Victory data base

[59dexta]

Thanks. It has no markings on the top strap but compared to my 10-5 the edges appear more rounded so maybe the US Property was removed

 

[Absalom]

As DWalt said, with that serial number a BSR would have had the top strap marking. If your "no other significant marks" means yours does not, they were removed post-war. Since it also implies your gun does nor have the usual British commercial proofs applied when surplussed out, someone might have felt compelled to remove that because the gun left official service in a somewhat "informal" fashion .

 

[feconn]

Got the letter

Hello, just joined today with delivery of my new to me Victory, S/N V72959, no top strap markings, ordnance bomb on the butt. .38 special.

Got my letter from Smith & Wesson today, this Victory was shipped 8/18/42 to Lovell Manufacturing Co., Erie, PA. An quick web search tells me they made tripods for M2 & M1919 machine guns

 

[NHccop]

Help needed ID'ing this Victory

I haven't been able to find a picture of a Victory with these type grips. Are they original? The grips are not numbered but there is a pencil writing, "4-3-42". Anybody seen this combination of this style grips on a V570774 era frame?

It's hard to see in the picture but the bomb, US Property, and GHD are on the top strap
The bore and cylinder are like new and the single and double action is amazing. Who would have thought that S&W would put that much quality into a military issue. Steve

 

[Absalom]

I haven't been able to find a picture of a Victory with these type grips. Are they original? The grips are not numbered but there is a pencil writing, "4-3-42". Anybody seen this combination of this style grips on a V570774 era frame?
...

You see all kinds of combinations when you're into Victory models . But that doesn't mean they belong together.

You have a somewhat roughly used, but definitely original-finish Victory from the first half of 1944 with stocks from the 1920s. I don't know who wrote the date in, but that's not standard; the factory only stamped or penciled serial numbers. I'm assuming it's a date, unless it's some sort of code; any serial number from the time period when this style of grip was produced would have six digits.

 

[DWalt]

I haven't been able to find a picture of a Victory with these type grips. Are they original? The grips are not numbered but there is a pencil writing, "4-3-42". Anybody seen this combination of this style grips on a V570774 era frame?

Steve

Your SN would date its original shipment to have been around April 1944. Those grips are of the style S&W used in the 1920s, therefore they are not original.

 

[NHccop]

Thanks for info DWalt & Absalom.
Now that I have had the time to do some deep cleaning and a little take-down, I can see where the grips do not fit perfectly around the inside top of the frame grip. But they are nice grips that look good. Even though the gun is rough, the bore and cylinder is perfect which is odd considering. And, all the numbers match. Even though they have some hard miles, these old gals need a good home.

 

[LOBO]

Got some Victory model letters back. Neither gun has U.S. Navy markings on it.

 

[Absalom]

..... Even though the gun is rough, the bore and cylinder is perfect which is odd considering.....

Actually, not really. Keep in mind that especially the US version of the Victory model was a secondary handgun for people whose job was not primarily to shoot at people. So specimen that show most of their wear from handling and being banged around and improper storage rather than shooting make perfect sense.

 

[Absalom]

Got some Victory model letters back. Neither gun has U.S. Navy markings on it.

As it should be. From a point in, I believe, early 1943 on (can't get my Pate copy right now), the Navy acquired their guns through Army contracts, which meant the standard US PROPERTY GHD stamping.

 

[DWalt]

On my list, the highest SN for a Navy Victory with the "U. S. NAVY" topstrap stamping is V2675xx. I also show a couple of lettered Navies which have slightly lower SNs which do not have the U. S. Navy property stamping on the topstrap. So I think the Navy stamping probably ceased around March 1943.

 

[HLMiller]

Another one for the database

Long time lurker finally registered.

Serial # V39004
All numbers match except grips; which unfortunately are plastic.

At some point it was chromed I guess. 38 S&W stamp, not special. Barrel appears to be 3 3/4"

Thanks to all for the great info on this site.

