Victory data base

[kwill1911]

Welcome. It sounds like a New Zealand gun. Pictures would help and/or you can search the forum and find similar examples.

 

[LOBO]

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.

Is the "N ^ Z over 7199" on the hump of the back strap? If so, it sounds like it could be a New Zealand model.

 

[Absalom]

Just to confirm my esteemed pre-posters' assumptions, you do have indeed a Lend-lease British Service model which likely shipped around June 1942. The stocks on it now are either too late or too early depending on the style, but more likely post-war magnas; pictures would confirm this. The smooth walnut stocks Wiregrassguy mentions are the only original stocks possible by this serial. The markings you describe make this a New Zealand gun without a doubt.

The numbers in the yoke area were factory assembly numbers and don't tell us anything. Could the possible import marks involve VEGA SAC? They're always a prime suspect in the importation of NZ and Australian surplus guns.

 

[Blackedoutblazer]

 

[Blackedoutblazer]

Under the grip has something stamped but so deep it's unreadable.

 

[DWalt]

Barrel marking means it was imported by Navy Arms Co. in Ridgefield NJ. GCA-68 requires that importers must stamp such guns with the importer's name and location. No question it was imported after GCA-68 took effect. Grips are of the 1930s style. S&W started the use of smooth wooden grips in very early 1942, but maybe these came from old inventory. Are they stamped with a serial number on the back?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Looks righteous to me. And it appears to still be in 38 S&W caliber.

Guy

 

[Blackedoutblazer]

The stamp on the back of the grip is deep and can not be made out. How much do you think something like this is worth?

 

[Absalom]

The stocks are at least five or six months too late for the serial by normal standards, so I would be very surprised if they had a matching number ( but I have been surprised before ).

But switched stocks are nothing unusual; I have an Australian with stocks from another gun that shipped within the same 1941 timeframe, which highly likely indicates not a random post-war replacement, but that it happened during active service while guns from the same or proximate shipments were still together.

So if they don't match, the service stocks are likely from another New Zealand gun, a pre-Victory shipped in 1941.

....... How much do you think something like this is worth?

I could see myself going up to 400 for this one. Unconverted, non-refinished NZ guns aren't very common, and the service stocks are worth more than smooth Victory stocks, partly compensating for their non-originality.

 

[Blackedoutblazer]

Thanks for all help everyone!

 

[Sooner960]

Victory .38 S&W need for gen info

I have acquired an old, what i thought was a 38 Special, which I know now seems to be just another BNP 38 S&W cut barrel nickel. I am wondering, however if anyone can help me with a date of mfg or ship date into service?
V817XX

 

[Absalom]

I have acquired an old, what i thought was a 38 Special, which I know now seems to be just another BNP 38 S&W cut barrel nickel. I am wondering, however if anyone can help me with a date of mfg or ship date into service?
V817XX

It would have shipped in mid-1942, around June/July or so, to Hartford Ordnance Depot for Lend-lease shipment most likely to Britain.

 

[Sooner960]

Thank You very much for the info.....the individual from whom i purchased the firearmfrom said it was a 38 special.....it says .767 on the barrel and 3 1/2 Tons along with the typical BNP and cross swords and the WB on the butt. It has all matching numbers except the grips. I cannot see stop rings inside the cylinder bores which probably indicates that they have been bored to accommodate the longer 38 spc ammo length.

 

[Absalom]

Thank You very much for the info.....the individual from whom i purchased the firearmfrom said it was a 38 special.....it says .767 on the barrel and 3 1/2 Tons along with the typical BNP and cross swords and the WB on the butt. It has all matching numbers except the grips. I cannot see stop rings inside the cylinder bores which probably indicates that they have been bored to accommodate the longer 38 spc ammo length.

The.767 is the case length of the proof load and indicates it was still in its original caliber when commercially proofed in Birmingham, so it was likely converted later after re-importation. You are right about the shoulders ("stop rings"); an un-converted cylinder should have distinctly noticable ones. See the cylinder photo a few posts up.

 

[jayn.32]

I guess you are still adding no.s to the data base. In addition to the two I posted in post #1629 I need to post one before I lose the no. It is V611785 and was traded off a year ago. It is a usual K-200 US PROPERTY GHD on top no foreign marks at all and no finish left 5 in 38 s&w , Only an import mark. How much info do you want on guns to add? I still have several .

 

[CorranRichards]

Victory Model Inquiry

I picked up a Victory Smith & Wesson S/N V588378 has US Property GHD chambered in 38 SW. Wondering if anyone had information.

 

[DWalt]

It's a British .38/200 Victory service revolver. The SN would date its likely shipment to be around May 1944. You haven't provided any information or photos to allow more precise identification. Many of these were highly modified after importation to the US which basically destroys any collectible value.

 

[Absalom]

I guess you are still adding no.s to the data base. In addition to the two I posted in post #1629 I need to post one before I lose the no. It is V611785 and was traded off a year ago. It is a usual K-200 US PROPERTY GHD on top no foreign marks at all and no finish left 5 in 38 s&w , Only an import mark. How much info do you want on guns to add? I still have several .

I assume the keepers of the database still check this thread periodically, so if you are willing to share your serial numbers, caliber and barrel length, originality of stocks and finish, and the stampings (esp. topstrap property), that would put your guns on the record and be appreciated.

 

[jayn.32]

add to data base

Thanks, Absalom. I'll start by adding my earliest pre -vic which is 712962 one of the early 6in guns with "BO" on the toe of the grip frame. It has BNP proofs under crown, arsenal reblue,good case colors, an H (1957) date in crossed scepters and about 1946 magna stocks, no topstrap markings. The story that came with it was a Canadian policeman took it on vacation to Florida and was not allowed to reimport his own duty weapon back to Canada!

 

[Missouri Raider]

any info on this victory model

Saw this victory model today at a show.
serial number V663941 matching cylinder, barrel, grips. Left side of frame stamped POL.BR below that L.u.S., 5 inch barrel. What does the frame stamping stand for. Thanks Steve