Victory data base

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Militariaman:

Your 981007 likely shipped from the S&W factory in April or May, 1942. It was a Lend Lease program gun.

You seem to be finding some nice revolvers over there in Switzerland. Good shooting and happy collecting to you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[angelmonk]

Hi there. Seeking info and opinion on:
1. Manufacture date

2. Since the cylinder has the Crown BNG ENGLAND proof mark, does it mean this is a land lease model? Or a post-war mix parts firearm. (The cylinder has "v" and "400003" markings on the side of the surface where the ammo cartridge is inserted).

3. If the cylinder is a land lease for Breat Britian, shouldn't it be 38 S&W instead of 38 Special ?

4. Adding the commercial blue, barrel says 38 Special (i.e. not 38 S&W), and it has a British crown cylinder, what is this boy ? ; )

5. The barrel's blue is in better condition than the frame. Does it look to be a "home changed" barrel ?

Thank you for the time.

Hi Charles, do you have additional opinion/info on this piece in additional to Kevin William's comment? Like the frame's manufacture date?

 

[Militariaman]

Hello Militariaman:

Your 981007 likely shipped from the S&W factory in April or May, 1942. It was a Lend Lease program gun.

You seem to be finding some nice revolvers over there in Switzerland. Good shooting and happy collecting to you.

Regards,
Charlie

Thanks for the infotmation !

What are the current price for an exemplar like this one in the US ?

Best regards

Militariaman

 

[NotSoPolicePositive]

Registered with the site just to post mine. US Property GHD marked, 4 inch barrel .38 Special, serial #V337587. Barrel matches frame, but the grips, although proper walnut, are not marked inside making me think they are replacements. Will probably order a letter for this and a Smith & Wesson Model 19-3 I have.

https://i.imgur.com/g0ZSOYA.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/EVBiHof.jpeg

(couldnt get the pics to link right, but they should be viewable).

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Let me help you out.

 

[Randy Harris]

Would like to get info on V7382X. 4" barrel .38 special. Thanks!

 

[ordnanceguy]

US Property GHD marked, 4 inch barrel .38 Special, serial #V337587.

Hello Not:

Thanks for your post. I can tell you that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the June-July, 1943 time frame, based upon the Victory Model Database.

Hope that helps you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[ordnanceguy]

Would like to get info on V7382X. 4" barrel .38 special. Thanks!

Hello Randy:

I'd like to help you but I can't work with incomplete serial numbers. If you can supply me with the complete serial, finish type, stock type, as well as any left top strap markings and any post-factory markings I can then dig into the Database for you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[snakeman99]

I just acquired #V704810 (stamped with Flaming Bomb and "US Property GHD on top strap) complete with USN Boyt '43 holster. The revolver was reportedly carried by Aviation Ordanceman William Harold Arnold who served from July '42 through January '46. His complete service record was included in the purchase. He was assigned to the following:

Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 67
Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 7
Bombing Squadron 99
Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 5
Torpedo Squadron 20 & Fighter Squadron 20
Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 23
Hedron Squadron 5

Carriers USS Enterprise and USS Lexington

 

[snakeman99]

I'm still a bit unsure on why a "Aviation Ordnancemen" would have been issued a sidearm, but from what I've researched tonight, it appears that some also served as "gunners" aboard larger multi-seat fighter bombers/torpedo planes. Of course, I'll never know for sure how he might have ended up with this revolver in his possession.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Snakeman:

A neat gun in excellent condition. It looks like Mr. Arnold attended the Naval Aviation Free Gunnery School at Whidbey Island, so he knew his way around aviation machine guns. His last rank recorded on his service record was AOM1/c (T) which, I think, translates to "AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN 1ST CLASS PETTY OFFICER, Aviation Turret Mechanic".

From the Victory Model Database I can tell you that your Victory likely shipped from the factory in the October, 1944 time frame. It would have taken some amount of time to travel to one of the Naval Supply Depots where it would have been transferred to an aviation unit for issuance to those aviators (including enlisted aircrew) authorized to have a side arm issued to them. My guess would be that Arnold would not likely have gotten his hands on this revolver before January, 1945.

Hope that information is helpful to you.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[MelvinWalker]

Hello.. How about Victory #V159236, 4 inch, .38 special with ordnance bomb on butt.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Melvin:

Regarding your V159236 the ship dates in that range are a little bit scattered. As you may know S&W did not ship in strict consecutive serial number order. My best estimate, based on the Victory Database, is that your revolver likely shipped in November, 1942.

HTH.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[Victory.38]

V114714

Hi all,

I picked up this Victory yesterday, number V114714. Looking through this fantastic thread, I'm guessing it dates to around mid-August 1942. I also would like to contribute to the database.

It's .38 S&W (.380/200), 5 inch barrel, with 'WB' and ordnance proofs. It has also been issued to the New Zealand forces.

If anyone has any further info or can confirm my guesswork for the date, that would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Simon

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Simon:

Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for posting the data on your nice New Zealand example.

From the Database it appears likely that your Victory shipped in the September-October, 1942 time frame.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[Victory.38]

Hi Charlie,

Many thanks for the welcome!
Thanks for looking at the database to clarify the date for me, I wasn’t too far off with my guess!

Best regards,

Simon

 

[hybrid25]

Picked up a new zealand used victory, serial number 921331. It's still in 38. s&w with a 5 inch barrel but someone replaced its grips. I was hoping to find out what year it was made and what type of grips it originally shipped with.


Thanks,
Jason

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the cotton and peanut covered plains of the Wiregrass! It is a Lend-Lease gun so it would have shipped in late 1941 or early 1942. The grips should be plain Victory service grips.

 

[Arisaka99]

Low SN Victory no US markings

Picked up an early Victory today. SN V4302. All matching numbers on barrel, ejector, cylinder (I have not removed grips yet). .38 Special. 4” barrel. No US Govt. markings at all applied or removed. Original finish; no foreign or import markings. Crane SN 46440. Knowledge appreciated.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Picked up an early Victory today. SN V4302. Knowledge appreciated.

Hello Arisaka:

Your Victory likely shipped in the June or July, 1942 time frame. With the absence of any property, proof, inspection or acceptance markings it is unlikely that your revolver was shipped to the Navy. Not impossible but unlikely.

It is more likely to have shipped to a DSC-authorized recipient or to the U.S. Maritime Commission. Many DSC and Maritime Commission shipped guns are found in the Database in relatively close proximity to your serial number.

I hope that information is helpful to you.

Regards,
Charlie