Targets Guy
US Veteran
I've got a BSR coming. Do you want that data for a Victory data base?
Victory data base
- Thread starter zonker5
- Start date
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
With the 5" barrel, it is almost guaranteed to be a British Service Model originally (and maybe still) in .38 S&W. The serial places it in late summer (maybe Aug/Sept) 1944.
It is a gun that was issued to German police by occupation authorities. My interpretation is not authoritatve, but I am reasonably certain the frame stamping abbreviates for:
POLIZEI BREMEN
Land und Stadt
Bremen in Northern Germany is a city-state, thus the second line, although it seems a bit superfluous.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
As I explained above, those of us here who are currently responding to most of the questions in this thread are not the keepers of the database.
But a lot of people use this thread as a resource on Victorys, so any guns you post here with sufficient information will be preserved for others to use as more data points.
ordnanceguy
Member
Yes, the keepers of the Victory Model Database are right here. We haven't gone anywhere. We don't post a lot because there are other knowledgeable collectors here who can answer most routine Victory questions. However, we record every complete serial number and other data points for the Database. (Partial serials are useless for our study.) We continue to be grateful to those collectors who willingly share this information for the benefit of all.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Okay. I've got two Lend Lease revolvers coming. Once in my hands so I can study them I'll post in this thread.
Missouri Raider
Member
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- Mar 26, 2016
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The gun in post 1653, the right side of the barrel is marked 38 S&W CTG. There are no British or commonwealth proof marking. The top strap is marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY. Steve
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
All that fits perfectly with what I said. It was a lend-lease gun (thus the property stamp) that went to Britain. They were chambered in .38 S&W, which was the British army's standard caliber (although they used different labels, like .38-200 or .380/200). Since it then went to Germany, there would be no British proofs, since all those are post-war and were only required if the gun was surplussed out for commercial sale in Britain. Since Bremen was an American-occupied enclave in the otherwise British-occupied North of Germany, the gun must have made its way back to the US without going through Britain again.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
You have a, as far as I can tell, all-original British Service version of the Victory model which shipped in late 1942 and ended up in Canadian service. Besides the standard factory markings and the acceptance and property marks for lend-lease, I see the Canadian arrow in a C on the left frame. Nice specimen.
jayn.32
Member
Conversions
I have a question on a .22 conversion done in Britain, probably in Birmingham. It stated life as a BSR V350512. It has BNP proofs usual British reblue. Bbl is 6" w/ adjustable rear and large patrige- ish front. side of bbl reads .22LR .610". 8 tons per l_] ". cylinder is nicely sleeved. It wears snazzy unbordered checkered walnut stocks with a 5 point crown silver medallion. I hoped the stocks would identify who did the job. another guy at the local club show has one just like it.
I have a question on a .22 conversion done in Britain, probably in Birmingham. It stated life as a BSR V350512. It has BNP proofs usual British reblue. Bbl is 6" w/ adjustable rear and large patrige- ish front. side of bbl reads .22LR .610". 8 tons per l_] ". cylinder is nicely sleeved. It wears snazzy unbordered checkered walnut stocks with a 5 point crown silver medallion. I hoped the stocks would identify who did the job. another guy at the local club show has one just like it.
I recently acquired another Victory Model; this one is, I believe, New Zealand marked N^Z 7562 on the rear with Serial #126669 on all the usual places. Was this from 1941 or 1942?
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
It's originally from mid-1943, but I really have no experience with any of the .22 conversions. You might want to start a separate thread for this with a precise title so more people notice it, as I think some of these have been discussed here before.
Yes, it's New Zealand, originally shipped likely Sept./Oct. 1942. I assume there is a V in front. I can't see any of those pictures unfortunately.
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Yes, V126669, with W.B. and a flaming bomb on the butt.
I inherited two from my Dad.
#V613506 Original grips. Matching barrel and cylinder. I added a lanyard ring and stud. 4" .38 S.&W. Special CTG
"(Fb) U S. PROPERTY GHD" "P" on left side of frame near top of cylinder window and on the back of the cylinder.
#V304769. Matching barrel and cylinder. I replaced grips (it had a set of Pachmyers) and lanyard ring. 4"
"(Fb) U. S. PROPERTY G.H.D." ..... periods are more visible on this one.
#V613506 Original grips. Matching barrel and cylinder. I added a lanyard ring and stud. 4" .38 S.&W. Special CTG
"(Fb) U S. PROPERTY GHD" "P" on left side of frame near top of cylinder window and on the back of the cylinder.
#V304769. Matching barrel and cylinder. I replaced grips (it had a set of Pachmyers) and lanyard ring. 4"
"(Fb) U. S. PROPERTY G.H.D." ..... periods are more visible on this one.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Nice ones. Both standard military-destined US versions, probably shipped a little over a year apart, the V304 in late spring 1943 and the V614 in summer 1944; I have a V604 that shipped in early August. The finish looks original and in good shape on both.
Both work fine. I have fired them within the last few years. Neither will win any awards.
I guess index card groups at living room distances is what they were made for.
For years, Dad kept one by his chair in the living room and the other under the bed!!
I guess index card groups at living room distances is what they were made for.
For years, Dad kept one by his chair in the living room and the other under the bed!!
DWalt
Member
V613506 probably shipped in June 1944
V304769 probably shipped in June-July 1944
Based on nearby SNs on my list.
V304769 probably shipped in June-July 1944
Based on nearby SNs on my list.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Lunchbreak? Another guy with a different set of dies took over because the first one got sick?
But seriously, as you can see from the irregular non-linear pattern of the numbers in the other locations too, these weren't fixed roll stampings, but digits individually applied with hand tools. So we won't ever know why, but it's nothing unusual.
