Victory data base

[DWalt]

I guess that could be considered as trench art. I always think of that term as referring more to items like flower vases and ashtrays which were made out of fired artillery and small arms cases (most of which were not made in the trenches of WWI but rather in factories, for sale to postwar tourists).

 

[Ronbo6]

New Victory to post.

US NAVY marked pistol. Marked on top strap.

Serial # V151379. 4" in .38 Special.

Bare of any other 'special markings'

 

[DWalt]

V151379 probably shipped around November 1942. The early Navy-stamped Victories were made under Navy contract and typically do not have the markings of the later Victories in Navy use made under Army contracts. The U. S. NAVY topstrap stamp was used until around SN V265xxx in mid-1943. The Navy-stamped Victories will usually command some price premium if in high condition, but they are not rare. Much of their use was for arming naval aviation flight crews. Many remained in military service through the Vietnam era.

 

[LOBO]

Ishapor Victory Model with 5" barrel and in .38 S&W caliber.

A big thanks to the forum members that helped me with the meanings of some of the markings.

Looks like a "W" on its side?

Star on the frame and cylinder,

K.K.D.
9 43
10

Kirkee Arsenal in Kirkee India September of 1943

F.R.
R.F.I.
1967

Factory Repair, Rifle Factory Ishapoor in 1967

 

[Mk VII]

I didn't actually notice your location until now.

So do I understand correctly that it does have a post-service proof under the barrel? Could you show a picture?

Here it is:-

 

[Mk VII]

better pictures of No. 963611 this time.

 

[GreaseAndGlory]

USCG Marked

I'm new to the forum and I recently picked up this revolver (V437588). I have been seeking one with a USCG marking for a very long time. If any one can provide any info on it, I would greatly appreciate it. Eventually, I'm planning to get a smith and wesson factory letter for it. I'm hoping to get some vintage ammo to make a display. I was happy to come across this forum from a simple web search! There are a lot of great guns on here!!

 

[Quiet 1]

Great find and acquisition. A USCG; not a very common example and it appears to be in fine condition. Congratulations on adding it to your collection.

I also really enjoy this awesome Victory thread.

 

[DWalt]

This is one which should be lettered immediately. Allegedly there were only a very small number of Victories which were shipped directly to the USCG and virtually nothing is known about them. As anyone with an engraving machine could do the frame property marking, it is very important to attempt establishing that it is genuine Victory shipped to the USCG and not a forgery. Are there other stampings to be seen anywhere on the frame?

I have heard that those few Victories shipped directly to USCG were not property marked by S&W but I can't say if that is true. Yours likely shipped around October 1943. Were it originally a Navy gun which somehow found its way to the USCG later, it should have a U. S. PROPERTY topstrap stamping.

 

[GreaseAndGlory]

This is one which should be lettered immediately. Allegedly there were only a very small number of Victories which were shipped directly to the USCG and virtually nothing is known about them. As anyone with an engraving machine could do the frame property marking, it is very important to attempt establishing that it is genuine Victory shipped to the USCG and not a forgery. Are there other stampings to be seen anywhere on the frame?

I have heard that those few Victories shipped directly to USCG were not property marked by S&W but I can't say if that is true. Yours likely shipped around October 1943. Were it originally a Navy gun which somehow found its way to the USCG later, it should have a U. S. PROPERTY topstrap stamping.

I'll see if I can put in for a letter by the end of the week. It does have the U.S. Property stamp on top as seen below. My guess is that it came from another branch as surplus/transfer and was stamped when received. I could be way off on that. From my crude internet research, there was a small contract in 42 directly to the USCG, so this one falls out of those parameters. Maybe the factory letter will give us more insight. Thanks for the reply and info! Let me know if you have any other questions about it.

 

[DWalt]

Pate mentions a shipment of 50 revolvers to the Coast Guard on 7/25/42, with "U. S. COAST GUARD" on the backstrap. Given the top strap stampings, it's likely yours was shipped to the U. S. Navy and not to the Coast Guard, and there is probably no way to determine when or by whom the USCG frame engraving was applied. Or even if it was ever transferred to the USCG. It will be interesting to see what the letter says.

