Victory data base

[LLOYD17]

Updated post #1703 with the letter. V16109 shipped on July 6, 1942 to Pantex Ordnance Company in St. Francis, TX.

Those boys make the BIG bomb now.

 

[Quiet 1]

My New Victory Display Box

I recently changed my Victory display box to commemorate a pilot of Squadron VF-9 flying from the USS Essex.

U.S. Navy Pilot Wings (1/20 10k gold sterling silver) Made by N.S. Meyer, New York between 1936 and 1943.

WWII era authentic Naval officer Lieutenant sterling silver collar insignia.

WWII era Naval Officer sterling silver & 10k GF garrison cap emblem made by Hilborn & Hamburger.

Ribbon Holder, Ribbons and Stars includes:

Navy / Marine Corps Distinguished Service ribbon

Navy and Marine Corps Ribbon

Air Medal Ribbon with one gold star

WWII American Campaign 1941 - 1946 with 2 bronze stars

Asia Pacific 1941 - 1946 with 3 bronze stars

Authentic WWII Issue Bausch & Lomb AN6431 Glasses - Flying, Sun

WWII authentic 1943 Escape & Evasion Silk Map (Tokyo / Osaka)

WWII era Naval Officer's khaki garrison cap.

WWII era Naval Pilot 1/20 10k GF garrison cap wings made by Hilborn & Hamburger.

Navy BuAero Spec. 88-W-800 Type 11 wrist watch made in 1943 by Waltham Watch Co. with authentic WWII cotton twill strap.

WWII US Navy Mark 8 Aircraft Navigation computer.

WWII authentic Catholic Military Missal prayer book .

WWII era wood bead Rosary.

WWII authentic airman escape kit brass pocket compass made by Waltham Watch Co.

 

[Monty05]

Australian "Victory"

Hi.... I have a Smith & Wesson revolver registered (Canada) as a HE M&P Victory Model. Calibre .38 S&W, 5" barrel. Serial number 873469 on butt, cylinder, grips. Is it "OK" to refer to it as a Victory model? Would it have been sent to Australia ( Arrow-D-Arrow markings) or part of a larger British shipment?
Would appreciate any info.
Cheers.

 

[Absalom]

Hi.... I have a Smith & Wesson revolver registered (Canada) as a HE M&P Victory Model. Calibre .38 S&W, 5" barrel. Serial number 873469 on butt, cylinder, grips. Is it "OK" to refer to it as a Victory model? Would it have been sent to Australia ( Arrow-D-Arrow markings) or part of a larger British shipment?
Would appreciate any info.
Cheers.

Very interesting gun.

First of all, it is one of the, if not the earliest Lend-lease marked guns I have encountered. An 873-serial is quite low for the property stamp. It is not a Victory, as it was made before the V-prefix started, but collectors would refer to this as a pre-Victory. It is legitimately a variant of the M&P or (collector speak again) Model 1905, 4th change.

There was an early shipment directly to Australia around May 1941 (one member here has a gun that lettered to that shipment), but Lend-lease guns were sent from the factory to Hartford depot, and further distribution to overseas destinations is outside our documentable knowledge. Shipments may have gone to countries other than Britain directly, but I also have a pre-Victory with markings showing it first went to Britain and then to the Australians.

I'm not sure whether the D-arrow-D in this case is an Australian mark. All the D^D stamps I've seen on Aussie guns were applied post-war, in the 50s, on top of the Lithgow refinish and on the other side of the frame in a much smaller size. But Charles Pate says that the arrow mark on Australian guns may be found in several places, so anything is possible. This one has not been refinished and I see no other marks. I do not see the Canadian arrow-in-a-C either.

Do you know anything else about its history?

 

[Monty05]

Thanks for the info Absalom. No interesting data from previous owner. He had had it for many years, acquired with some military medals which he collects. Did come, at that time, with paper wrapped ammo.

 

[DWalt]

The lowest BSR SN I have listed as having a United States Property stamp is 881544. So it is very possible that 873469 also has the USP stamp. Very likely it shipped in November or December 1941.

 

[Targets Guy]

The lowest BSR SN I have listed as having a United States Property stamp is 881544. So it is very possible that 873469 also has the USP stamp. Very likely it shipped in November or December 1941.

My BSR s/n 877679 shipped in Dec 1941.

image hosting gif

 

[RPR]

Victory Model

Just got hold of the S&W Victory Model in .38 S&W, Marked United States Property and GHD marked, five inch barrel # V 198958, any info on this is much appreciated. Ron

 

[RPR]

thanks DWalt, this model does not have the hammer block safty "S" stamp mark on it...

 

[Absalom]

.... this model does not have the hammer block safty "S" stamp mark on it...

It is very unlikely it would. We've discussed this here before; yours is a British Service model, and by the time the hammer block modification was actually implemented and the first guns with it shipped in January 1945, shipments of BSR's had almost or actually stopped and the remaining contracts cancelled. And no BSR's were included in the refurbishment contracts to be sent back and retrofitted.

