Victory data base

[Targets Guy]

I just picked this one up today. I looked at it a little and then delivered to my local gunsmith to check it out.



S/N is V450985 so I am guessing this shipped in Nov (poss Oct) 43. It has very few markings and very little original finish left. There is a small "P" after the serial number on the flat underbarrel, a P and a V on the cylinder back along with the s/n and a "P" high up on the left side of the revolver across from the hammer.

5" barrel with patents on top and it is a .38SW. Haven't pulled the stocks yet to see if they are original.

Barrel, cylinder and grip butt serial numbers match.

 

[Targets Guy]

I got my Victory back from the gunsmith today and now have photos and some information.

It did ship in Nov 1943 and was a British Service Victory. Still a .38SW and a five inch barrel. The only proofs I can find on it is the "P"; next to the hammer


on the barrel flat after the s/n


and on the back of the cylinder along with a "v" and the s/n.


It cleaned up nice.

 

[Targets Guy]

I don't know how the Guam photo got in there but here is the proof next to the hammer.



and the stocks are stamped with a matching s/n

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Wow, Mike, that's stunning. Shot of Guam ain't half bad, either.

Bob

 

[Shotguncoach]

Here's another one for the Victory database. This one came from an estate auction and has been refinished with pitting under the finish, so it's just a shooter. It does have what appear to be the original numbered grips. The lanyard ring was missing when I bought it, but Numrich was able to provide a ring and the mounting pin. Nice smooth action and hits right on POA at 15 yards with 158 grain semi-wadcutters. For $250 + auction fees I think I did OK for a range toy.

 

[Paladinsgun]

I'm new so if this is the wrong place to post this please let me know. That said, I have a Victory with an interesting story to add to the data base. I'd like to find out what you think about this Victory, then I'll post additional photos and it's history as I know it. I may even be able to shed some light on the mysterious W.

 

[Paladinsgun]

Here's a few more photos of V501248:

 

[Paladinsgun]

And a few more of V501248:

 

[kwill1911]

I'm not the keeper of the Victory database but I know he is in the path of Irma and may not be able to respond for some time. I think your gun shipped in Feb or March, 1944 and most likely went to the US Maritime Commission.

It's a nice example and I'd like to hear the story.

 

[Paladinsgun]

If it were a car we'd call it a 'one owner' and this one was literally driven by a little old man from Pasadena (California) V501248.

 

[DWalt]

V501248 would indicate that it probably shipped in Jan or Feb 1944. The lack of a topstrap stamping suggests it was a DSC revolver, not one which went to the U. S. military. Pate says that the W stamping on the butt MAY mean that it was sent to the Western Electric Co.

 

[Paladinsgun]

This Victory was purchased at Elliott's Police Supply in Los Angeles on 7 Nov 1960, sold as a 'New' S&W Model 10, with a full S&W Warranty (I have the card). When it was delivered it was in new in box condition (i have the box), it didn't even appear to have ever been fired.

Back then Police Officers in Los Angeles purchased and paid for their own weapons, but the weapons had to meet certain specifications. One was that all revolvers had to pass the 'drop test.' In other words, they had to have a functioning hammer block. Since this era Victory did not have a hammer block it needed to be retro fitted before it could be used on duty. (By 1971 all privately owned revolvers used on duty by LAPD officers had to be modified for double action only fire). All modified revolvers are marked by the Department Armorer so that the revolvers can be checked during inspections or after shootings.

This is where the speculation begins. I think that this Victory (and probably thousands more) that were unissued (or lightly used) were returned to S&W to be retro fitted with the hammer block so that they could be resold. I'm not alone in thinking the the 'W' may in fact be a 'M' for 'modified.' You might have noticed that on the right side of the grip there is what appears to be an 'aftermarket' S. The S does not appear as part of the serial number as it would have on a Victory that was delivered from the factory with the hammer block installed.

Although this may never have been an OSS issued Victory, I do know that it was only carried on duty for about three and a half years. During that period it was fired less then 400 times. About 50 each during five semi annual qualifications, and once more that we won't talk about.

This whole scenario may also explain why we see so many war era Victory revolvers fitted with 1950's era grips. That's what this Victory was supplied with for the S&W factory.

 

[Paladinsgun]

I submitted the history of this Victory (V501248, as i know it), but being new and having not read all the rules as I should have, it was blocked until approved by the moderator. I think it was to long. Sorry.

 

[Paladinsgun]

This is the short version of what I know about my Victory V501248). It was purchased at Elliott's Police Supply in Los Angeles on 7 Nov 1960, sold as a 'New' S&W Model 10, with a full S&W Warranty, and carried on duty for about three and a half years. It came with the grips in the photo and without a lanyard ring.

 

[Absalom]

This is the short version of what I know about my Victory V501248). It was purchased at Elliott's Police Supply in Los Angeles on 7 Nov 1960, sold as a 'New' S&W Model 10, with a full S&W Warranty, and carried on duty for about three and a half years. It came with the grips in the photo and without a lanyard ring.

I'm not sure how generous S&W was with "warranty" work in the old days, but that was definitely not new, but a used Victory with post-war magna stocks attached later. If a warranty repair issue had arisen and Elliott's sold it as you describe, they'd likely have had to eat the cost.

 

[Paladinsgun]

I'm not sure how generous S&W was with "warranty" work in the old days, but that was definitely not new, but a used Victory with post-war magna stocks attached later. If a warranty repair issue had arisen and Elliott's sold it as you describe, they'd likely have had to eat the cost.

I have the original S&W warranty card (a 1955 form), box, and paper work. I'll post a photo of it later. Based on what I was told, and the excellent condition of the Victory now, it probably appeared as if it were new, even if it wasn't. My friend is relying on a 66 year old memory, but he's still sharp as a tack. I talked to him about it last Thursday and he said that it was sold as new and that the store had a number of 'the same Model 10s' to choose from. I don't think we'll ever know for sure.

 

[Paladinsgun]

Here's the S&W warranty card and brochures that came with Victory V501248. It came in a standard Model 10 S&W blue box without a serial number printed with the description.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Here's the S&W warranty card and brochures that came with Victory V501248. It came in a standard Model 10 S&W blue box without a serial number printed with the description.

View attachment 302269

View attachment 302270

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Yeah, that's not the right box or documents for a Victory. Model numbers weren't around then. And in your picture of the revolver, those aren't Victory stocks . . .

 

[Absalom]

Here's the S&W warranty card and brochures that came with Victory V501248. It came in a standard Model 10 S&W blue box without a serial number printed with the description.
...

As Muss says, neither the box nor the papers are in any way related to the Victory model you showed. The instructions are for a regular post-1958/59 Model 10, as appears to be the box. They met up sometime before the sale in 1960; if Elliott's sold this as new and under warranty, they cheated.

 

[Muss Muggins]

As Muss says, neither the box nor the papers are in any way related to the Victory model you showed. The instructions are for a regular post-1958/59 Model 10, as appears to be the box. They met up sometime before the sale in 1960; if Elliott's sold this as new and under warranty, they cheated.

Is there such a thing as a Victory box?