 

[GreaseAndGlory]

Pate mentions a shipment of 50 revolvers to the Coast Guard on 7/25/42, with "U. S. COAST GUARD" on the backstrap. Given the top strap stampings, it's likely yours was shipped to the U. S. Navy and not to the Coast Guard, and there is probably no way to determine when or by whom the USCG frame engraving was applied. Or even if it was ever transferred to the USCG. It will be interesting to see what the letter says.

I'm mailing the check tomorrow to get a factory letter. Hopefully the turnaround won't be too long. I am very curious. Like you, I believe it wasn't under an official contract to the USCG. The stamping could have occurred during the war or postwar from a transfer from another branch as surplus. I imagine this gun stayed with the service many years after the war. Unfortunately, there is no way to know. I'll keep you guys posted!

 

[Blockhead75]

Sorry, I won't have more details on this pistol for a few more weeks, but I thought I would get the ball rolling to see if it was already in the database. I won it at a recent auction. This is all I know and here are two not-great pictures: Smith & Wesson .38 SPL Revolver, serial number SV761613.

Based on what I could glean from the interwebs, probably 1945 production, but might have been early enough to go to the military? Once it arrives I'll check for US/military markings.

 

[DWalt]

The SV-series were the first to incorporate the improved drop safety, and that is what the "S" in SV indicates. All of these were manufactured beginning in early 1945, and stopped on VJ day. Quite a few were assembled from parts remaining in factory inventory at war's end for sale on the civilian market during the first 3-4 months of 1946. Those were shipped with the civilian blued finish and Magna grips. Lanyard swivel holes in the grip frame were normally plugged on those civilian SV revolvers. I have never seen any reliable information about how many SV-series Victories went to the U. S. military and how many were civilian guns. From its appearance, yours was probably shipped to the military. In any event, the military SVs will have the "U. S. PROPERTY" topstrap stamping. None are known to have been chambered in .38 S&W for shipment to the British. The highest known SN is around SV 811xxx. The earliest known is around SV 732xxx, but in fact most seem to have been shipped starting around SV 762xxx. Yours would have been among those of very early production. Shipping dates of the SV-series Victories are highly randomly distributed and very poorly correlated with SN. The finish on yours does not look quite correct, and it may have been refinished. But it also may well be just the lighting.

 

[Blockhead75]

Sorry, I won't have more details on this pistol for a few more weeks, but I thought I would get the ball rolling to see if it was already in the database. I won it at a recent auction. This is all I know and here are two not-great pictures: Smith & Wesson .38 SPL Revolver, serial number SV761613.

Based on what I could glean from the interwebs, probably 1945 production, but might have been early enough to go to the military? Once it arrives I'll check for US/military markings.

Update: The top strap is stamped "US Property GHD" and it has matching numbers on the butt, cylinder, and the underside of the barrel.

 

[Vbk76]

For the database. Picked up a 423,xxx serial number revolver. Had a cracked forcing cone. The barrel had already been replaced with a victory barrel. Was a 4” victory/.38 special. Guess it’s been destroyed..


Edit: if the database maintainers want the remains the of the barrel let me know and I can mail it

 

[urbanwarrior]

Recently acquired a 4" .38 special Victory revolver, SN 1522**
Can anyone comment on when it was manufactured/shipped? I don't recall seeing any markings on the top strap.

 

[DWalt]

I assume the SN is V1522xx. Without any property marking on the topstrap it was probably a civilian DSC gun, for stateside use (police, defense plant guards, etc.). That SN would place its shipment at around November 1942.

 

[urbanwarrior]

Thank you. You are correct - that serial number had a V at the beginning which I forgot to add. Pics later once the pistol comes out of "jail" (waiting period).

 

[Milsurp Collector]

Here are my four Victory revolvers and 38/200.

V36518

V97442

V399125 38/200 K-200 with Australian markings

V442991

And finally V715067. The lanyard swivel is removed and it has been reblued. I got it as a package with a Mighty Midget tear gas launcher that was used by the Marion County (Oregon) Sheriff.

For those who are wondering the ATF has held that "devices designed for expelling tear gas or pyrotechnic signals are not weapons and are exempt from the destructive device definition" as long as they are not possessed in combination with “anti-personnel” ammunition such as "cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, and bean bags."
https://www.atf.gov/file/55446/download

Here are pages from the Smith & Wesson catalog of police items showing the Mighty Midget Grenade Kit