 

[DWalt]

The improved hammer drop safety was not incorporated into new production until very early 1945, and designated by the SV serial number prefix. And allegedly, no SV-series guns chambered for the .38 S&W were made up and shipped to the British. And relatively few of the SV-series revolvers in .38 Special were shipped to the US military. Of the approximately 45,000 SV-series Victories made, I have never seen any breakouts as to how they were distributed. Quite a few of the wartime SV-series frames remaining in inventory at war's end were made up into civilian M&P revolvers and sold during the first few months of 1946. It is possible that most of the SV-series revolvers made in 1945 may have been sold on the civilian market. Maybe someday we will know.

In a way, it is a little surprising that any Victory revolvers were being made in 1945. By mid-1944, the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt, and the Allies were up to their ears in weaponry and munitions of all kinds and didn't really have urgent needs for any more. Many defense plants all over the county were being closed or their production greatly curtailed, and some plants were even returning to peacetime production after V-E Day.

 

[RPR]

thanks for the info, going do a little range work with it...

 

[walkcubs]

British Service Revolver for the Database

Have a new addition for your database.

SN - V717633, late 1944?
Stamped on barrel and frame with "NOTENGLISHMADE"
Many proof marks including crossed swords, see photos
Came with WWII holster.
Curious about "police?" markings...see photos
Pol.Lun.410 on back of grip
POL.OLD.703 above trigger guard and crossed out
U.S. Property GHD stamped on frame above cylinder.
P stamp on frame, cylinder and barrel.
Many proof stamps on cylinder, NP, NB, JP??? Hard to read.

I would appreciate any information especially about the "police?" markings.
Action excellent. Locks up tight. Finish is original. Best BSR I have seen.

 

[chriscokid]

I received a model Victory with the sn. V 311661 all matching numbers (i haven't pulled the grips yet but I'm 99% sure they match also.. What I think I knows is its 1943 with a 4inch barrel. No other "special" markings. Any infomation you can give me about the gun would be great.
Although my grandfather served in wwIl, this gun belonged to my great grandfather. In the late 50s early 60s he killed himself with it and its been sitting in closests since and just recently it was given to me. I mailed off for a letter to S&W when should I expect a return letter?.... I'm not sure how to upload a picture on hear.

I got my letter today

 

[Absalom]

.....
Curious about "police?" markings...see photos
Pol.Lun.410 on back of grip
POL.OLD.703 above trigger guard and crossed out
.....

We've seen this or one like it here before. British occupation zone of post-war Germany; at first issued to the police in Oldenburg, then in Lüneburg, both cities in Lower Saxony not too far from each other.

All other markings are consistent with a late-1944 shipped Lend-lease British Service Revolver.

What's interesting is that this gun was not surplussed out by the Germans, but apparently was handed back to the British and then taken out of service in Britain, as attested by the pre-1955 post-war commercial British proofs.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Have a new addition for your database...... Came with WWII holster.

Lot of history there with that revolver.

BTW, your holster is an M2 made by Fink Leather Shops in Kansas City. It was designed to carry the S&W N-frame M1917 .45 revolver or the Colt M1917 .45 revolver, so it might be a little roomy for your K-frame BSR.

I should add that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the November-December 1944 time frame. It almost certainly shipped to the Hartford Ordnance Depot in Springfield, Mass. and from there on to British or Empire forces.

Thanks for providing the data on your revolver for the Victory Database. I will make sure that it is added.

 

[walkcubs]

Thanx Ordnanceguy

I just happen to have a couple of 1917s that will fit the holster

 

[sun4one]

38 Special CTG Help

I am researching what I believe to be a Victory model 38 from my father-in-laws collection left in an estate when he passed away 2 years ago. In attempting to find information and potential value I found this site in my search and hope you can assist;

The gun is marked 38 S.&W. Special CTG on the right side of the barrel. The bottom of the grips has a V 385810. There is also a lanyard strap holder. Pictures attached.

Thanks

 

[Absalom]

.....
The gun is marked 38 S.&W. Special CTG on the right side of the barrel. The bottom of the grips has a V 385810. There is also a lanyard strap holder.....

You identified the gun correctly. It is indeed a US version Victory model from 1943. The only question remaining is whether it was shipped to the military or a civilian destination. You don't mention any other markings, but a military-shipped gun would have a US PROPERTY G.H.D. stamp on the top strap above the cylinder.

In either case, the gun appears from the pictures to be in original condition, although the finish has blemishes in various places that look more like neglect than use wear, a minus when it comes to value. Whether all serial numbers on the butt, right grip, barrel, and cylinder match is also a factor. Overall, a wild guess might be 400 plus/minus.

 

[Low Speed High Drag]

This one seems to be a bit of an oddity. Serial number on the butt is V 42742. There might be an "R" in front of that. It has a blued finish (or at least what's left of one) and a 5 inch barrel. .38 special brass fits just fine.

The top strap is marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY." It looks like there might be something next to it but it's pretty faint.

Serial on the barrel matches, and is marked ".38 SPL" on the right hand side. On the bottom of the barrel, it's marked "FCCSC(?) PENN N.J."

Cylinder arm is marked P 93191.

Cylinder is marked 948053.
From what I've read here, it seems unlikely that the blued finish is original, but it looks old as dirt. The grips definitely aren't original and don't have a serial number.

Can anyone give me more insight on to what I've got here? I'll attach some photos. Here's a link to the album if the photos don't attach correctly: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet