US Navy Model 10 Victory

[FLReseller]

I have a US Navy marked Victory Model 10 with grip / barrel serial V153***. The cylinder number is V772***. I acquired from a Colonel Marine Corps estate many years ago. The walnut grip is hand burned/engraved with another man's first initial and last name. I have found 4 different service men with this engraved name that are all Army and one who was in the Air Force. Were these US Navy marked Model 10 revolvers issued to other branches other than the Navy and Marines? How did this colonel acquire this gun with another man's name on it? I can document all other artifacts of the estate to the colonel but not this gun. I am so curious.

 

[Targets Guy]

The grip and barrel shipped in 1942. The cylinder shipped in 1945.


Guns move around all of the time. Is there a serial number on the right panel of the grip (on the inside)? Many grips go onto many different guns.


Welcome to the forum.

 

[flagman1776]

Military guns were issued, rarely owned by individuals. They would be turned in and reissued. Arsenal rebuilt as needed. Parts swapping was common in rebuilds.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Good information above. At the time it was made it would have called a .38 Victory Model; the model 10 designation did not appear until about 1958.

 

[FLReseller]

I did not remove with grips to look for a serial number after noticing the cylinder number was different than the grip bottom and barrel. I've learned these US Navy marked guns were typically issued to Navy and Marine Corps. Could it have been issued to an Army or Air Force person which all I can find with the engraved name?

 

[Absalom]

I've learned these US Navy marked guns were typically issued to Navy and Marine Corps. Could it have been issued to an Army or Air Force person which all I can find with the engraved name?

Is it just a name, or rank and other info also that would indicate that the engraved name is connected with the gun’s military service time?

With a cylinder serial from that late, this was almost certainly a parts gun assembled after the war and acquired by your colonel as surplus sometime, maybe because he used one like it during the war. The name could have been engraved anytime by a previous owner.

As mentioned above, US NAVY marked Victorys were generally not personally issued sidearms, but were issued for missions or duty and then turned in again. Personalizations on these from wartime are rare.

 

[Targets Guy]

I would suggest you check for a s/n on the grips. If there is a serial number on the grips it will link you to the guns they were put on.


fish biting other fish

 

[OldChief]

Some of these victories did travel between services. During the 60s I was a Small Arms Tech. in the AF and we did have a few Navy victories in our inventory where I was stationed.

 

[DWalt]

Yes, some of the Navy Victories found their way into action in both Korea and Vietnam. And in Army and USAF service.

 

[FLReseller]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful information along with several hours of reading this forum past few days.

 

[Igiveup]

I also have a Navy marked Victory, reported earlier to the Victory list. I also has a different cylinder and the star is also a different numbered sn. The revolver has what appears to have a few newer parts internally, and is a very tight action. The assumption from the forum is that it was a re-arsenal revolver. Shoots really great, and being mismatched, I am not afraid to use it.