DWalt
Member
A few good pictures would help significantly in providing better information.
Victory data base
- Thread starter zonker5
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A few good pictures would help significantly in providing better information.
sw44spl
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Here are some pictures of the pistol. Again, I appreciate any insight.
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[/ATTACH]The Angry Pilgrim
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Another one for the database. Picked up this Victory from a friend - Serial# V 342643, 4" barrel, .38Spl, U.S. Property GHD on top strap. In great shape, original with matching numbered grips.
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ordnanceguy
Member
Duly noted in the Database, AP. Thank you.
ordnanceguy
Member
Hello Charlie:
Thanks for the additional photos you posted on your V231531. From the Victory Model Database I can estimate for you that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the January-February 1943 time frame. It was a Lend Lease program gun.
From the pics it appears that your revolver's original 5" barrel has been cut down to a 4 incher. The stocks have been replaced. Your revolver was originally chambered for the .38 S&W (.38-200) cartridge. Many of those guns were modified post-war by dealers to accept .38 Special cartridges. I can't tell from the pics if that is the case with your example.
I hope that information is helpful to you.
ordnanceguy
Member
Nice looking Victory, sw44spl. Thanks for providing the data. It is now in the Database.
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Where does one apply for the tracking letter from S&W?
DWalt
Member
You should be aware the cost of a letter is $100, and is unlikely to provide much information beyond the exact shipping date. It will not provide any information whatsoever about what happened to it after shipment from S&W. Being modified, probably very significantly, your Victory has no collectible value.
Regarding the SN V231531, the closest SN I have listed to it is V238853 which shipped on 2/26/43. S&W was making around 1000 per day at that time.
Regarding the SN V231531, the closest SN I have listed to it is V238853 which shipped on 2/26/43. S&W was making around 1000 per day at that time.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I usually encourage lettering every historic S&W, but feel obligated to agree with DWalt in this case, especially since your wording indicates that you may have incorrect expectations.
It's not a "tracking" letter. The historian can only tell you when and where S&W shipped it, and ALL these Lend-Lease guns shipped to the same Army Ordnance depot; where they went after that is beyond the letter.
I've lettered a gun like that anyway, wanting a letter sample for this model. You may still want to if you can afford it and support the S&W Historical Foundation with your money.
But be aware what you will get
Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation - Home Page - Insuring that the rich history of Smith & Wesson will continue for generations to come
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Hey everyone new just picked up a 4 inch barrel 38 special. us property ghd with flaming bomb stamped victory sn v474228. Also has a Bavaria police stamp. Haven't had much luck finding a sn range list. Any lone have any info on this neat ole girl
I read somewhere that at the end of the war, some soldiers would bring back "trophies", and would oftener have guns nickel plated in France before their return.
I just bought a Victory today. S/N V430415. It too is nickel plated. I will restore it to its original finish.
Cheers!
grendelbean
US Veteran
Data-base input S&W .38 Victory Model
Thanks for keeping up the data base. What a great resource. I have recently acquired the following:
S&W .38 Special CTG Victory Model Serial No. V67232. Number matching on inside right stock, under barrel, and on cylinder.
Right side of barrel 38 S&W Special CTG
Finish: Black brushed
Patent dates on top of barrel
On right side of grip frame at the butt: "T", "J", "A", "6", A dot, and a larger "S".
On the left side of the grip frame at the butt: "P", and "P"
Smooth backstrap. Grooved trigger.
On the yoke: 11562 and "S" with 11562 and "P" on the frame next to the yoke.
The revolver is tight and shows minor holster wear marks. The bore seems perfect and it has every sign of being carried more far more than being used.
No markings of backstrap or sideplate (beyond S&W Trademark), and no markins on left side.
Ordnance bonb mark on butt across from serial number..
Thanks for keeping up the data base. What a great resource. I have recently acquired the following:
S&W .38 Special CTG Victory Model Serial No. V67232. Number matching on inside right stock, under barrel, and on cylinder.
Right side of barrel 38 S&W Special CTG
Finish: Black brushed
Patent dates on top of barrel
On right side of grip frame at the butt: "T", "J", "A", "6", A dot, and a larger "S".
On the left side of the grip frame at the butt: "P", and "P"
Smooth backstrap. Grooved trigger.
On the yoke: 11562 and "S" with 11562 and "P" on the frame next to the yoke.
The revolver is tight and shows minor holster wear marks. The bore seems perfect and it has every sign of being carried more far more than being used.
No markings of backstrap or sideplate (beyond S&W Trademark), and no markins on left side.
Ordnance bonb mark on butt across from serial number..
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DWalt
Member
That SN would probably have been shipped around December 1943. The Bavarian stamp is interesting, but I'm not much of an expert on the postwar German civil police guns.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I wonder how this post slipped through without anyone responding last month. Must have been a busy time.
Your gun (if you're still around) shipped in very late 1943 originally, to a US military destination. After the war, it was issued in 1946 to German police in occupied Bavaria by US authorities and carried until the early 1950s, then sold as surplus.
