Victory data base
- Thread starter zonker5
- Start date
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Here is another interesting thing. I knew I had seen a letter to Charlotte before, and just found this in my files. I don't know whose gun it is, but I probably snipped it here in the forum a while ago.
This one is about 25,000 serial numbers later than yours, but shipped three weeks earlier.
Another little nudge away from the opinion, still held dear by some, that the Victory models flew out the factory doors still warm from the oven and in relative serial order.
This one is about 25,000 serial numbers later than yours, but shipped three weeks earlier.
Another little nudge away from the opinion, still held dear by some, that the Victory models flew out the factory doors still warm from the oven and in relative serial order.
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policerevolvercollector
Member
Very interesting!! Mine now has a place to spend its' well earned retirement...... in my collection. While not issued by a police agency, it was on duty protecting our nation. I have various other guns that performed similar jobs including a Colt Official Police that worked at the Federal Shipping & Dry Dock Company during WWII.
Best,
Charles
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I just picked up a pair of Victory Model revolvers chambered in .38 Special and would like to add them to your data base.
Both are marked on the top strap with the Ordnance Bomb and U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. The earlier one is all original including the grips. The second one is all original except for a mis-matched right grip serial numbered to a later pistol. No foreign markings on either one. The serial numbers are: V292411 and V345339. They both have the 4" barrel. I will be requesting factory letters on both.
I also have a friend that has his Dad's Victory Model .38 Special and should have the serial soon from him to add to the data base. His Dad brought it home and was a Hellcat pilot with the Navy VF-2 "Rippers" during WWII and he is on the list of 27 confirmed Aces from VF-2.
Both are marked on the top strap with the Ordnance Bomb and U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. The earlier one is all original including the grips. The second one is all original except for a mis-matched right grip serial numbered to a later pistol. No foreign markings on either one. The serial numbers are: V292411 and V345339. They both have the 4" barrel. I will be requesting factory letters on both.
I also have a friend that has his Dad's Victory Model .38 Special and should have the serial soon from him to add to the data base. His Dad brought it home and was a Hellcat pilot with the Navy VF-2 "Rippers" during WWII and he is on the list of 27 confirmed Aces from VF-2.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Welcome to the forum. Your guns both sound like standard military-shipped US Victory models from 1943. Mismatched stocks are very common.
Here are the two Victory Models I posted about earlier.
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Thank you for the welcome. The original seller had eight of these Victory models from the same source. The person I bought them from got two of the eight and had them for 20 years or so in his collection.
I have been looking for a nice example for years and jumped at the chance to get these two.
M&P 4th Change Info Request
Hello- I am looking for information about a this revolver that my dad received from his brother. I have been reading the forum and learned a lot so far! It looks like it was issued in 1941 or 1942 and was part of the British lend lease program. The serial number is 960508. The same number is on the barrel, cylinder and ejector. It is not marked as U.S Property. My dad believes it has been re-blued at some point. It has a Brauer Holster that is in very good condition. Any additional information would be helpful. Thanks! (I don't know why some images are upside down.)
Hello- I am looking for information about a this revolver that my dad received from his brother. I have been reading the forum and learned a lot so far! It looks like it was issued in 1941 or 1942 and was part of the British lend lease program. The serial number is 960508. The same number is on the barrel, cylinder and ejector. It is not marked as U.S Property. My dad believes it has been re-blued at some point. It has a Brauer Holster that is in very good condition. Any additional information would be helpful. Thanks! (I don't know why some images are upside down.)
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Welcome aboard Twin Cities, I mean iminmsp,
Looks like you've picked up quite a bit from reading through the Victory threads here. I can't add more than what you've already learned and shared about your dad's Victory Model. You've probably already realized that the refinish and stag grips make your dad's gun a non collector, but I'm sure the family attachment makes that unimportant.
Again, welcome, and thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Bob
Looks like you've picked up quite a bit from reading through the Victory threads here. I can't add more than what you've already learned and shared about your dad's Victory Model. You've probably already realized that the refinish and stag grips make your dad's gun a non collector, but I'm sure the family attachment makes that unimportant.
Again, welcome, and thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Bob
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Your "pre-Victory" British Service Revolver has definitely been re-blued, since by that serial number in spring of 1942 the dull utility finish of the Victory model was in use. It should have the UNITED STATES PROPERTY stamp (not the short US ...), although I'm not sure from what date or serial number onwards that was consistently applied. It could have been removed during the refinish; that particular stamping wasn't very deep.
Here are the two Victory Models I posted about earlier.
Both of your Victorys are most likely from Jun/Jul time frame 1943. Nice scores!
DWalt
Member
Recommendations
I have gotten a victory revolver V250XXX when my dad passed away. It has the original holster but the swivel is missing. 1. Are the swivels still available for that revolver? 2. Should I have it replaced if there are? 3. Should I get it insured?
I have gotten a victory revolver V250XXX when my dad passed away. It has the original holster but the swivel is missing. 1. Are the swivels still available for that revolver? 2. Should I have it replaced if there are? 3. Should I get it insured?
Mike in Wis.
Member
And my 495759 shipped on January 18, 1944 with 99 other Victory Models to Bethlehem Shipbuilding Alameda Supply Depot. This is the one much earlier in the thread marked U.S.M.C #55 on the back strap. Manufactured later... but shipped earlier it seems.
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I just picked up a Victory from the estate of a Marine Lt. who flew in WW2 (VMSB-235). Pistol is in great shape with a USN stamped Boyt shoulder holster. I'd be interested in seeing if this pistol's history jibes with his units period of activity in the Pacific.
Butt serial # S (lanyard) V183928
Marked U.S. NAVY on topstrap, has P marked under barrel, cylinder, and left frame. Has S on sideplate. Grips, sadly, do not match the numbers on the gun. No inspector marks.
Butt serial # S (lanyard) V183928
Marked U.S. NAVY on topstrap, has P marked under barrel, cylinder, and left frame. Has S on sideplate. Grips, sadly, do not match the numbers on the gun. No inspector marks.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
There is a problem with this being the Lt.'s issued gun in WW II. With this serial, it would have originally shipped (without the hammer block) likely in December 1942. The first contract for retrofitting Navy Victorys, acc. to Pate, didn't happen until May 1945, delivery to be made by January 1946. So the Navy had to collect these 40,000 revolvers from the field and get them to the factory. Since your gun received the S and was converted by S&W, I consider it pretty much impossible that a junior officer would have been able to get his specific gun back after conversion.
So the holster may have been his wartime equipment, but I suspect he acquired the gun afterward to have one "just like the one" he carried in the war. I don't know whether the Navy and Marine Corps issued the Victory to aviators in the post-war era, and he could have acquired it later in his career. I know from the testimony of AF veterans here on the forum that the Air Force had them in use through Vietnam.
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