Victory data base

[policerevolvercollector]

A shield # number placed low on the backstrap was always a NYPD trademark.....

 

[Tyree1867]

I brought home a 38 SPL Victory last night. SN 240057. All matching. Marked USNavy on top strap. Ordnance bomb located next to V, both to the right of the swivel. With grips off you can see V stamped on left grip frame & W on right. Can't see any inspector marks. DA/SA very smooth.
Unfortunately... a previous owner gave it a very heavy blueing. In spots it looks like it was dipped in blue fudge or maybe applied with a Qtip. Very shiny. Has wear, few scatches and rust.
I'm thinking about how I should refinish it. Dull blue, parkerize or Cerakote? I believe any collector value is gone so its a case of how best to preserve it. I would like date info & any other comments are welcome.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

If you want it restored to a similar finish it shipped with, then Park it. There are kits available from MidwayUSA and Brownells that cost about $60 and you can do it yourself. Have a local shop bead blast the parts beforehand and you are good to go. If you are really cheap, check out how to make the Park solution yourself on YouTube. It should turn out like this:

 

[Absalom]

What Wiregrassguy said. The original phosphate that S&W used is hard to reproduce, so a nice parkerizing job is the next best thing. It sounds like it still has the swivel. Hopefully you also have the original smooth walnut stocks, and they didn't mess with the case-colored trigger and hammer. If they did blue or polish those, I'd consider replacements. But it's your money .

The serial puts your gun in spring 1943, by the way. Ordnance marks and proofs, if any, would have been on the butt.

 

[Tyree1867]

Thanks Wiregrass & Absalom. As noted in my op, the bomb is on the butt. The stocks do not have same SN as the gun, they number to V305374 and are in nice shape. WireGrass- your parked Victory looks so good I'm leaning that way.

I'm wondering if this one has shown up in the database before.

Thanks for the info and advice. Bill

 

[ordnanceguy]

I'm wondering if this one has shown up in the database before.

Hello Tyree:

As a matter of fact your Navy Victory V240057 was indeed already in the Victory Model Database. The listing reflects that it has a non-original blued finish and non-original stocks. The Database does not record the source of the info we receive (we do this to maintain the confidentiality of those who provide us their data) nor does it reflect precisely when the data was added as that info is not pertinent to our study.

 

[Tyree1867]

Ordnance Guy- thanks for the interesting tidbit. I'm not interested in previous owners. If you track the travels of Victories, I bought it from my local, small town New York dealer who bought it at a gun show in state.
Thanks, Bill

 

[DWesol]

Absalom replied,

Welcome to the forum. Your gun should be from the first half of 1943, maybe April/May or so. You need to add one important piece of info: Is it a 4" barreled US version in .38 Special or a 5" barreled British service model in .38 S&W? Everything else matches on both. If it's the first, a letter will most likely, besides the exact shipping date, show a Navy yard or Army depot where it shipped. If it's the latter, it will have shipped to Hartford Ordnance for lend-lease shipment to Britain. Whether the exact info is worth a letter is up to you; it is unlikely to add much to the value of the gun (if that should be what you mean by "Is it worth ...").

Looks like NO British markings. 4 inch barrel. 38 Special Caliber. Yes I was wondering if the letter would ad value to the gun. I think it will.
thank you for the info.

 

[irocguns]

Sharing for curiousity, my S&W obviously refinished Victory 38 SPL

I would love some feedback on serial number / date of shipping of this fun example. Looks aside, this here is a shooter - action smooth as silk.
V15134 on butt (and looks like 15134 under barrel but it is notched by some intrepid individual)
96401 on crane

VICTORY - Google Photos

 

[Absalom]

I would love some feedback on serial number / date of shipping of this fun example. Looks aside, this here is a shooter - action smooth as silk.
V15134 on butt (and looks like 15134 under barrel but it is notched by some intrepid individual)
96401 on crane

It's a bit blurry upon enlarging, but might your post be missing a digit? In the photo, the butt number looks like V 151346 to me (unless I'm mistaking the flaming bomb ordnance mark for a 6, but that's usually on the opposite side). Can you confirm that?
Time-wise, the difference would be between summer and late fall 1942 for approximate production.
The yoke number is for internal assembly purposes and does not tell us anything useful.

 

[irocguns]

Clarifying marks

I will get little Victory out of the safe tonight and verify numbers...she should go to the range anyway and get some exercise.

 

[LtDan]

Hello,
I have a Victory model, .38 special S&W. The top strap is stamped "U.S. Property GHD" preceded by the flaming bomb. The serial # on the butt is V370969. The number on the frame & yoke is 272xx.
I would appreciate any information/opinions regarding this revolver and the date of manufacture or shipment.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Absalom]

....
I have a Victory model, .38 special S&W. The top strap is stamped "U.S. Property GHD" preceded by the flaming bomb. The serial # on the butt is V370969. The number on the frame & yoke is 272xx.
I would appreciate any information/opinions regarding this revolver and the date of manufacture or shipment.
.....

Your gun looks to be in nice shape. If it's all matching (follow the link provided by the Cowboy for the info needed), you have an excellent specimen.

It is a standard military-shipped US Victory model. Absent any special markings, it's unfortunately not possible to determine where exactly it served beyond the Navy yard or depot it initially shipped to, which you could find out were you to order a letter by the S&W historian.

While we don't have manufacture dates, serial numbers around yours shipped in the summer of 1943, maybe August.

 

[caryg]

V model Serial Number

Wished I would have noticed this thread first. Will add my gun. Serial number V 434591. Has been nickle plated. Has a S on right side bottom grip frame and an S on cylinder after serial number. All numbers match including side plate. Also has HE-M on rear back strap of handle. Received gun with clear plastic type grips that a couple said were sweet heart grips. Thanks.

 

[ordnanceguy]

.... Serial number V 434591. Has been nickle plated. ....Also has HE-M on rear back strap of handle.

Hi Cary:

Are there any markings besides the serial number on the bottom of the butt? Any left top strap markings?

 

[Absalom]

Caryg:
In reference to the info I gave you in the other thread, after a bit further checking, while the HE for Hessen is certain, the M for Mainz is not and is in fact more likely to stand for Municipal.

 

[LtDan]

Thanks! And I thank "Two-Bit Cowboy" for the link. Looks like my revolver is all matching except the grips! Revolver is V 370969 & the right grip is # 244211. Wonder if they could have been mixed in an armory while cleaning?? Grips look good and fit great.
Thanks again for the info.
Dan

 

[caryg]

Has some mark I cant figure out and US property GHD on left top strap.

 

[Absalom]

Has some mark I cant figure out and US property GHD on left top strap.

If the mark you can't figure out is in front of the US.... , that's what's commonly called a "flaming bomb", an ordnance mark that's part of that ordnance inspection stamping.

 

[caryg]

Thats what it is, the flaming bomb

Another great response, thank you very much. I have learned more about this gun in a week than it would have took a year without the internet and good forums like this. Thanks a million.