Victory data base

[milsurpmaster]

Just purchased this victory yesterday

I bought this one yesterday. Serial number v405602 it is marked u.s property ghd. It is all original and all numbers match except the grips. The barrel is marked .38 s&w special ctg.
I made the mistake of not researching it until after I bought it so I think I overpaid.

 

[Goony]

I bought this one yesterday. Serial number v405602 it is marked u.s property ghd. It is all original and all numbers match except the grips. The barrel is marked .38 s&w special ctg. I made the mistake of not researching it until after I bought it so I think I overpaid.

First off, welcome to the forum.

Your Victory should've shipped in 1943. Can you post a photo?

 

[Teddydog]

I have had 2 Victory model pass into/through my collection, both 4" .38 Specials. The first was U.S. Navy marked and was SN V105509. The other was U.S. property marked and is still in my collection. SN V395721

(these may have already been added to your database years ago if I just posted about them, but I 'm pretty sure I've never specifically posted about them in your threads)

Rob

 

[ordnanceguy]

Milsurpmaster:

I join Gooney in welcoming you to the Forum, and thank you for providing the data on your revolver for the Database.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Teddydog:

Thanks for providing the data on your two Victory Models. We did not have either one in the Database. Every bit helps.

 

[Mk VII]

832546, a pre-Victory without any military markings at all.

 

[sandspur6]

Hi Guys,
I just bought V329695 from the grandson of a WWII vet. .38 Special, 4 inch barrel, nice original grips and lanyard ring. Parkerized finish. "U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D." on topstrap. I suspect mid 1943. Am I close? Thanks.

 

[Selahs&w]

Please date these two Victory (s)

I have a USN, Ser. # 238863 w/ original Boyt air holster and Lend-Lease Ser. # 151994 w/ British BNP proofs. I think the USN dates to 1942, but how about the Brit? It has original (I think) brush blue finish. I intend to letter them soon.

Thanks -

 

[Goony]

I have a USN, Ser. # 238863 w/ original Boyt air holster and Lend-Lease Ser. # 151994 w/ British BNP proofs. I think the USN dates to 1942, but how about the Brit? It has original (I think) brush blue finish. I intend to letter them soon.

Your Navy Victory ought to have shipped in early 1943. Your British Service Revolver is from 1942 and should've also originally had a phosphate finish. The important thing to check with that one is that it doesn't chamber both .38 S&W and .38 Special.

How about posting some photos?

 

[jag312]

1. S/N V86187 stamped US NAVY

2. S/N V319983 stamped US PROPERTY GHD

Both are also stamped S.P.D. on the left side. Both are .38 Special.

 

[captnronfl]

Victory Model

I have a collection of guns that belong to my dad. He was a lieutenant in the navy and served aboard a mine sweeper in the Pacific. He brought back an S&W 38 special, a 45 automatic and an m1 carbine. The 38 has a serial no of V424979. I have my dad’s discharge paper showing the 45 sign out to him and release to my dad. Now this is all type out on onion paper with all the dates and everything. The thing is that also on this same paper is written out in ink is the 38. This looks like it is my dad’s hand writing. I never really asked my dad about it. There are no papers with the m1 carbine. He told me that it was issued to him but he did not have to sign for it. That’s ok as I have checked this happened sometime. However the 38 bothers me because as I understand how the gun came to him does not match up with having the gun sign out to him. I think the story of how he got the gun is the true story. I think my dad later listed the 38 on the release papers for the 45. Why he would have done this I do not know.
I am going to send for the information so I can have all the paper work to go with it. If anyone on the forum has any information on this gun I would like to know.
One other thing is that it does not have us government or us navy on it. It is however parkerized.
I am sorry the pictures are not that good.
Thanks Ron

 

[Goony]

First off, Ron, welcome to the forum. No need to apologize for any photos posted....

A Victory just several hundred before the serial number of your dad's is known to have shipped in October of 1943. Guns without a topstrap marking usually shipped per contracts with the Defense Supplies Corporation or the U.S. Maritime Commission.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

 

[captnronfl]

navy?

