Victory data base

[RacingSnake]

I just picked up this South African issued Victory with the Union Defense Force stamp and number.

With serial number V83771 would shipment have been late 1942?

There are no British proof marks on the gun.

 

[DWalt]

V83771 would probably have shipped 8/42-9/42. There wouldn't be any British proof marks on it. Those were applied only when they were sold as surplus into the civilian market in the post-war period. Don't know what the South Africans did.

 

[RacingSnake]

Thanks Dwalt.

 

[grendelbean]

Ref: V200929 - As noted on the repair order, the factory installed magna stocks in 1961 with other repairs. I can't decide to leave the smooth Victory Model Style stocks that came with the gun when I got it, or find and install a set of magnas - as was last done in the last contact with the factory. Any opinions or advice? Many thanks.

 

[walkcubs]

Verify Manufacture

Just bought a pristine condition Victory. I just wanted to verify date of shipping. I think sometime in 1943. SN is V4188XX.

 

[Beaversyrup]

Pre-Victory for the data base

Hi everyone,

Finally got around to picking up a .38 S&W Victory. Its serial number is 783734 (all matching) and appears to have the correct bluing for a pre-victory in its range. It lacks a "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking. Nor does it have any commonwealth markings. Markings inside the grip are done in pencil and hardly legible. The butt of the pistol has a P and some other marking I can't make out. Can't confirm if the grips are matching (they fit as though they might) but they appear to have a 46 painted on them.

Any further information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Absalom]

Just bought a pristine condition Victory. I just wanted to verify date of shipping. I think sometime in 1943. SN is V4188XX.

Yes, I think Sept./Oct. would be the ballpark.

 

[Absalom]

..... Its serial number is 783734 (all matching) and appears to have the correct bluing for a pre-victory in its range. It lacks a "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" marking. Nor does it have any commonwealth markings. Markings inside the grip are done in pencil and hardly legible. The butt of the pistol has a P and some other marking I can't make out. Can't confirm if the grips are matching (they fit as though they might) but they appear to have a 46 painted on them.

The gun does indeed look all original.

It’s too early for a Lend-Lease property marking. It would have been part of a mid-1941 direct purchase contract.

I think that marking next to the P proof is a Canadian stamp, which would also explain the absence of British post-war proofs. The 46 is likely a local inventory number of some sort. But penciling of grip serials ended a decade earlier and was replaced by stamping, so those may not be the originals, although period-correct.

 

[NA225]

Victory Model Info

I have a Victory model, serial # 495388, in .38 spl, that belonged to my grandfather. It is marked Bavaria Municipal Police. He purchased it while stationed in Germany with the USAF from Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club in 1957 for $19.50. I have the sales receipt and the "Fire Arms Retention Authorization" card authorizing him to bring the revolver back to the United States. I plan to get request a letter on it in the near future but would appreciate any manufacture/ship date info. Thanks in advance.

 

[Orlmighty]

Deactivated revolver in the UK

Hi there, new to this forum and hoping for some help. I have a deactivated .38 victory revolver an V986** which makes it some time in 42 judging by some of the posts here already. It has a 5" barrel and compared to some on here is positively covered in stamps. There is "WB" near the lanyard ring and what looks like a circle with a flame on top and a very small "P". "United states property" on the top "38 S.&W. CTG" on the right side of the barrel "Smith &wesson" on the left as well as a crossed sword emblem with D and A to the left and right and 00beneath. This same emblem appears on the drum as well. It has "Smith & wesson, Springfield,Mass.USA Patented Feb6.06 Sept14.09 Dec29.14" in 2 lines on the top of the barrel. It also has a trade mark symbol with "Reg.us.pat.off" underneath it and"MADE IN USA." on the right of the frame. Hopefully all of this is visible in the pictures and means something. Any info you can give me would be great.

 

[DWalt]

I have a Victory model, serial # 495388, in .38 spl, that belonged to my grandfather. It is marked Bavaria Municipal Police. He purchased it while stationed in Germany with the USAF from Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club in 1957 for $19.50. I have the sales receipt and the "Fire Arms Retention Authorization" card authorizing him to bring the revolver back to the United States. I plan to get request a letter on it in the near future but would appreciate any manufacture/ship date info. Thanks in advance.

Your SN is actually V495388. The closest SN on my list to it is V495759 which shipped on 1/18/44. Noting that S&W was producing around 1000 revolvers per day, it would not be surprising to find that yours had been shipped on the same day or at least within several days of it. I have understood that many of these occupation period German and Austrian civil police Victories were sold off to GIs through military Rod and Gun clubs in Germany when the German police were allowed to purchase other guns in the 1950s. Yours is the first indication I have seen showing the sales price. BTW, there was an article in the December 2014 American Rifleman about the postwar German police Victory revolvers. Just Google "Cold War K-Frames". Definitely you should safeguard that sales paperwork as it adds substantial value to the gun.

