Victory data base

[mharve_2000]

Updated Factory Letter

If you can document this guy, that's a good lead. Especially near military bases, there was hardly any manufacturing business that did not have some war-related contracts. Remembering previous discussions about DSC Victorys lettering as shipped to an individual whose association was not identified further, it usually turned out he was a manager at a company like that, or alternatively a police official.

After asking about the delivery location being Phenix City, Al, I received the attached updated factory letter.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

P=polizei? And the other a rack number? Lots of these guns were given to the German police after the war.

 

[Absalom]

After asking about the delivery location being Phenix City, Al, I received the attached updated factory letter.

That's better! The city exists, and the new letter confirms the 2" barrel. Now all you have to do is track down this gentleman .

 

[daleattty]

Thanks so much. If I can unravel the mystery I'll let you know.

 

[BibleronKJV]

Here's another for database...#892891, 38-200, 5 inch, "United States Property" on topstrap, brush blue finish, smooth wood grips numbered to gun, butt marked with "P", "WB" and bomb, above triggerguard is marked with crossed swords and "K", "B","3" between blades. Has Birmingham proofs on barrel and cylinder. Happy to provide additional info if desired. Ron

 

[Absalom]

Here's another for database...#892891, 38-200, 5 inch, "United States Property" on topstrap, brush blue finish, smooth wood grips numbered to gun, butt marked with "P", "WB" and bomb, above triggerguard is marked with crossed swords and "K", "B","3" between blades. Has Birmingham proofs on barrel and cylinder. Happy to provide additional info if desired. Ron

Sounds like a nice one. The crossed "swords" are officially referred to as crossed sceptres, by the way, and are view marks that are part of the post-war treatment.

That serial, likely very late 1941, is quite early for original smooth stocks; since they are numbered to the gun, that's an interesting data point.

 

[BibleronKJV]

With regard to Absalom's comment regarding the smooth grips on my gun I note that on page of 133 of Pate he shows #889789 with smooth grips as well Ron

 

[DWalt]

The Hellstrom notes state that the smooth wood grips started in "early 1942" without providing an exact date or SN, but there is also a comment that in February 1942, smooth walnut grips were used. So it's likely that the change occurred sometime in January 1942. That would indicate that the smooth grips likely started somewhere in the high 8xxxxx SN range. I do list SN 8783xx as having smooth grips. Does anyone have an earlier SN with matching smooth wood grips?

 

[kwill1911]

Based on an official report from the company to the Army Ordnance office, smooth stocks started as early as November, 1941.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I did not take pictures, and should have. The finish is well above average, and appropriate to a Victory. The function is acceptable. SN SV782435, .38 S&W SPL, 4" barrel, stamped US Property GHD on topstrap. Lanyard ring attached. The numbers all match (barrel, cylinder and frame), with the exception of the stocks, which are not stamped at all. Further, the stocks are ill fitted to the frame, and appear to be in almost unused condition. They are, however, the smooth finish that we are accustomed to seeing on Victories. The frame has some discoloration that matches the outline of a pair of magna stocks. Finally, a six digit number beginning with a B was rather crudely etched in the sight groove on the topstrap. No other markings.

Any information available is appreciated.

 

[DWalt]

All of the SV series Victories were shipped to the military in 1945. The S part of the SV prefix indicates that it incorporates the new and improved hammer drop safety. You did not indicate what finish yours has. With the property marking, yours is likely one of the military revolvers and should have a dull phosphate finish, not blued. And the grips should be smooth wood, and serial numbered to the frame. There remained in inventory an unknown number of wartime SV frames on VJ-day, and those were made up and finished in civilian style (blued with Magna grips) for sale on the civilian market through S&W's normal commercial channels. Virtually all of those Victories were shipped during the early months of 1946. Most had the lanyard holes present but plugged. They would not have the U.S.Property stamp.

 

[Muss Muggins]

My bad. It had the phosphate finish, and was not blued. Thanks for your swift reply . . .

All of the SV series Victories were shipped to the military in 1945. The S part of the SV prefix indicates that it incorporates the new and improved hammer drop safety. You did not indicate what finish yours has. With the property marking, yours is likely one of the military revolvers and should have a dull phosphate finish, not blued. And the grips should be smooth wood, and serial numbered to the frame. There remained in inventory an unknown number of wartime SV frames on VJ-day, and those were made up and finished in civilian style (blued with Magna grips) for sale on the civilian market through S&W's normal commercial channels. Virtually all of those Victories were shipped during the early months of 1946. Most had the lanyard holes present but plugged. They would not have the U.S.Property stamp.

 

[mdr1561]

Newly acquired Nickel Victory

I just picked this Victory up and thought I could use a little help figuring this thing out.

 

[mdr1561]

Nickel Victory

Additional photos of the nickel Victory

 

[Absalom]

I just picked this Victory up and thought I could use a little help figuring this thing out.

You have a former British Service Revolver that likely shipped in late 1943. It originally looked like the one in the attached photo.

The barrel was shortened, unfortunately to the point of removing the front ejector rod lug. The nickel is not original, and the grips are post-1968. Any British proofs seem to have been removed during refinish.

It was likely converted from its original .38 S&W to .38 Special. Your cylinder photo is not well enough lit to tell for sure. Compare to photo below. That's an unconverted one.

It does not retain any collector value due to the extensive modification, but for what it's worth, the nickel job and overall appearance on this one are considerably better than on the ones we usually encounter here; large numbers of ex-BSR's received a similar treatment in the 1950s after being "repatriated", but with cheap plastic grips and the nickel rarely as neatly executed.

 

[jayn.32]

I was just getting ready to post my two P numbered Vics. Mine have Canada ownership marks, late pre -Vic serials,WB and bomb on butt, and no top strap markings, are K-2 00s with 5in bbls. 932812 has no. P0333 London proofs and shiny reblue and not rebored. 948634 has no.P0420 Birminham proofs , worn original finish, original stocks and not rebored. I was hoping some knew what the P numbers were.

 

[Absalom]

I was just getting ready to post my two P numbered Vics. Mine have Canada ownership marks, late pre -Vic serials,WB and bomb on butt, and no top strap markings, are K-2 00s with 5in bbls. 932812 has no. P0333 London proofs and shiny reblue and not rebored. 948634 has no.P0420 Birminham proofs , worn original finish, original stocks and not rebored. I was hoping some knew what the P numbers were.

You are referring to P-numbers on the frame like on the one shown in post #1612 above? That's interesting. The photos in that post don't show the spot where the Canadian broad arrow in a C would be, but he likely would have mentioned it; since you say both yours are Canadian, I would have suspected a Canadian origin to those numbers. They are not to my knowledge connected to the proofs, but must denote some other entity. Do either of yours have the large P on the backstrap?

 

[jayn.32]

No p's on backstrap c with arrow is on toe of butt.

 

[Blackedoutblazer]

Just picked up my first victory. S/N V49277 W.B. "bomb" P 38 S&W CTG. A5 over 95274 in cylinder gap. "UNITED STATES PROPERTY". HAS DIAMOND/checkered grip with medallions. Has stamped I believe import mark on bottom of barrel that is very light and hard to read. Also has N ^ Z over 7199.
What do I have? Year, correct grips, etc. Thanks.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Blackedoutblazer! You really should post a picture. It sounds like a British Service Revolver that would have been manufactured in 1942. I would have thought that by the 49277th unit, the service stocks should have been plain walnut, but it is possible they came on the gun. Have you looked at the SN inside the right grip panel to see if they are numbered to the gun? Also, have you checked to see if the cylinder has been reamed for .38 Special? If a .38 Special cartridge fully inserts, it has.