Victory data base

[Bedrock]

Navy Victory

Here is my Victory to add to your database. The serial number is V 87887. It is marked "38 S. & W. SPECIAL CTG" on the 4" barrel. All numbers match, including the grip. It is marked U.S. NAVY on the left side of the top strap. There are no other marks other than the matching assembly numbers inside the crane. Can you offer a guess as to when it was manufactured? Thank you very much.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Bedrock:

Thanks for posting the data on your very nice Navy example for addition to the Victory Model Database. I can estimate for you that your example likely shipped from the factory in the late August-early September, 1942 time frame.

 

[jimbo728]

I just got a look at the serial # inside the right grip panel on the Victory Model I inquired about on my previous post.
There all there except the very last # is off by 2. It`s a 1 instead of a 3.
My feeling is that was a " close enough for Government work day" at S&W.
The grip frame and mainspring are pristine.
Jim

 

[JustinL]

Questions

Did all U.S. Navy Victory models ship to Oakland, Norfolk & Rosslyn, VA? Have any letters turned up showing different shipping destinations?

Just out of curiosity how and when did the Victory Database get started?

 

[ordnanceguy]

Did all U.S. Navy Victory models ship to Oakland, Norfolk & Rosslyn, VA? Have any letters turned up showing different shipping destinations?

Just out of curiosity how and when did the Victory Database get started?

Hi Justin:

The great bulk, but not all, of the Victory and pre-Victory revolvers that shipped to the Navy shipped to either the Naval Supply Depot at Oakland, CA or the NSD at Norfolk, VA.

My pal and collaborator, LWCmdr45, is the originator of the VM Database. He invited me to get involved some years ago. I think I should allow him answer your last two questions since he was the guy who got the project off the ground.

 

[LeeK]

Need help identifying recently purchased Victory

Hi. I bought a S&W Victory revolver yesterday with s/n 312951. Was wondering if you could tell me the date of manufacture/shipping? It looks like it got a repair in 1954 based on the FTR M\ 54 below the Made in USA. On the opposite side it is marked VEGA SAC CA. Any ideas on what this is? Thanks. Lee

 

[digi-shots]

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like you have a .38 S&W ctg. Victory that was used by the Australians. These are different than standard .38 Special... you might want to check the cylinder and see if it is still .38 S&W and not reamed out for .38 special.

The "FTR" is their arsenal stamping - Factory Through Repair.

The VEGA (Sacramento, California) stamping sounds like the importers who brought the weapon back into the US.

I'm guessing the serial number you gave has a "V" letter prefix? If so, based on the serial number, it probably shipped in the summer of 1943. The only way to know for sure is to get it lettered.

Hope this helps!

 

[DWalt]

I'd agree on the dating - V 312951 probably shipped June or July of 1943. It's very likely to be a British Commonwealth .38/200 Victory, originally chambered in .38 S&W. However, many of those had their chambers reamed out to accept .38 Special cartridges after the war. That destroys any collector value. Likewise, many were refinished and had their barrels shortened, which makes things even worse. So there's a lot we can't know about your Victory without some good pictures. Hopefully, yours escaped such a fate.

 

[LeeK]

Thanks Linda and DWalt. Great information. It has a 5 in barrel. I'll check out the cylinder. Hopefully is hasn't been reamed out.

 

[badshot48]

I recently found this Victory thread so I have one that I can add. There is nothing impressive about it, 38 S&W Special, been reblued at some point years ago but all the lettering is still pretty sharp, the lanyard ring has been cut off, and the grips are not original. There are no special markings and no US Property stamp. Maybe shipped to a civilian defense contractor? The serial number, V 447090, match butt, cylinder and under the barrel. I'm guessing this was shipped in the last quarter of 1943. I haven't sent for a letter because I don't believe the gun is that unique. I'm open to any input.

Dan

 

[DWalt]

Yours probably shipped in October 1943. Without property stampings it is probably a DSC contract, intended for stateside use by law enforcement, defense plant guards, etc. It originally would have had a phosphate finish and smooth wood round-top stocks. It's probably not worthy of a letter.

 

[RockSix]

Hi, I found a Victory Model at the Cabella's Gun Library the other day for $349.99. It is missing the original grips and lanyard loop. There are no markings on the top strap, serial numbers match, serial number V136052. When was this revolver made? Pics to follow. Eta pics

 

[DWalt]

Hi, I found a Victory Model at the Cabella's Gun Library the other day for $349.99. It is missing the original grips and lanyard loop. There are no markings on the top strap, serial numbers match, serial number V136052. When was this revolver made? Pics to follow.

It probably left the factory in November 1942. Replacement smooth grips and lanyard loops are easily found. If the finish is good (you didn't give the caliber, but probably .38 Special if unmarked) and it is otherwise unmolested, that price is not bad.

 

[RockSix]

Sorry, 4 inch barrel marked S&W 38 Special CTG.

Thanks

 

[DWalt]

While not 100% certain, if yours has no property markings on the top strap, it was probably made for stateside service by law enforcement and defense plant guards. There were reportedly a little over 70,000 of those revolvers made under Defense Supply Corporation (DSC) contracts. But a few unmarked ones were destined for other users, such as OSS.

 

[SonnyRock]

Bought me a Victory

Found what I think was a good find at an estate sale.

Victory model SN V 457145. 4 inch Barrel, ALL numbers match, inside the Right grip(smooth walnut), on Butt, Cyl, bottom of Barrel, and on extractor.

