Victory data base

[SgtOsiris]

Another Victory, V 410368 4 inch barrel 38 Special. No “US Property” stamps. Smooth walnut grips matching serials on grips, frame, cylinder, extractor and barrel.
DA over V marking on frame bottom in front of trigger guard. No proofs anywhere.

How come no US Property Mark or proofs?

 

[Absalom]

Another Victory, V 410368 4 inch barrel 38 Special. No “US Property” stamps. Smooth walnut grips matching serials on grips, frame, cylinder, extractor and barrel.
DA over V marking on frame bottom in front of trigger guard. No proofs anywhere.

How come no US Property Mark or proofs?

It is a gun that was shipped to a non-military end user, most likely on a Defense Supplies Corporation contract, or (statistically a lot less likely), the US Maritime Commission. These guns did not receive US property markings.

The absence of the P proofs likely places your gun into the period in 1943 when the single P on the butt had been discontinued but before the stamping of the triple P on frame/cylinder/barrel became universal on all Victory models, regardless whether military or other destination.

The other markings you describe don’t ring a bell; likely some mark by the end user.

 

[SgtOsiris]

A few pics of the above 38 Special.

V 310468
Pic with my British 38/200 & British .38 (380) box of service ammunition.
*****Edit******
The 38 Special does have a flaming bomb stamp, it’s just visible below the V.
The mark mentioned above, DA over V are on frame forward of trigger guard, on barrel bottom near muzzle and side of cylinder.
Is this a proof mark or ownership marking?

 

[VaBarefootBoy]

S&W Model w V serial number

Hello all, FNG here with an old S&W Model 10 found overgrown in the crotch of a cherry tree. It looked like a peice of pipe sticking out just a 1/4 inch or so of the barrel was visible, but upon being split - lo and behold it was a pistol. The grips were rotted and scince replaced. My father in law cleaned it up. He said it looked like a leaper, then did some type of amateur bluing.
This is the story passed along to me when the gun was given to me by my now past Father-in-Law. It is pitted and in sorry shape and rebarreled (sleaved acually it looks like) to .22cal
The Serial is within the Victory status as it is V5358XX. ofcourse the picture shows alll the digits.
I'm just checking in to see what the knowledgable say about the pistol and what could or should be done to keep it, restore it or just make it more shootable. It is "safe" to fire now but spits between the cylinder to barrel gap.
What other proof marks should I look for or that would help in the identity, year made and maybe a bit of history as to where it went in its life. It has a crown and BNP stamped on cyl and frame above forcing cone as well as crossed swords on the left of the frame w M & 2 on foward of trigger guard. 6 0" barrel as stamped on barrell and 22LR and what looks like 8 TONS .

 

[Absalom]

Neat conversion. Originally a British Service version of the Victory from early summer 1944. Shipped to Britain under Lend-lease. From the Birmingham nitro proofs (BNP) and the barrel stampings, it was converted to .22 in Britain and commercial-proofed for the new caliber. The “crossed swords” are part of that, called a view mark.

I’ll leave conservation advice to others.

 

[VaBarefootBoy]

Thanks. I was pretty sure it started its life as a 38/200. I had no idea "when", nice to know sometime in 1944. I also thought that it was converted back here in the states and the proof marks were just part of the lend lease. More info

Godspeed & God bless
Stephen

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! First, it is not a Model 10. Those didn't come along until S&W started issuing model numbers in 1957. It is correctly known as a Victory model British Service Revolver. It was originally chambered for .38 S&W and .38/200 Webley (not Special). The Brits used a 200 grain lead bullet then, later, a 178 grain jacketed bullet in them during the War. I suggest you have a gunsmith look at the cylinder to forcing cone alignment before you shoot it again. If it is spitting lead, something is probably bent. My guess is the extractor rod or yoke.

 

[DWalt]

V5358xx would have originally shipped in about March-April 1944. There were some conversions of them to .22 performed in England back in the 1950s-60s. Somewhere I have an old ad from the early 1960s which indicates that new .22 barrels were fitted and the .38 chambers were sleeved for .22. Yours appears to have such a replacement barrel. They are evidently somewhat scarce as I remember seeing only one of these, and not recently.

