victory model with the following markings:

Serial Number: V 5052xx (under barrel, under butt, on cylinder and on extractor)
Barrel Markings Left: SMITH & WESSON
Barrel Markings Right: .38 S&W SPECIAL CTG
Barrel Markings Top: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A.
PATENTED FEB.6.06 . SEP.14.09 . DEC.29.14
Crane and Crane Recess: 50091 S
Frame Top Strap: Ordinance “flaming bomb” symbol and, 'US. PROPERTY G.H.D.
Upper left frame: "P" proof

Interested in the build/ship time frame and also, I have a friend interested in purchasing so I'm trying to get some idea of what it's worth before the "Friend Discount." Not even sure I want to let it go after everything I've read about peoples fondness for them and it was my grandfathers.

It is fully operational and in good condition. He made custom add on mahogany grips and I'm pretty sure he blued it although I wonder if it really was Parkerized originally?

Any insight into what I have would be appreciated!

 

[DWalt]

V 5052xx suggests an early 1944 shipment. If it has been blued, and you are the best judge of that, it's just a shooter, worth what someone will pay for it as such, and it has no collector value. If he will pay $300, take it.

 

[IowaFarmBoy1964]

Thank you

V 5052xx suggests an early 1944 shipment. If it has been blued, and you are the best judge of that, it's just a shooter, worth what someone will pay for it as such, and it has no collector value. If he will pay $300, take it.

I suspected it would be something like that. That's exactly what my grandfather used it for. At the range!

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Sargeast]

Serial Check

I have a S&W Victory Model with:
5 Inch Barrel
Parkerized Finish (was under black paint), possibly 2nd finish because markings are faded
Serial #V719370
Chambered (unaltered) for S&W 38 ctg
No markings can be seen on back strap
Import mark under barrel from CAI
Walnut grips

 

[DWalt]

I have a S&W Victory Model with:
5 Inch Barrel
Parkerized Finish (was under black paint), possibly 2nd finish because markings are faded
Serial #V719370
Chambered (unaltered) for S&W 38 ctg
No markings can be seen on back strap
Import mark under barrel from CAI
Walnut grips

Yours was very close to the end of the line for V-prefix Victories, as shortly thereafter, the improved drop safety was incorporated into the design around very early 1945. At that time, the SN prefix was changed to SV. Yours was very likely shipped around November 1944. Yours was also fairly near the end of the line for the .38/200 BSRs, as the British ceased ordering them early in 1945. You are very fortunate yours has not been rechambered. Any other markings on it? Could be Australian.

 

[Modified]

Well, it arrived, there is some stuff going on here I don't understand.

I think I have enough pictures here for you guys to tell me what's what with this? At least as far as you can go without a letter.













and for good measure:





All the numbers on the gun match.

Nothing on the back of the stocks. No pencil or markings at all.

You should be able to blow up any of the images pretty big.

I think this thing is just the bees knees. I'm really curious to see if anyone knows anything about the extra markings on there.

 

[DWalt]

Grips look like real ivory. Wonder who "The Greek" was?