Marked U.S Property G.H.D. on top.
On back strap WB - S - ESS No. 3 ( haven't seen anything about markings such as these on back strap, any ideas?)

Cal marked as 38 Smith & Wesson Special CTG

 

[SonnyRock]

Thanks - Yes, it does appear to be re-blued -- Since I posted, I went back and read every post and learned a lot about Victories, minus the hour or so I left to go to Mass it took close to five hours to read them all. Hopefully someone will have a clue what the WB - S - ESS No. 3 translates to... every thing about the revolver is tight, with a very clean bore - I love it... thanks again...

 

[brigham33]

Two letters back from Roy on recent pre-victory purchases.

#1. Serial 953397, shipped to the Oldsmobile Division of GM in March 1942. Traditional pre-victory 38 Special: original blue finish, numbered correct pre-war flush medallion grips, 4" barrel.

#1 Serial 848823 to the British Purchasing Commission, October 1941. Again a traditional pre-victory 38/200 Smith. It has its original blue finish, came with grips from the 1920's, and 5" barrel. I've located some correct grips that are being restored at this point.

I'll post photos of both together when the grips for the 38/200 return from Wisconsin.

 

[murphydog]

Thanks - Yes, it does appear to be re-blued -- Since I posted, I went back and read every post and learned a lot about Victories, minus the hour or so I left to go to Mass it took close to five hours to read them all. Hopefully someone will have a clue what the WB - S - ESS No. 3 translates to... every thing about the revolver is tight, with a very clean bore - I love it... thanks again...

The backstrap stamping translates to:

American Occupation Zone
WB - district of Wurttemberg-Baden
S -city police
City - Esslingen
Rack (inventory) no. - 3

Hope this is helpful.

 

[SonnyRock]

Thanks Alan, I should have been able to figure out that the WB was for district/state of Wurttemberg-Baden since I was stationed in Wurttemberg-Baden (or Baden-Württemberg as most of the area the area is know now) for more then two years and ESS was Esslingen; I have been through Esslingen dozens of times, I was stationed 35 miles from there in Schwäbisch Gmünd. That information makes my find not a good find but a great find........

 

[murphydog]

You're very welcome. There were a mixture of .38/200 (.38 S & W) and .38 Special revolvers given to the German police at that time. Enjoy!

 

[55 210]

Figured I would post this nice Navy Victory I have.Would like to restore to original without breaking the bank. All matching numbers except for the missing grips. Think original wartime grips would be better or repros, either way they wont be original to it ?
US NAVY 13265x

 

[iampoohker]

Victory date

Hello,
I'm new to the site and would like information on the Victory model I just picked up. S/N V133138 4'' barrel and marked U.S. Navy on the top strap. It is in .38 special and all the numbers match except there is no number on the bottom of the barrel? the revolver has war time park type finish. Thanks for any information.

 

[Abbotson]

I've seen V530837. Hannibal Lecter turned it into a .22. No military markings visible.
Just for the database.

 

[merl67]

One for the database.

Here is one for the database serial number 917188 no V and no British proofs Just the US Property on top and small importer marks under barrel all serial numbers match whats left of the finish appears bright blue. I do have two questions. What is the most logical reason for absence of British proofs and what would be approximate ship date.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hello Merl:

Your pre-Victory likely shipped from the factory in the February, 1942 time frame.

The left top strap markings probably say "UNITED STATES PROPERTY", not U.S. Property. It is indeed a Lend Lease gun.

You did not mention anything about the markings on the butt. They should be WB/P with a small ordnance bomb.

You mentioned the presence of a small importer's marking on the barrel underside. Does it say "NA Co. Ridgefield, NJ"? If you can confirm that then I can tell you where your Victory served in the British Commonwealth. It may also explain the absence of UK post-war commercial proofs.

Are there any markings above the back strap? All of these clues combine to tell the story of your revolver. Without them we are just whistling Dixie, so to speak.

 

[merl67]

Charlie thanks you're correct about the property stamp and the others as well as the importer NA Co. Ridgefield, NJ and the marks on the backstrap that I missed are NZ 3728 so New Zealand it is any more info you can give is much appreciated.

 

[DWalt]

Both Vega (Sacramento CA) and Navy Arms (NA, Ridgefield NJ) imported many of these .38/200 revolvers from Australia and New Zealand in the early 1990's. The Australian revolvers often have some distinctive markings showing rebuilding. Please provide any such markings you can see to verify. February 1942 is a very likely shipping date.

The majority of .38/200 revolvers did not receive any British proof markings until after they were released for commercial sale as surplus by the British military after WWII. British law required proofing, which was done at both Birmingham and London proof houses. Of course, many .38/200s which found their way into the USA as "duffle bag specials" by returning soldiers (and by other means not necessarily completely legal) will have no proof markings.

 

[grizzley30814]

I have just purchased what I believe to be an early Victory. Hopefully I will be able to run 38sp, but any information or insight you could provide would be great.

SN# V 320444 on the butt
England on the cylinder
ENP 320444 38" 767" on the bottom of the barrel
Pinned barrel 2 3/8 inches long
Made in the USA stamp

Frame and Crane still match 66598

It is also nickel plated, with plastic grips. I have already ordered wooden replacements.


Thanks,

 

[Egan99]

Hi all,
This is my first time on the forum. I live in the UK and own a .38 S&W Victory Revolver, it is de-activated or de-milled. I would like to know as much about the revolver as possible.
The Serial No is V 398089 and has a 5 inch barrel.
Next to the serial number "CP" is stamped?
Thanks for any help.

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