Victory data base

[Goony]

A crying shame....

Examined today in one of the region's larger gun shops, serial number V747554, 4" barrel, .38 Special. Evidently never issued, carried, or maybe even shot. Lovely matching stocks.

So why didn't it come home with me? Because some cretin ground off the topstrap markings. Otherwise the most pristine Victory I've seen in quite awhile.

 

[brigham33]

Quick & easy question!

Is data also being collected on Pre-victories? If so I have a couple I sent in for letters and will post when the letters return, otherwise I'll not take up the space.
Thanks,
Rick

 

[ordnanceguy]

Is data also being collected on Pre-victories? If so I have a couple I sent in for letters and will post when the letters return, otherwise I'll not take up the space. Rick

Hello Rick:

Yes, the Victory Database which my pal LWCmdr45 and I administer collects information on the pre-Victory guns as well. We would be pleased to include your revolvers in the Database when the info arrives. Thanks for your interest.

 

[brigham33]

Thanks.

I've got a post war Victory SV, where I've heard S&W used the left over frames from WWII to fill the demand for revolvers. It has unusual markings under the grips, I'll include that as well. (It's also got a letter request in.) Rick

 

[fzandome]

I have a Victory, 6 inch barrel. Serial number V170407. All numbers match. No US gov markings on the gun. On the other side of the butt serial # there is a star (*) and what appears to be the bottom part of the ordnance bomb.(o). (might be a little on the small size so don't really know for sure.) It's a 38 S&W Special cartridge.

Additional marking under the grips.

Left side of the grip
Bottom Rear. Triangle with "B" in center. Next to that numeral "5"
Bottom Front. "1.47" and numeral "5"
Top Front. numeral "61"
Middle Front. numeral "8"

Right side of the grip
Bottom Front. "S"
Top front. "11"
Bottom middle around grip pin. a "K", a "1", and a "7" in a circle around the pin

 

[Goony]

I have a Victory, 6 inch barrel. Serial number V170407. All numbers match. No US gov markings on the gun. On the other side of the butt serial # there is a star (*) and what appears to be the bottom part of the ordnance bomb.(o). (might be a little on the small size so don't really know for sure.) It's a 38 S&W Special cartridge.

Posting some photos would really be helpful here. Also, you don't say anything regarding the type of finish or stocks (grips). When you say "all numbers match" what specifically are you including?

A five pointed star on the butt usually indicates that substantial repair or refurbishment was done at the factory, but the markings you describe beneath the stocks don't seem to to denote a date for this having been done as is commonly the case.

Furthermore, a .38 Special Victory ought to originally have had a 4" barrel (or very rarely, a 2") - not a 6". Are you measuring from the front face of the cylinder to the muzzle?

 

[red9]

Here are pics of fzandome's gun

https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=4533&aid=60045&lid=15064644#topoflot

 

[jedihessian]

Serial number question

I have a S&W Victory model #93313. It has the flaming ball on the butt but i cant seem to find any other proof marks. It does not ahve US Property or anything on the top strap either. Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

 

[Goony]

I have a S&W Victory model #93313. It has the flaming ball on the butt but i cant seem to find any other proof marks. It does not ahve US Property or anything on the top strap either. Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

First off, welcome to the forum.

I'm presuming your serial number is actually V93313, which would have most likely shipped in 1942. If it has a 4" barrel and is chambered in .38 Special, the lack of a topstrap marking usually indicates that it was routed to a "commercial" customer as allocated by the Defense Supplies Corporation, or alternately it may have gone to the United States Maritime Commission. However, some unmarked guns in this configuration did find their way into U.S. Navy hands. A letter is the best way of determining how it actually served the war cause.

If it has a 5" barrel and is chambered for the .38 S&W round, it probably (but not necessarily) was furnished to the British.

A more definitive assessment of your example might be able to be provided if you can post a photo or two.

 

[fzandome]

The photo that Red9 posted is the gun I have. (Thank you) The serial numbers on bottom of the grip, the barrel and the cylinder all match. The serial number on the swing away and frame match. (different than main serial number) The barrel serial number does not have a V in front of it like the rest. Finish black, assuming parkarizing. The printing does not appear to be "buffed out" crisp except for the S&W shield on the right side. Faded in the center. Grips are smooth walnut. Case hardening on trigger and hammer are 100%. Definitely a 6 inch barrel.

 

[Goony]

The photo that Red9 posted is the gun I have. (Thank you) The serial numbers on bottom of the grip, the barrel and the cylinder all match. The serial number on the swing away and frame match. (different than main serial number) The barrel serial number does not have a V in front of it like the rest. Finish black, assuming parkarizing. The printing does not appear to be "buffed out" crisp except for the S&W shield on the right side. Faded in the center. Grips are smooth walnut. Case hardening on trigger and hammer are 100%. Definitely a 6 inch barrel.

Well, that auction webpage won't open for me, so I can't see the gun to form any firm judgment regarding its orignality. However, a 6" barrel that wasn't a replacement would be atypical in the extreme, and would need to be verified as having shipped that way via a factory letter. If it checked out, I'd venture that the recipient would prove to be of interest as well.

 

[Combat]

Please add this one to the database. V389892 This one may have been shipped to the Navy. If I got a letter to prove it was a Navy gun would it increase the value over an Army gun?

 

[Goony]

Please add this one to the database. V389892 This one may have been shipped to the Navy. If I got a letter to prove it was a Navy gun would it increase the value over an Army gun?

That one should've shipped about September of 1943. By that time, the Navy was no longer directly contracting with S&W for delivery of Victory revolvers, but instead was being furnished with them under the auspices of the Army Supply Program, which accounts for that branch's property and inspection marks. So even if yours has "Army" markings on the topstrap, it wouldn't be at all remarkable that it was shipped to the Navy. However, if yours doesn't have the Army markings (plain topstrap), it's likely a gun provided to a "commercial" customer per the direction of the Defense Supplies Corporation, or purchased by the United States Maritime Commission.

 

[Combat]

Pic of top strap. Hope this helps.

 

[fzandome]

Serial V172407 6 in barrel photo

Here is the pic of my 6 in barrel gun

 

[Goony]

Here is the pic of my 6 in barrel gun

That star on the butt certainly looks to be the factory repair/rework mark I mentioned earlier, which means essentially all bets are off on that barrel being the original. Strongest possibility is that at some point it went back to the factory where a new barrel was installed and numbered to the gun.

 

[jedihessian]

Thanks alot I got it from my great uncle who was with a rail road unit in europe. I was wondering if he had aquired it there. I appreciate it.

 

[BillXL]

I wanted to get my Pre Victory find in the data base. Ser. # 697543, 6 inch, and all numbers except for the grips match. Thanks for keeping up with these for us.

 

[ordnanceguy]

I wanted to get my Pre Victory find in the data base. Ser. # 697543, 6 inch, and all numbers except for the grips match. Thanks for keeping up with these for us.

Thank you, Bill, for contributing the data on your nice Pre-Victory.

From the Database I would estimate that it shipped in the August-September, 1940 time frame. It probably shipped to the British Purchasing Commission. At that moment in history the Battle of Britain was at its height. Britain needed every firearm it could find. Your's was likely one of those guns bought in the darkest hours.

 

[BillXL]

Thanks Ordnanceguy for your response. I thought it might be in that part of 1940. This is my first 5 screw S&W. It has been very interesting learning about these keepers. I passed on it the first time I saw it and went back to pick it up once I found out what it was after reading info on this web site. Is this the slippery slope I think it is?