I think the plating in France was indeed mostly done to captured German pistols. These Victorys were more likely nickeled after being sold as surplus here in the US. I don't think military authorities would have taken too kindly to soldiers plating current-issued US property marked revolvers
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I just picked up this Victory. Well, almost. Colorado is running at 7 days for a background check so I paid and left it, hence the quick pics.
Its marked US Navy on the topstrap.
The nice diamond magnas are a plus. I'll swap them out when it I get it home.
Its marked US Navy on the topstrap.
The nice diamond magnas are a plus. I'll swap them out when it I get it home.
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grendelbean
US Veteran
Navy Marked Victory Model
Nice acquisition. I envy you. I'm looking for one like that. I notice the butt swivel hole is plugged - after you get it could you post some information about that. For example, what material did someone use to plug the hole with? Thanks, great gun.
Nice acquisition. I envy you. I'm looking for one like that. I notice the butt swivel hole is plugged - after you get it could you post some information about that. For example, what material did someone use to plug the hole with? Thanks, great gun.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Nice condition for an early five-digit Navy gun; must have gone to some cushy staff job and not been dragged through too many saltwater bilges
And not a bad price even without the stocks and swivel. Both easily remedied. Shipped in fall 1942.
There have been quite a few request for information here. Does anyone have the number of Victories are in the data base to date? Very interesting information.
I'll throw my two into the mix.
V201083 38 Special, four inch, no obvious military markings, probably a DSC gun. Parked, smooth walnut grips. My guess is 1942 era.
V579739 British, 38 S&W, five inch. Unmolested but checked grips that probably aren't original. My guess is 1944 time frame.
V201083 38 Special, four inch, no obvious military markings, probably a DSC gun. Parked, smooth walnut grips. My guess is 1942 era.
V579739 British, 38 S&W, five inch. Unmolested but checked grips that probably aren't original. My guess is 1944 time frame.
ordnanceguy
Member
I don't have the Database open at the moment to give you an exact number, but last time I looked it was in the thousands. This has been a multi-year, long term ongoing study.
Thanks again to all of the many collectors and shooters who have generously provided their data, on a confidential basis, for the betterment of the Database and, ultimately, for the benefit of all admirers of the pre-Victory and Victory guns.
Oscarflytyer
US Veteran
Another Victory for the dB
Victory for the dB. Serial is V288880. All matching, including grips/under bbl/cyl face. grooved trigger; hammer/trigger case hardened. 5" bbl marked 38 S&W Ctg. Left side is stamped with 38 Special. Cylinder has been bored for 38 SPC (done well, doesn't split case necks/fired case looks like a mini 38-40!). Top Strap has bomb/is marked US Property GHD. W on the grip frame under grips. No Brit proof marks/no import marks. Prob 85%++, considering a war gun.
Info is appreicated. Thanx
Also, is the dB accessible/searchable? I looked for it, and have been unable to find it.
Victory for the dB. Serial is V288880. All matching, including grips/under bbl/cyl face. grooved trigger; hammer/trigger case hardened. 5" bbl marked 38 S&W Ctg. Left side is stamped with 38 Special. Cylinder has been bored for 38 SPC (done well, doesn't split case necks/fired case looks like a mini 38-40!). Top Strap has bomb/is marked US Property GHD. W on the grip frame under grips. No Brit proof marks/no import marks. Prob 85%++, considering a war gun.
Info is appreicated. Thanx
Also, is the dB accessible/searchable? I looked for it, and have been unable to find it.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
You have a standard Lend-Lease British Service model from mid-1943.
The absence of British post-war commercial proofs indicates that it somehow made its way out of British or other Commonwealth service and back here through channels other than being regularly surplused out in Britain.
The CAL .38 SPECIAL marking on the left frame is not seen often on converted guns, and assumed to be the peculiarity of one particular converter, although we don't know who. It does indicate that however your gun got back here, it entered the commercial surplus trade at some point.
Most of these came back before 1968, so no import marks are usually found.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The gun is from very late 1943.
A number of large police departments got some Victorys during the war, but few marked them.
Boston PD is known to have used the B.P.D. marking on the backstrap of their issue revolvers in general, so that could be a suspect. As Muley suggests, a separate thread with good photos of the marking might get someone to recognize the style of marking.
Oscarflytyer
US Veteran
Thanx Ab! basically as I expected. fired cases look interesting (think mini-38-40). But they aren't splitting the case mouth, so I am ok.
opoefc
US Veteran
For the database: An upcoming Kansas gun auction has the following Victory Models (1) V6583 "USN' 4 in. 38Spl (2) V59864 4 in 38 Spl, & (3) V623007 4 in, 38 Spl. Ed.
chiefdave
US Veteran
V63138, which is fairly close to yours, shipped to the USN in Oakland 7/15/42. You got yourself a nice example.
What is a Zoomie doing with a Navy revolver? Give it back.
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Hey all! Picked up a Smith and Wesson Pre-Victory a few months ago and just wanted to submit it to the database. Ser. #987592. Shipped to Hyde Windlass Co. Bath, Maine on May 18th, 1942. Imgur link included with pictures of it with letter. Hope someone finds this interesting. Smith and Wesson Pre Victory - Album on Imgur
