Victory data base

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First S/N V496557, 4 inch, 38 spl.

A nice, apparently all original US military shipped gun, early 1944.

Second.....S/N 288699, 6 inch, barrel marked 38 S&W, left side frame stamped. 38 special. U S property marked on top strap, without P stamp.
The number 81 stamped on bottom on left side gri.p

A British Service model from spring 1943. I believe its serial puts it into the time period where the P proof was no longer applied to the butt, but not yet applied on the frame (also cylinder and barrel) like on your other one. The front sight appears modified, and the cylinder was reamed to accept .38 Special. We have not identified yet which converter it was who stamped the caliber on the frame; we see this exact style of stamping occasionally, but most so converted were not marked.
 
I just got the ship date on a Victory I bought last week. I'll pick it up from my FFL tomorrow. It shipped 12/43.

S/N V477114, 4", not sure of the finish yet or the amount of rust I'll have to deal with. It is a .38 special and I don't think the cylinder has been reamed.






The pin remains in the swivel hole and I have a reproduction swivel (courtesy of Numrich) waiting for it.

Based on the markings on the backstrap it did see post WWII service in Hessen, Germany.

Needless to say the stocks are not original.
 
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Based on the markings on the backstrap it did see post WWII service in Hessen, Germany.
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The picture’s resolution doesn’t let me recognize anything after the HE - ... on the backstrap. If you know what’s there, I can possibly narrow it down further.
 
The picture’s resolution doesn’t let me recognize anything after the HE - ... on the backstrap. If you know what’s there, I can possibly narrow it down further.

Thanks for bringing that up, I forgot to mention it. On one I got last year V650093 (shipped 8/44) it had the HE-M on the back strap and you laid that out for me.

On this one I am not sure there is a letter following the dash and there is an "M" on the butt frame. I was thinking maybe they just marked it there?
 
Second.....S/N 288699, 6 inch, barrel marked 38 S&W, left side frame stamped. 38 special. U S property marked on top strap, without P stamp.
The number 81 stamped on bottom on left side gri.p

That looks like a 5" barrel to me. Please measure from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. The lanyard loop is a bit different as well.
 
That looks like a 5" barrel to me. Please measure from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. The lanyard loop is a bit different as well.

Good catch, missed that in the original post. Can’t be 6” at that serial if it’s original.
 
The picture’s resolution doesn’t let me recognize anything after the HE - ... on the backstrap. If you know what’s there, I can possibly narrow it down further.

Targets Guy,
Who made those stocks?

Not sure .44. I get the gun tomorrow and will check it out. The seller said possible Sile.

Okay. I picked up the Victory today. Proper stocks on and I still need to install the swivel. The only markings on the inside of the stocks was a capitol "J" on the right stock.

The markings on the backstrap are HE-M; just like the one I have from 1944.

Putting the penny to work to attack the rust. The action on the gun is superb. I don't think it was fired very much at all. S/N's match on the cylinder, butt frame and barrel flat to include the "V" prefix.



 
Newly acquired and very curious about this. Greatly considering getting the info ($75 worth) from s&w.
As far as I can tell all #s match. Finish is pretty thin.
Serial is V242619, has US NAVY on top and the bomb near serial. (Which I thought was an 8...)

Not sure how to add pics yet.
 
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Not sure how to add pics yet.

"Go Advanced" below the "Quick Reply" window.
Scroll below the text window and "Manage Attachments".
Follow prompts to attach up to 5 photos from your device's photo library.
 
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Here are some pics. Just to get an idea of whether or not it’s a good one. (I already think so- just curious if it’s in decent collector state)
 

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What I meant by I already think so is I like it it, mainly because my dad gave it to me. I was just curious about info on it and little things like if it was in decent shape. I guess not though....
I guess I have to say I still like it.
 
Your question was "decent collector shape".

To me what would be important was it came from my father so I don't really care what shape it is in. But if it was a good shooter even better. You can get correct Victory stocks fairly easily.

Clean it up, shoot often and clean often. Doesn't get much better than that.
 
It‘s from spring 1943, and as DWalt says, its finish looks pretty tired. The lighting in your photos isn‘t ideal; gives it an odd color hue and leaves details hard to make out.

Looks like someone smeared some white paint into some of the markings. Get rid of that; it‘s not authentic, some acetone will take care of it. Is the sideplate logo as far gone as it looks or is that just the lighting?

As DWalt also pointed out, the grips are not original. The good news is that while they‘re not in great shape, they are post-war magnas that are worth more than original smooth Victory stocks would be in the same condition.
 
Seeking Date of Manufacture on Victory .38 special

New to forum: Purchased this S&W Victory .38 Special and interested in manufacturing date, as well as any other information available on this revolver. Thank You, Steve

SN V 249544

Photos of SN on the handle included
 

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With a 4" barrel, it would be a .38 Special. You did not provide information as to whether it has a topstrap property stamping or not, so it is not possible to say whether it is military or civilian. The top sideplate screw looks strange and may not be original.

SN V 249544 probably shipped around May 1943, perhaps +/- one month.
 
Mudpupoy:

That does look just like what we diagnosed: a very nice original British Service model.

It appears that at some point a poor storage choice led to the unfortunate discolorations on the top strap, maybe prolonged contact with a contaminated rag or something.

Otherwise, the finish is quite well-preserved, and the case-color on hammer and trigger is strong.

And despite the impression you may have gotten from Ed's mention of "many 1000s of these" imported, seeing one of these intact without any post-war British proofs is not common at all nowadays; most BSR's re-imported to the US were Birmingham-proofed.
 
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