US NAVY Victory

[digi-shots]

You never know who you'll run into or what you'll find at gunshows....

A couple of weeks ago, I bumped into a fellow forum member, "Canoeguy", at the Hampton, Virginia Show.

Well, after a few minutes discussing his Victory revolver, I left with a very nice one! Not only is it a US NAVY stamped Victory, but it came with a letter from Roy and a post WWII holster. Thanks, Tracy!

This Victory was shipped & delivered to the US NAVY, Norfolk, Virginia on August 4, 1942.

The holster is dated Nov. 1953 and is still in its russet color. It appears to be rigger-modified with bullet loops and marked with a rack number of "PE-3 35". The holster is stamped MRT (Mildew Resistant Treatment). I'm not familiar with the L.M.E. manufacturer.

Here are some pics...

 

[opoefc]

Very nice! Scott Meadows book on "US MIlitary Holsters" lists L.M.E. as a WW2 holster contractor for the US Military, but is "Unidentified." Ed.

 

[digi-shots]

Ed,

Thanks for the follow-up!

Linda

 

[JP@AK]

Very nice Navy Victory, digi-shots.
Interestingly, earlier this year I lettered a Victory that was also shipped to the Navy almost exactly a year after yours was. It is nearly 300,000 numbers higher than yours. Shows the rate at which S&W was cranking them out early in the war.
Also of interest is that my example does not have Navy ownership stamped on it. But the Jinks letter confirms it was shipped to the Navy yard in Oakland, CA.
Regards,
JP

 

[kikokat]

Nice find! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jeb21]

What a great find!

 

[j38]

Linda,

You really know how to put a gun into it's intended historical context. Beautiful, .. as usual.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[canoeguy]

Linda,

Glad you like the revolver, and it looks like the holster cleaned up nicely!

The money for the revolver is going to a good cause, a target rifle, I'm getting back into the Highpower game....

The Victory went to a good home, where it can be properly photgraphed and shared with other collectors. Nice photos, as usual!

Thanks,

Tracy

AKA "Canoeguy"

 

[SD95B]

I think L.M.E. stood for a contractor known as "Line Material Equipment". I remember reading this years ago but can't remember the source.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Now that's a great looking gun and rig with some really wonderful history. I've been avoiding the Victory models but it looks like I've found a new Smith & Wesson interest!

 

[ordnanceguy]

Linda:

Another nice Victory for your collection. Pretty soon you are going to qualify as a full time Victory collector!

As you know I have been studying USGI holsters and the S&W Victory Model for many years. In all that time I have never been able to uncover the true identity of LME. This outfit only made USGI holsters during the Korean War era and it seems to have left little evidence of itself. I did find an LME, Inc. operating out of Alabama but have not been able to learn if this is the same outfit or not.

The MRT marking, of course, stands for Mildew Resistance Treatment. In this instance the treatment was applied at the LME factory, which is why the holster is so marked with the die rather than ink stamped.

The holster was intended to be used for any 4" barreled, .38 Special medium frame revolver. This means primarily the S&W Victory Model but also includes the Colt Commando. Towards the end of the KW the Marine Corps purchased a sizable quantity of blued, S&W 4" .38 Special Military & Police model revolvers (which the USMC rather oddly called the "Officers Victory Model", no kidding) and this holster could have been used for those guns as well.

This M3-style holster was originally designed in WW2. They were used pretty much exclusively during WW2 by Naval Aviators. I think the same is probably true for the KW. During the Viet Nam war, and since, Army rotary wing pilots and air crew began using the .38 Special revolver (in several iterations), and this model of holster (also made by Boyt, Western Mfg., Bolen and Hunter) continued to be manufactured and issued.

Someday we will learn the identity of LME. For now, this is all I can tell you about it. If anyone else any solid information on the identity of LME I would be pleased to hear about it.

 

[digi-shots]

Thanks, Charlie!

I don't think I've seen this brand holster before now. I did some quick internet searching and all I came up with was an older posting made by you on another forum!

The Victory model is sorta like potato chips... you can't have just one!

 

[jpage]

Linda:

Another nice Victory for your collection. Pretty soon you are going to qualify as a full time Victory collector!

As you know I have been studying USGI holsters and the S&W Victory Model for many years. In all that time I have never been able to uncover the true identity of LME. This outfit only made USGI holsters during the Korean War era and it seems to have left little evidence of itself. I did find an LME, Inc. operating out of Alabama but have not been able to learn if this is the same outfit or not.

The MRT marking, of course, stands for Mildew Resistance Treatment. In this instance the treatment was applied at the LME factory, which is why the holster is so marked with the die rather than ink stamped.

The holster was intended to be used for any 4" barreled, .38 Special medium frame revolver. This means primarily the S&W Victory Model but also includes the Colt Commando. Towards the end of the KW the Marine Corps purchased a sizable quantity of blued, S&W 4" .38 Special Military & Police model revolvers (which the USMC rather oddly called the "Officers Victory Model", no kidding) and this holster could have been used for those guns as well.

This M3-style holster was originally designed in WW2. They were used pretty much exclusively during WW2 by Naval Aviators. I think the same is probably true for the KW. During the Viet Nam war, and since, Army rotary wing pilots and air crew began using the .38 Special revolver (in several iterations), and this model of holster (also made by Boyt, Western Mfg., Bolen and Hunter) continued to be manufactured and issued.

Someday we will learn the identity of LME. For now, this is all I can tell you about it. If anyone else any solid information on the identity of LME I would be pleased to hear about it.

I wonder if LME is the same company that sub-contracted Garand barrels for International Harvester during the KW ?

 

[John Wyatt]

I wonder if LME is the same company that sub-contracted Garand barrels for International Harvester during the KW ?

The Line Material Co. of Birmingham Alabama produced the M1 rifle barrels used by International Harvester. They were mark LMR, rather than LME. Some LMR barrels were also used by Harrington Richardson Arms Co for M1 production.

 

[LOBO]

Great USN Victory Digi!!

 

[fitlerbend]

My U S Navy top strap marked Victory has the Property of U S Navy stamped on the left side, serial # V105509