Victory data base

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Shamascull:

Thanks for posting the pics of your nice Victory. It appears to be one of the earlier SV prefixed guns. It likely shipped from the factory in the December 1944 to January 1945 time frame and was most likely a Navy shipped gun.

Hope that helps you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[mi650]

Hello mi650:

The serial number dates bounce around quite a bit in this range. Most were shipped in the November-December 1942 time frame.

With the Ordnance Bomb mark on the butt chances are pretty good that your revolver would letter as either a DSC or U.S. Maritime Commission shipped gun. There are examples of both in close proximity to your serial.

I hope that info is helpful to you.

Regards,
Charlie

It does. Thanks Charlie!

 

[old tanker]

Hello Old Tanker:

Thanks for posting your SWHF letter.

I just noticed that your earlier posts referenced serial 685087, but the SWHF letter refers to your revolver as 685057. Since there were 1200 units in the shipment it is probable that the ship date info is still correct. Nonetheless, you want your letter to match your revolver so you might want to look into getting that corrected.

Regards,
Charlie

Thanks, I can't believe I missed that!

The serial number is pretty clear in the picture, and I submitted pictures with my request. Sure enough, there's some kind of mistake.

 

[Mbrgr1]

My pair....

Not sure if these made it into the database?


The top one V486897 was shipped to the USMC in Reading PA in 1944, then made its way to the Boston police dept.


The bottom one V119337 (38 S&W) shipped in Oct 1942, not sure where, it has no military markings at all.

 

[GCH]

Victory database

Serial Number V 40763. Marked "U.S. Navy". All numbers matching.
All other markings are under the grips.
4" 38 Special

Carried by my mother's cousin on Tarawa. (Family lore)

GCH

 

[GCH]

Additional pictures

More pics for V 40763

 

[GCH]

Two more pics for V40763

 

[ordnanceguy]

GCH:

Thanks for posting the pics of your handsome Victory. From the Database I can estimate for you that it likely shipped from the factory in the July 1942 time frame.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[Zathras]

I just bought a victory at the local gun show this yesterday..the serial # is V 1777**. it has no GHD, US property, or US navy markings..It does have the firing pin block "S" stamp on the cylinder, and on the swingarm of the crane/cylinder area, if thats the correct nomenclature..also has the bomb stamp on the butt..It alsocame with a nice original RIA holster..my question is when was it made, and is it an early issue??

 

[Muley Gil]

I just bought a victory at the local gun show this yesterday..the serial # is V 1777**. it has no GHD, US property, or US navy markings..It does have the firing pin block "S" stamp on the cylinder, and on the swingarm of the crane/cylinder area, if thats the correct nomenclature..also has the bomb stamp on the butt..It alsocame with a nice original RIA holster..my question is when was it made, and is it an early issue??

Victory serial numbers started with V1, so no, it isn't an early issued revolver.

 

[Zathras]

what am I missing?? you say they start with V1..the serial number on this DOES start with V1777**

 

[Wiregrassguy]

The Victory serials began with V1 in April 1942. Your gun was made later in 1942 because S&W had made 1777xx guns by then.

 

[Zathras]

Ok, so again, if I am not dense, this gun was made later in the year 1942...that's what I was looking for....Thanks

 

[Zathras]

still learning how to navigate and post on this site

 

[Zathras]

and I would assume, that the "S" firing pin block was done later than 1942?

 

[PeteC]

and I would assume, that the "S" firing pin block was done later than 1942?

The sliding "Hammer block" design was introduced September 1944, but I am not sure when first production/shipments began.

V1 - V 769,000 have the old design
SV 769,000 - SV 811832 have the sliding hammer block

However, like most things S&W, it's more complicated than that. About 40,000 guns were sent back to the factory for modification with the new hammer block. They were stamped with an S on the side plate and/or on the butt in the factory. That includes cutting a groove on the inside of the side plate for the firing block shaft to ride in. Some may have been added later outside the factory using factory parts, with no S stamp.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Yes. The Victory model revolvers had a safety Hammer block built into the side plate. After the accident in 1944 that killed a sailor, S&W revised the hammer block into the one we use today.

 

[Zathras]

I see..This one has the s stamp on the cylinder, and the crane swingarm, actually a "double" S stamp and on the grip frame lower left bottom side of ....so I am assuming it was sent back later it its life for the upgrade...

 

[Wiregrassguy]

No. A modified Victory will have an "S" stamped before the V on the butt as well as the upper rear sideplate. Those are just inspection stamps.

 

[Zathras]

OK..and thanks for all of your help and information..So..You are telling me with ALL these "S" stamps on the cylinder, butt side frame, and crane swingarm, that this gun does NOT have the updated firing pin block?? ..and the full serial # is V177725..just to be precise.