Victory data base

[JustinL]

Another DSC Victory for the database

Using my google-fu skills (I have a yellow belt) I found that the J.A. Jones Construction Co. built and operated a shipyard in Panama City that manufactured Liberty ships.

 

[lipripper]

No very long ago I bought a US Navy marked Victory.. Serial # V553
I don't think the grips are original as their #102706.
I will be getting this lettered soon.pics later also

 

[DelawareDave]

This is my Victory, the day I bought it and before I clean it up.

As you can see the serial number is V306937. chambered for .38 Special.

 

[ordnanceguy]

No very long ago I bought a US Navy marked Victory.. Serial # V553

Lip:

Are the US NAVY markings on the left top strap or the left frame below the cylinder latch?

 

[ordnanceguy]

This is my Victory, the day I bought it and before I clean it up. As you can see the serial number is V306937. chambered for .38 Special.

Delaware:

Thanks for the post. Are there any left top strap markings on your Victory?

 

[DelawareDave]

Delaware:

Thanks for the post. Are there any left top strap markings on your Victory?

No, they may have been removed. The gun is not in optimal condition.

 

[DWalt]

At that SN (V306937), there would not have been a U. S. NAVY topstrap stamping applied. That practice ceased somewhat earlier. If a military revolver, the topstrap would have a U.S. PROPERTY stamping. But there are several reasons that there may never have been a topstrap stamping.

 

[Skat]

Victory DB

Any help is appreciated.
V458337 Nov/Dec 43
4" barrell .38 Special
sn on barrell extractor, cyl
US Property GHD
G eco logo - Gustav genschow Co.
Logo on barrell and frame? see (photo)
Back strap- 138 WB-S-HDBG
138= ?
WB=Wuttenberg-Baden S= Stadtkreis (urban district)
HDBG= ?

 

[ordnanceguy]

Any help is appreciated.
V458337 Nov/Dec 43.... logo on barrell and frame? see (photo)
Back strap- 138 WB-S-HDBG 138= ?....HDBG= ?

Skat:

You have done a pretty good job of figuring out your revolver. The markings on the barrel and frame are post-war West German civilian nitro proof markings applied before it was sold by a German arms dealer (GECo.)

The "HDBG" marking stands for Heidelberg, a famous old town within the state of Wurtemberg-Baden. Your revolver was evidently used post-war by West German police in Heidelberg, and then sold/traded to GECo which in turn sold it on the civilian market. It looks like it has been refinished, which was probably accomplished at the same time.

I think that answers your questions. Would you please answer this question for me? Is there a letter "W" marked on the butt?

 

[Skat]

There is not.
S most likely a 4 and D smaller 7 under R grip
Z only mark on L. Also a couple of punch marks.

 

[JJP]

I Have a S & W Victory Model serial number V 652134 can you tell me about it? It has a P on one side if that will help. Many Thanks. Is there a place I can go to and find information on S & W serial numbers dates and where shipped and etc.?

 

[DWalt]

V 652134 would date shipment from mid-1944, as I show nearby SNs which shipped in July 1944. That should be close enough. The Standard Catalog of S&W will give approximate dating, and of course you can get an exact shipping date and shipping destination from a factory letter if you don't mind the $50 cost. Asking here is one of the better ways. If you tell us more about your revolver (all stampings on it), barrel length (from the front face of the cylinder to the muzzle), and a good picture or two, you can find out much more about it. It could be good or bad news. Many of these are found to be crudely modified and non-original, therefore essentially worthless to a collector.

 

[JJP]

I did find your posting DWalt, many Thanks I believe it's a original S & W but don't know if it would have been in the war because of the high number, maybe I can get a photo shot some time, is there a listing somewhere that I could look up the number and etc.?> We are closing so have to get off line for now. Many Many thanks again. John

 

[walkcubs]

After looking at this thread, I assume my victory model is ca. 1944. S/N is V625XXX. Chambered for .38 S&W CTG. Has BNP w/crown and H28 with crossed swords stamps, barrel also stamped .38 .767' 3 1/2 TONS. Gun is in very good shape except the lanyard ring hole was plugged, the gun was nickel plated, and the grips were replaced with wood with diamonds. Action is very good and locks up tight.

