Update on Navy Victory for data base

[sureshotbob]

I just finished a complete cleaning on the Navy Victory and this is the updated info that I found.The 4" bbl,cylinder,extractor and butt grip all have #333350 . The crane,inside right sideplate and the frame by the crane have #86943 . The right grip has# v 3744 17,left grip has no #

 

[sureshotbob]

I just finished a complete cleaning on the Navy Victory and this is the updated info that I found.The 4" bbl,cylinder,extractor and butt grip all have #333350 . The crane,inside right sideplate and the frame by the crane have #86943 . The right grip has# v 3744 17,left grip has no #

 

[mikepriwer]

There must be a "V" stamped on the butt,
to the left of that serial number. It is a
part of the serial number.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[sureshotbob]

Yes you are correct mike it has a V before the #.

 

[Texas Star]

I suspect that the frame marking was on guns loaned ot transferred to other agencies by the Navy. Those that were actually Naval issue seem to have had just the top strap marking, in my experience.

And this is the roughest Victory that I've EVER seen! Wow, look at those tool marks.

T-Star

 

[digi-shots]

Very nice... thanks for posting the pics!

 

[opoefc]

Sureshotbob, Let us know what the factory says when you get it. It could be interesting, as you have a Lend Lease Victory Model frame with the US Property stamping on the topstrap and USN stamping on the side, plus the S&W logo n the sideplate. All these stampings are highly unusual on the same gun, but with S&Ws, anything can happen. Ed.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Sureshotbob:

It is a nice looking Victory.

It will letter as having been shipped to the US Navy.

Regards,
Charlie Flick
S&WCA #729
NRA Life

 

[sureshotbob]

Ed I'm trying to learn about these victory's but what makes you think it is a lend lease gun I thought all the lend lease guns were chambered in .38 S&W and had the country's proof marks ?? BY THE WAY A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE HELP !!!!!!

 

[opoefc]

Sureshotbob, I don't think it is a Lendlease gun, just that it has the US Property stamp on the top strap which is on the Lendlease guns. Your gun falls in the serial range of USN shipped guns, so chances are it will letter as a Navy gun, as Charlie says. It left S&W as a .38 Special, which is a good indicator it was meant for US use and not British. Ed.

 

[opoefc]

Sureshotbob, I did some further checking and found your serial number, V333350, on a shipment of guns to the US Navy in June of 1943. It was not Navy marked when shipped. Ed.

 

[sureshotbob]

Boy you guy's are good I can't beleave how fast you are coming up with all the info on this gun . Now here is anouther question in your opinion what is the best book to get about these guns?

 

[digi-shots]

A great book overall on S&W is the "3rd Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica & Rick Nahas.

Another good one is "U.S. Handguns of World War II" by Charles Pate". Has good info on Victory models.

Congratulations on your Victory, it looks great!