It is probably not worthwhile to spend $100 for a letter as it will not tell you much more about it other than providing the exact shipping date.

 

[Absalom]

It is marked Bavaria Municipal Police. He purchased it while stationed in Germany with the USAF from Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club in 1957 ...

The US occupation authorities handed several thousand US Victory models in .38 Special, including yours, over to the Bavarian government on Feb. 2, 1946. They all had previous careers elsewhere and were gathered after the war‘s end for this new mission, so your letter would likely show shipment to a Navy yard or similar destination.

Starting around 1952 the Manurhin-Walther PP became available and Bavarian police were one of the first customers, phasing out and selling the revolvers, for which the US had demanded payment in the meantime. The Rod and Gun Clubs on US bases where your grandfather acquired the gun were popular outlets.

 

[Absalom]

Hi there, new to this forum and hoping for some help. I have a deactivated .38 victory revolver an V986** which makes it some time in 42 judging by some of the posts here already. ...... Hopefully all of this is visible in the pictures and means something. Any info you can give me would be great.

I think the crossed sword mark with D and A is the de-activation proof, since I see no other non-factory proofs elsewhere.

With that serial, which does indeed place the gun in later 1942, the gun is a standard Lend-Lease British Service model. The ordnance butt stamps are regular pattern. WB is Waldemar Broberg, ordnance chief, P is a military proof. The flaming bomb is also an ordnance mark.

All the other stampings are regular factory trademarks and inscriptions.

 

[roberev]

Hello! I'm looking to get some info regarding a Victory revolver that has been passed down from a family member who was in the U.S. clandestine services in the 1960s and 70s. Serial Number V616216. Here are some pictures of markings that may be helpful.

 

[kwill1911]

This explains it: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...wesson-parker-hale.html?highlight=parker*hale

 

[NA225]

Victory Model Info

Thanks for informative replies. As usual help is always available from the vast knowledge base found here.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I have a Victory model, serial # 495388, in .38 spl, that belonged to my grandfather. It is marked Bavaria Municipal Police. He purchased it while stationed in Germany with the USAF from Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club in 1957 for $19.50. I have the sales receipt and the "Fire Arms Retention Authorization" card authorizing him to bring the revolver back to the United States. I plan to get request a letter on it in the near future but would appreciate any manufacture/ship date info. Thanks in advance.

Great heirloom from your Granddad!

I've attached the serial number specific part of Roy's letter for mine -- a wee bit earlier than yours, perhaps -- to give you an idea of what you'll get.

An Air Force civilian bought mine at the Schwäbisch Hall R&G Club in Bavaria in 1965 -- not far from where it had been in German police service. The back strap reads, "SK . fürth . Mun," which Absalom believes means the stadtkreis (city/county) of Fürth, and "municipal."

I have the R&G Club receipt and all the Army papers that allowed him to bring it to the states, too. I don't recall the price, but I don't think it was as low as yours.

In the area of the frame where yours says, "Bavaria Municipal Police," a German importer/exporter milled that off of mine and replaced it with his company logo: "HEGE SCHW HALL."

The left side proof marks include the standard German "nitro" proof mark, the two-digit year the revolver passed through the proof house, and the stag horn proof mark of the Ulm Proof House.

I think mine led a mighty boring life, no matter whose hands it passed through.

 

[AJ]

Just Picked Up This Victory........

I just picked up S&W Victory Model S/N: V167622 at the LGS. I posted this earlier: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...tory-model-what-have-i-got.html#post140958265

 

[Squarebody86]

Victory serial number

I just bought a snubby 38 k frame with a serial number beginning with v. It has very few markings, but all assembly numbers match. There is no lanyard ring and it appears to be chromed or polished stainless. I havent seen any victory revolvers that weren't blued/parkerized or without a lanyard ring. Any info at all would be appreciated. Serial number is V89xxx.

 

[KY1911]

Picked this up...pre-war lend/lease "Victory"?

Serial # 916322 matching on bottom of grip frame, cylinder and barrel. 38 S&W CTG; Made in USA; WB, P and "bomb" stamped on bottom of grip frame; "United States Property" stamped on top; hammer and trigger case hardened; smooth wood grips; NZ 2921 stamped on top of backstrap below hammer. Appears to be original bluing with lots of wear and patina. Tight lock-up and tight cylinder gap. I don't think the lanyard ring is original.

Any thoughts on dates and/or markings is appreciated.

Thanks.