Smith & Wesson Special CTG .38 Victory Model Circa 1942

[VPNAVY]

Here is my little baby - a Smith & Wesson Special CTG .38 Victory Model Circa 1942 (based on Serial Number) distributed by the U. S. Government during WWII. It also had the hammer block safety fitted (sent back to Smith & Wesson in 1945 - S stamp added to the Serial Number). My understanding is back in 1944 there was a fatality aboard a US warship when a dropped gun fired and killed a sailor because of a faulty hammer block design. It belonged to my Dad (don't know how he kept it!)

 

[opoefc]

Very nice example. Is it Navy stamped on the top strap? The official Navy report on the incident you mentioned, faulted the sailor for not having properly cleaned his Revolver, which was the reason it discharged when dropped on the deck, as the sailor was exiting a breeches bouy transfer from another vessel The original hammer block safety works fine in a clean gun, however the sailor never removed the cosmoline from the interior action of the revolver and that impeded the movement of the hammer block from doing it's designed job. You might want to get a factory letter on your Victory Model to see where was it's military destination. Ed.

 

[Dpris]

Nice, but for future discussions it's not a Smith & Wesson Special CTG .38 Victory model.

It's a Victory Model, in the .38 S&W Special caliber (CTG/Cartridge).
Denis

 

[VPNAVY]

...Is it Navy stamped on the top strap? The official Navy report on the incident you mentioned, faulted the sailor for not having properly cleaned his Revolver...

...it's not a Smith & Wesson Special CTG .38 Victory model...It's a Victory Model, in the .38 S&W Special caliber (CTG/Cartridge).Denis

Wow - thanks (opoefc and Dpris) for the additional information. Always something new to learn. Thank you.