Victory data base
- Thread starter zonker5
- Start date
DWalt
Member
Didn't you mean 1943 for the 304?
Yes - 1943 it is.
jayn.32
Member
australian
I have an Australian BSR to add to database but it may be there already, this gun was featured in C. Pate's U.S. Handguns of WWII pp 109, 111. V141756 has all the mark shown plus "United States Property" on top strap. The lettering visible under sideplate reads Rebored in Australia (p111). This is also stamped on bottom of right stock. Left stock is stamped Liberty Arms. Cyl is bored for 38spl, I believe finish is original. Very tight gun.
I have an Australian BSR to add to database but it may be there already, this gun was featured in C. Pate's U.S. Handguns of WWII pp 109, 111. V141756 has all the mark shown plus "United States Property" on top strap. The lettering visible under sideplate reads Rebored in Australia (p111). This is also stamped on bottom of right stock. Left stock is stamped Liberty Arms. Cyl is bored for 38spl, I believe finish is original. Very tight gun.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Interesting specimen. I have a couple of observations after looking at the pictures in Pate.
First, did you notice he gives two years for it, 1941 and 1942? Given the serial, the 1941 is likely a typo.
It's unusual to see one of these converted, especially in Australia. I had looked at the picture before, but could not figure out the stuff under the logo. Never seen one like this before.
You say you think the finish is original. To me, even in the black-and-white picture, it looks like a classic Lithgow refinish surface, which is noticably duller than a standard Victory finish; I've also not encountered an FTR-marked gun so far that was not re-parkerized.
Have you checked the right stock panel for a serial number? The Australians got quite a few pre-Victorys with that type of stocks, pre-war small service style, although this gun is about a year too late to have had those originally. But the Australians seem to have switched stocks around a lot. Mine has stocks from a gun that shipped a few months later.
Any chance you could post a well-lit picture in natural light?
Texas Star
US Veteran
Both work fine. I have fired them within the last few years. Neither will win any awards.
I guess index card groups at living room distances is what they were made for.
For years, Dad kept one by his chair in the living room and the other under the bed!!
I fired a number of these Victory Model .38's while in the USAF, and those I shot were capable of as good accuracy as any commercial M&P equivalent. Frankly, I sometimes fired tighter groups from 25 yards from the two-handed sitting position than I could shoot from our worn .30 M-2 carbines.
I have never had vast affection for the little carbine and was overjoyed to see it replaced with the AR -15/M-16.
ordnanceguy
Member
Yes, this one is already in the VM Database, but thank you for posting it anyway.
Here's one more, nothing special about it as far as I know, SN V331524, five inch 38 S&W. Has flaming bomb, US Property, G.H.D. on top of receiver and no British or other stamps. SN matching in the usual places including the right stock panel. Pawn shop buy today so no telling where its been.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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DWalt
Member
Any BSR which hasn't been messed with or proof stamped is sort of special, and that one appears original. SN V331524 would put its probable shipment ca. mid-1943. Have the chambers been bored for .38 Special?
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I would beg to disagree with you "... nothing special about it...."
5" -- bonus
no proof marks -- bonus
with luck the answer to DWalt's question "... chambers been bored to .38 Special?" is "no." -- bonus
Win, win, win.
I would consider it very special.
Cheers,
Bob
jayn.32
Member
Ab, silver medallion stocks ser no. not readable . All lettering and edges are super sharp but trigger and hammer have polishing marks.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
It MAY just be the lighting, but the hammer, trigger, and ejector rod/knob appear to have the same finish as the rest of the gun, which would support my impression, especially from the third photo, that this is not the original finish.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
That fits. One of the characteristics of the Lithgow refinish is that it is VERY thin and seems to have involved no buffing, and leaves the original stampings looking pristine, which is why they are frequently taken for original. See my example attached.
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Given all the conversions to 38 Special I should have mentioned in the original post that this one is still 38 S&W; a 38 Special will not chamber.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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Confirm Victory model?
Hi there, I just purchased what I'm pretty sure is a Victory model. Serial #V361352, which is stamped on the bottom of the barrel and the butt, as well as on the cylinder face. Only other stamped markings are the number 6895 on the frame and the same # on the crane. There is a small S stamped on the crane and on the cylinder face. Under the stocks on the left side of the grip frame near the butt are small stamps of what looks like an X and a B. On the other side is a 4 and an 8 and another S.