 

[DWalt]

After looking at this thread, I assume my victory model is ca. 1944. S/N is V625XXX. Chambered for .38 S&W CTG. Has BNP w/crown and H28 with crossed swords stamps, barrel also stamped .38 .767' 3 1/2 TONS. Gun is in very good shape except the lanyard ring hole was plugged, the gun was nickel plated, and the grips were replaced with wood with diamonds. Action is very good and locks up tight.

Yes, yours would have originally shipped, probably, in mid-1944, likely June. Unfortunately, yours appears to be one of the many thousands of .38/200 British Service Revolvers (BSRs) which were surplussed out by the British after WWII, and imported in great quantities into the US during the 1950s and 1960s. Surplus gun importers of the time often had them modified in various ways to increase marketability to US purchasers. These modifications usually involved shortening barrels from the original 5", re-bluing or nickel plating, changing grips, and boring the .38 S&W chambers to accept .38 S&W Special cartridges (any or all). By so doing, all collector value was destroyed. The proof markings you described were applied when these revolvers were declared surplus and sold off by the British military, according to British law. BNP means Birmingham Nitro Proof, which was performed at the Birmingham proof house.

 

[walkcubs]

Thanx DWalt. The gun is actually in great shape. Whoever did the nickel finish actually did a good job. He also did not modify this victory model by cutting the 5" barrel nor changed the cylinder to accept 38 special cartridges. I bought it thru Gander Mountain, they listed it as a Model 11. I will keep an eye out for original plain wood grips.

 

[GENE6696]

I'm talking to a guy about his late uncle's Victory. He was a Navy Communicator in Europe, and the revolver serial is V113201. From pics, it looks in good shape, I have yet to see it in person. I'm trying to find a fair value for it. I don't want to screw the guy, but, I don't want to overpay. It's missing the lanyard loop.

 

[DWalt]

I'm talking to a guy about his late uncle's Victory. He was a Navy Communicator in Europe, and the revolver serial is V113201. From pics, it looks in good shape, I have yet to see it in person. I'm trying to find a fair value for it. I don't want to screw the guy, but, I don't want to overpay. It's missing the lanyard loop.

Other than from the SN (it shipped in September 1942), you have not provided enough information for a value assessment, so the best anyone can say is a range of $200 to $1000. A common Victory (if there is such a thing) in average and original condition could be $400-$500. Many found are not in original condition. It could be junk (many are), it could be treasure. Please provide the pictures and a list of all markings stamped on it. The missing lanyard swivel can be replaced. There are many, many variations of the Victory revolver.

 

[IWK2HT]

Hi
I've got two for your data base
First one
Ser# V159829
5" barrel
38 S&W
Two line address on top of barrel
Smith & Wesson on left side of barrel
38 S&W crtg. On right side of barrel
Made in USA on right side of frame
No proof mark no other markings
Packarisd finish
The second one is the very same except the ser # witch is
V647960
Hope this is useful to you data base

 

[DWalt]

Hi -

I have two Victories for the database, both lettered by Roy Jinks.

1) V290954 shipped May 26, 1943 to US Navy in Oakland, CA

2) V379913 shipped August 28, 1943 to US Navy in Oakland, CA

On my list, I show several Victories with very close SNs which shipped within 2 weeks of your given shipping dates. It's not surprising they went to the Navy, as most military Victories chambered in .38 Special went to the Navy, but under Army contracts. Up until about V265000, those going to the Navy were stamped "U. S. Navy" on the topstrap, and were made under Navy contracts. Afterwards, the stamping was changed to "U. S. Property." That should also be stamped on both of yours, along with the Ordnance flaming bomb. From about V300000, "G.H.D." (Guy H. Drewry) would also be stamped on the topstrap as an acceptance marking. Your older Victory may have the "G.H.D." stamped on the butt. Which "G.H.D." stamp location does your V290954 have?