V Model Smith birthday

[MDaly]

I have a Smith & Wesson Victory Model that I need some information on. Serial numbers on the butt, the bottom side of the barrel and on the crane all match V65570. This revolver is parkerized but the trigger and hammer are color case hardened. It is chambered for the 38 S & W Special cartridge.

When was this pistol born?

Mike

 

[Art Doc]

All V series revolvers were made between 1942 and early 1945. Sort of makes sense being WW II era pistols. I would take a wild guess and say summer of 1942 on yours. Hey, summer of 1942? That would make a great movie title.

Yours is the version made for Great Britain. Most have a 5" barrel. The ammo is 38 S&W (not 38 Special) which can be hard to find and pricey. The finish you describe would be correct.

Hopefully your gun hasn't been butchered up as so many were after the war.

 

[OFT II]

I agree with a manufacture date of the summer of '42. Does your gun have a 5" or 4" barrel?

 

[MDaly]

The barrel is 4" long and the it is marked 38 S&W SPECIAL. It is chambered for the 38 special not the 38 S&W.

Mike

 

[Art Doc]

I missed the word Special in your first post. Then it's the U.S. version. Better if you plan to shoot it.

 

[MDaly]

Actually, this revolver is stamped U.S. NAVY on the left top strap. I should have included that little bit of information.

I know where the revolver came from. This revolver was issued to a young Lieutenant JG who was the lead pilot on a Martin Mariner (PBM ) flying boat. These guys hunted subs and could land on the ocean to pick up crash victims. This Lt. was given his choice of a 1911 or the S&W Victory Model. He chose the lighter weight revolver. He was also my father. When the war ended, he purchased the revolver from the Navy and brought it home.

Mike

 

[DWalt]

Navy-marked Victories are more coveted by collectors than the standard military issue Victories, as there is a scarcity factor. They were made under Navy contracts only for about one year from mid-1942 to mid-1943. After that, those which went to the Navy had just the typical US property markings, as they were made under Army contract. There are varying estimates of how many Navies were made, but 85000 seems to be the accepted number. Some were pre-Victories. The highest Navy marked serial number is approximately V265,000 with a few higher than that known to exist. By the way, most .38 Special revolvers made during WWII went to the U. S. Navy, mainly for use by flight crews. One of the roles of the revolver in Navy flight service was for use as a distress signaling device using tracer ammunition.

I would suggest you obtain a factory letter to establish that it was shipped to a Navy facility.

 

[Art Doc]

Mine with V77xxx letters as a Navy Contract pistol but it has no Navy marking.

 

[DWalt]

Mine with V77xxx letters as a Navy Contract pistol but it has no Navy marking.

Could be OSS - I think most of those will letter as being sent to a Rosslyn VA address.

 

[MDaly]

Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for your assistance. I have sent off a letter and a check to S&W so that I might learn more about this revolver.

Mike

 

[DWalt]

By the way, if you don't have an original Navy shoulder holster for it (if you do, you have a prize), there are some very authentic and well-made replicas around. Many original holsters have rigger-made cartridge loops on the strap.