 

[txcooter3]

new one for the database

Just picked up a 2", im thinking lend lease due to the british proof marks, but i do not have Property of the US stamped on there. any info on date or anything else ya'll can tell me would be great.

 

[Absalom]

Just picked up a 2", im thinking lend lease due to the british proof marks, but i do not have Property of the US stamped on there. any info on date or anything else ya'll can tell me would be great.

The US property marking probably fell victim to the refinish. Your gun, which I'll assume was originally a British Service Revolver in .38 S&W and had a 5" barrel, was fully reparkerized, including trigger and hammer, which were case-hardened originally. Your gun would have shipped late 1942/early 1943. It was commercially proofed for re-sale after the war at Birmingham, as shown by the BNP stamp. The location of the British proofs is interesting, by the way; they are usually on the sides of the barrel, so this gun may have had its barrel cut before proofing.

The wooden stocks could be original; have you checked the inside surface of the right one for a possibly matching serial number stamp?

Also, what's the current caliber? Most likely, the chambers were converted for use with .38 Special ammo, easily tested by checking whether a live round will fully seat.

So overall, the gun has been extensively modified, seriously shrinking collector value, but on the other hand it is in much better shape than most of that kind we see here.

 

[txcooter3]

The US property marking probably fell victim to the refinish. Your gun, which I'll assume was originally a British Service Revolver in .38 S&W and had a 5" barrel, was fully reparkerized, including trigger and hammer, which were case-hardened originally. Your gun would have shipped late 1942/early 1943. It was commercially proofed for re-sale after the war at Birmingham, as shown by the BNP stamp. The location of the British proofs is interesting, by the way; they are usually on the sides of the barrel, so this gun may have had its barrel cut before proofing.

The wooden stocks could be original; have you checked the inside surface of the right one for a possibly matching serial number stamp?

Also, what's the current caliber? Most likely, the chambers were converted for use with .38 Special ammo, easily tested by checking whether a live round will fully seat.

So overall, the gun has been extensively modified, seriously shrinking collector value, but on the other hand it is in much better shape than most of that kind we see here.

Thanks for the info, the grips do not match. i also added another photo.

.38 special drops in flush. So you think the barrel was cut and is not in the original length?

I know its hard to do with pics, but can you give a value estimate?

 

[Absalom]

.38 special drops in flush. So you think the barrel was cut and is not in the original length?

I know its hard to do with pics, but can you give a value estimate?

The barrel was most definitely cut. Only .38 Special US Victory models were available with a 2" barrel in very limited numbers, and those barrels had the ejector rod lug in front, which your gun lacks (see below).

As for value, your gun has no realistic collector value due to the refinish and modifications, but as a nicely refinished shooter might be worth up to $300 to someone.

 

[txcooter3]

Thanks again for the info.

 

[DWalt]

$300 would be optimistic from a buyer who knew what it was.

 

[JWNathan]

Just picked up my first victory, have been wanting one for a very long time. I bought a crushed one at a gun show when I was a lil' kid but that doesn't really count.

Serial: V388742
4" barrel, 38 special, all numbers matching including grips, case hardened swivel, (flaming bomb) U.S. Property G.H.D. on the top strap. No other P or flaming bombs stamps of any kind, and what stamps are there look crisp, even on the top strap where it's lightly stamped.

This one looks like it was really nice before spending some serious time in the flap holster that I got with it. Finish is a pretty dark parkerizing with only slight freckling under the grips and on backstrap, case hardening on the hammer and trigger are nice, blued extractor plunger has some wear but recoil shield has almost none. Doesn't look like she's been shot much at all, only issue is the left grip panel has a dent and small chip on the bottom. Has dried grease in the nooks and crannies but pretty nice overall.
-Jesse

 

[Absalom]

Sounds like a nice one. I think the serial number puts it in fall of 1943. Any chance you could post a picture or two?