It looks to be in pretty good shape, in need of a good cleaning but the finish is 85-90% and timing and bore seem to be in good shape.
I've read that early Victory models shipped with checkered grips, can that be confirmed are those the original stocks (no serial # on the stocks)?
Hi there, I just purchased what I'm pretty sure is a Victory model. Serial #V361352, which is stamped on the bottom of the barrel and the butt, as well as on the cylinder face. Only other stamped markings are the number 6895 on the frame and the same # on the crane. There is a small S stamped on the crane and on the cylinder face. Under the stocks on the left side of the grip frame near the butt are small stamps of what looks like an X and a B. On the other side is a 4 and an 8 and another S.
It looks to be in pretty good shape, in need of a good cleaning but the finish is 85-90% and timing and bore seem to be in good shape.
I've read that early Victory models shipped with checkered grips, can that be confirmed are those the original stocks (no serial # on the stocks)?
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Unfortunately I have to disappoint you, but those are much later post-war target stocks; in fact, they're so late after the war (definitely post-1968) that I can't tell you anything about them. Since the K-frame remained dimensionally the same, any modern stocks will fit the Victory.
The checkered stocks that shipped on early pre-Victorys up to late 1941 were of the small pre-war service style, see attached picture. Your gun is also not early; that serial would have shipped in later 1943. It has been re-blued, too, by the way.
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Not disappointed at all, thank you for the information. I'd ideally like to replace the stocks with the smaller service style. Know of any good sources?
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
If you don't have many opportunities to dig through boxes at gun shows, look on online sites like Gunbroker and ebay. The small pre-war service stocks with medallion can be a bit pricey. Originally your gun would have had the less attractive, but much easier obtained smooth Victory stocks as seen in the photos in post #1680 above.
3 more Victories to add to the database
Greetings all!
I've been reading through as many posts as I can and enjoying the history of this firearm!
My wife just received 3 from her father, that he inherited from his father. The story goes, his father served as a MP in Europe and Germany, specifically guarding railroad stations and trains. On the return trip to USA, they were told to dump the pistols overboard (yes, literally into the sea). His father asked a couple guys if he could have theirs and stowed them all in his bag. He wasn't searched and left with all three.
All three are DSC, no special markings on any. They have the usual 4" barrel and are in .38 special.
Serial Numbers are:
V96053
V117044
V123274
Luckily they were treated well and all are in great condition.
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread, its been fun to read through!
Matt
Greetings all!
I've been reading through as many posts as I can and enjoying the history of this firearm!
My wife just received 3 from her father, that he inherited from his father. The story goes, his father served as a MP in Europe and Germany, specifically guarding railroad stations and trains. On the return trip to USA, they were told to dump the pistols overboard (yes, literally into the sea). His father asked a couple guys if he could have theirs and stowed them all in his bag. He wasn't searched and left with all three.
All three are DSC, no special markings on any. They have the usual 4" barrel and are in .38 special.
Serial Numbers are:
V96053
V117044
V123274
Luckily they were treated well and all are in great condition.
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread, its been fun to read through!
Matt
DWalt
Member
You say they are DSCs - meaning that there are no property stampings on the topstrap (UNITED STATES PROPERTY or possibly U. S. NAVY). Is that the case? That would be unusual if it's known that they saw any sort of military service. Might be worth getting letters on them.
BTW regarding likely shipping dates:
V96053 9/1942
V117044 9/1942
V123274 11/1942
Can you post some pix?
BTW regarding likely shipping dates:
V96053 9/1942
V117044 9/1942
V123274 11/1942
Can you post some pix?
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Thank you for the dates! That's great information!
Correct, there are no markings on the top strap, the only extra marking is the ordnance marking on the bottom (the bomb), which from what I've gathered is on basically everyone? Otherwise they are void of any other markings. All the grips are correct as well.
I will try to take photos (once I figure out how to work that whole thing )
We may have to get a letter on them!
Correct, there are no markings on the top strap, the only extra marking is the ordnance marking on the bottom (the bomb), which from what I've gathered is on basically everyone? Otherwise they are void of any other markings. All the grips are correct as well.
I will try to take photos (once I figure out how to work that whole thing
)We may have to get a letter on them!