The story I got was that he got the 38 from a pilot. I think he said he was a marine pilot. So I am wondering how a marine pilot would have come by it. Oh I should also mention that my dad had something to do with the navy seabees. He was part of men who started the Tampa squadron.

 

[ordnanceguy]

1. S/N V86187 stamped US NAVY

2. S/N V319983 stamped US PROPERTY GHD

Both are also stamped S.P.D. on the left side. Both are .38 Special.

Jag:

Thanks for posting the data on your Victory Models. On V86187 are the Navy markings on the left top strap? Do both have the smooth walnut stocks? Any idea as to the origin of the SPD marking, which is presumably a post-war police department marking? Salinas, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Seattle ...Police Department?

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hi Guys,
I just bought V329695 from the grandson of a WWII vet. .38 Special, 4 inch barrel, nice original grips and lanyard ring. Parkerized finish. "U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D." on topstrap. I suspect mid 1943. Am I close? Thanks.

Hello Sandspur:

Thanks for posting the data on your Victory. It will go into the Victory Model Database. Your guesstimate on the shipping date is right on. The Database indicates it likely shipped in the June-July, 1943 time frame. Chances are good that it was shipped to the US Navy, so you might want to consider getting a factory letter to confirm that.

 

[usa157]

Victory

Howdy all . I have one V31941 .Was wondering About what year it was built. Any info would be nice . Cal .38 special Barrel 5 inch Pearl handle . Will try to get pics. Thanks

 

[ordnanceguy]

Howdy all . I have one V31941 .Was wondering About what year it was built. Any info would be nice . Thanks

Hi USA:

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you give us a little bit more info to work with? Caliber, barrel length, type of finish, markings on the left top strap and butt, any other post-factory markings, type of stocks? That kind of additional info, in the absence of good photos, makes it much easier for us to diagnose what you have and when it was likely shipped.

 

[jag312]

Jag:

Thanks for posting the data on your Victory Models. On V86187 are the Navy markings on the left top strap? Do both have the smooth walnut stocks? Any idea as to the origin of the SPD marking, which is presumably a post-war police department marking? Salinas, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Seattle ...Police Department?

The Navy markings are on the left top strap. They both have smooth walnut stocks. We can eliminate Sunnyvale (SVDPS) and Saratoga (uses the Sheriff). Possible Salinas, Stockton, Seattle, or ?.

I know an elderly man who has been collecting WW2 militaria. He allowed me to look at his WW2 Smith & Wessons. These are the notes that I took:

V15360 - .38 Special crossed swords with MB5 proof mark, no other marks

V53067 - US NAVY .38 Special

V90292 - "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" .38 S&W barrel, 6" barrel, CAL. 38 SPECIAL stamped on left side of the frame, WB and flaming bomb on butt. NZ with the arrow on back of frame just above rear grip strap.

V117326 - .38 Special on barrel, no serial number on barrel, WB on butt, BNP proof marks and "ENGLAND" stamped on cylinder, cylinder rebored to .38 Special, cylinder serial numbered to frame.

V281089 - U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. .38 Special

V325679 - .38 S&W on barrel, cylinder rebored to .38 Special, no other marks

V504669 - .38 Special, no other marks

V624597 - .38 S&W, 6" barrel, cylinder marked BNP and rebored to .38 Special,US PROPERTY G.H.D. on top strap

V763638 - .38 S&W converted to .38 Special by Cogswell & Harrison, London. No other markings

937145 - "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" on top strap, .38 S&W, parkerized finish, butt marked with WB, Bottom of left grip "MADE IN AUSTRALIA", bottom of right grip. "LIBERTY ARMS CORP", "REBORED IN AUSTRALIA" , FTR\MA55, and AS with arrow all on right side of the frame

 

[ordnanceguy]

Thank you, Jag312, that is very helpful to our Victory Model Database efforts. All of this data will be incorporated into the Database on a confidential basis.

 

[Goony]

The Navy markings are on the left top strap. They both have smooth walnut stocks. We can eliminate Sunnyvale (SVDPS) and Saratoga (uses the Sheriff). Possible Salinas, Stockton, Seattle, or ?.

Sacramento, Syracuse, Schenectady...but what would be cooler than if it turned out to be Springfield, Massachusetts?