 

[BruceHMX]

Another for the data base. Pre-Victory 739304, 6 inch 38/200, all matching to include stocks, Canadian ownership marking. No other markings such as sold out of service, proofs, or import marks.

IMG_0087 by bigsargee7, on Flickr

IMG_0089 by bigsargee7, on Flickr

 

[ordnanceguy]

A very handsome revolver, Bruce. Thanks for posting the info for the Database.

 

[21b o3]

Two more for the database

Pretty new to posting to the forum but been lurking for a while. I'll put these two up then post the Mod 1905 4th Change I picked up a few weeks ago and the K38 Target Masterpiece I have from my Grandfather's passing (that thing is BEAUTIFUL!). Anyway, both of these Victories are US Property marked and chambered in 38 Special. I'm guessing the earlier one is early Spring of '44 and the later one is late '44.
#1 is V527657. It has by far the better finish of the two, everything is tight and trigger feels good on it though the stocks are a bit beat up.



#2 bears SN V704013 finish is much rougher on this one, looks like it had leprosy! Two cylinders are slightly out of time on this one but otherwise it's mechanically in very good shape.

 

[Harley08]

Here is my Serial #
V291286 ( What year was it made?)
4" barrel. .38 special
Gun is like new!

 

[Absalom]

Here is my Serial #
V291286 ( What year was it made?)
4" barrel. .38 special
Gun is like new!

Most likely spring 1943, around April. Does it have the property stamp on the top strap?

 

[longarm4146]

V169375, US Navy marked, some pics posted in ore 61 hand ejectors thread

 

[chiefdave]

You may have registered these 2 already from previous posts but if not;

V26862, U.S. NAVY on top strap, Property of U.S. NAVY on left side of frame.
V548132, P on left side frame/barrel/cylinder, flaming bomb on grip frame.

Letters requested on both.

 

[WaterDR]

I am looking to purchase this Victory and have it restored.

The serial number is 626457. I believe it is chambered in .38 S&W.

Gun has been coated in what appears to be a black paint like finish which is coming off. The gun has smooth wallet grips and a lanyard. It’s in good working condition with an excellent barrel and forcing cone. Looks like hell though.

Any info?

It’s in very good ak

 

[Absalom]

I am looking to purchase this Victory and have it restored.

The serial number is 626457. I believe it is chambered in .38 S&W.

Gun has been coated in what appears to be a black paint like finish which is coming off. The gun has smooth wallet grips and a lanyard. It’s in good working condition with an excellent barrel and forcing cone. Looks like hell though.

Any info?

It’s in very good ak

I’m normally against any restoration, but black paint jobs are an exception. If you’re willing to spend the money, have at it. No collector value to ruin. Be aware, however, that the end result will likely not be worth what you put in it, unless you do it yourself as a project.

A 5” barrel and .38 S&W rather than 4” and Special would indeed be more likely. Is there a white number on the sideplate? That would indicate a Pakistani refinish. They did crude black paint, worse than the British Suncorite. Otherwise, it could have happened in another corner of the former empire, except Australia.

I assume that since you call it a Victory, there is a V in front of the number. V 626457 would fall in summer 1944.

 

[WaterDR]

Omg! Such great info here!

Yes, there is a white painted number on the gun. It’s a number 4. It is also a 4” barrel.

The gun seems to be in near perfect mechanical condition. I see little to know signs it was ever fired. The barrel and riffling is perfect. No pits. The action is good. But it looks like utter hell.

It’s being sold for $400 and has been sitting at my local LGS for almost two years. No one as the store knows anything about it. I have done all the research.

Here is my plan....

Gain all the facts. If this think is I fact a pakastani gun its probably the least collectible of any of them.

The black coating is about 80% worn off and is even on the grips.

If I can get the gun for $300, I can have it sand blasted, blued, cerokoted, or duracoated for about $250 and would look amazing. I want to shoot the gun and be able to tell the story.

Once I show it to my refinisher he will offer opinions about what would look best. Duracoat in gloss black would look amazing, but not very original. A matte black might look more original.

 

[WaterDR]

Btw, I can’t figure out how to post photos. Any help on that would be appreciated.

 

[DWalt]

You might rethink refinishing such an unusual Victory. If you want a pretty shooter, there are many others out there you can buy for less.