Victory data base

[Absalom]

It has very few markings, but all assembly numbers match. There is no lanyard ring and it appears to be chromed or polished Serial number is V89xxx.

You have a former Lend-Lease British Service Victory from mid-1942 which was modified after the war for commercisl sale, by shortening the barrel from 5“, refinishing in nickel, and adding aftermarket grip panels. Markings were likely removed during the refinish. The gun was likely converted to fit .38 Special, which you can easily try out.

Serial # 916322 matching on bottom of grip frame, cylinder and barrel. 38 S&W CTG; Made in USA; WB, P and "bomb" stamped on bottom of grip frame; "United States Property" stamped on top; ....
NZ 2921 stamped on top of backstrap below hammer. Appears to be original bluing ....
I don't think the lanyard ring is original.

Any thoughts on dates and/or markings is appreciated.

You have a largely original Lend-Lease gun that went to New Zealand. The serial puts it in early 1942, maybe February, before the V prefix started. The lanyard ring is indeed the standard round British type; S&W rings were oval. The stampings on the butt are standard ordnance inspection marks, WB for Waldemar Broberg, the P is a military proof. You should also check whether it’s been converted, although yours is more likely to still be the original .38 S&W.

 

[ordnanceguy]

KY1911:

You might want to take a look at the underside of the barrel for the marking N.A., Inc. That is the import marking of Navy Arms which was principally responsible for the import of the New Zealand guns. Because the marking is so lightly struck many observers fail to see it.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[ETMJR]

I have a Victory serial number V292888. It belonged to my Father-in -law, Henry Curtis (HC 177). Can someone give me any details on this gun, like date of manufacture and shipped to?

 

[ETMJR]

Victory V292888.

I will send a request form to Roy Jinks next week so you can get a precise description of V292888. Roy and my Father-in-law, Henry Curtis (SWCA #177) were close friends. Until then, the gun is parkerized, 5" barrel, lanyard, smooth wood grips, US PROPERTY GHD, no "S' or "P" stamp. More coming later.

 

[Absalom]

...., the gun is parkerized, 5" barrel, lanyard, smooth wood grips, US PROPERTY GHD, no "S' or "P" stamp. More coming later.

You didn't mention the caliber stamping, but with a 5" barrel, at this serial from mid-1943 it can only be a Lend-Lease British Service model in .38 S&W. If it's actually "parkerized", it's a refinish, but you're most likely talking about the original sandblast black magic.

No S to be expected unless parts failed final inspection, and during that time the P was no longer applied consistently to the butt, and was not yet used in its new three locations.

 

[ETMJR]

Victory V292888.

V292888 is a .38 S&W.

 

[ETMJR]

Victory V292888.

I'm not an expert on gun finishes, I thought parkeried. It is a dull gray finish to my ancient eyes.

 

[ordnanceguy]

I have a Victory serial number V292888. It belonged to my Father-in -law, Henry Curtis (HC 177). Can someone give me any details on this gun, like date of manufacture and shipped to?

ETMJR:

From your description and the Victory Model Database I can estimate for you that your revolver likely shipped from the factory in the April-May, 1943 time frame. Its probable shipping destination was the Hartford Ordnance Depot in Springfield, Mass.

You mentioned your plan to obtain a letter from the S&WHF. I hope that when you receive it that you will post the details back here.

HTH.

 

[ETMJR]

Victory V292888.

On second (and more careful) look, the finish is black and not parkerized. Thank you.

I will certainly post Roy's letter content here.

 

[S&WSquirrel]

Hello all,

I've been trying to find an approximate production date to V256741, 4", 38 S&W Special and decided it was clearly time to register for some assistance after a number of empty searches.

Thank you,

Dave

 

[triaxle]

Victory 38 spl 4 in ??????

I have a real nice 4 inch ,38 spl ,has a round fact looking butt swivel, grips are smooth guns number is 9862xx on the butt and cyl face and barrel flat , good case color hammer and trigger , gun is not beat , rounded front sight blade ,top of barrel has smith Wesson Springfield patented feb,sept dec29,14 ,its in two line fine print . nice smooth parked finish and looks legit . what is it ? I had it for a good while never fired it , nice gun .

 

[Wiregrassguy]

It sounds like a .38 M&P made in 1942 before the V series serials began. US butt swivels were semi-rectangular. It could have a British swivel on it. Pictures please.

 

[AJ]

I have a real nice 4 inch ,38 spl ,has a round fact looking butt swivel, grips are smooth guns number is 9862xx on the butt and cyl face and barrel flat , good case color hammer and trigger , gun is not beat , rounded front sight blade ,top of barrel has smith Wesson Springfield patented feb,sept dec29,14 ,its in two line fine print . nice smooth parked finish and looks legit . what is it ? I had it for a good while never fired it , nice gun .

It sounds like a .38 M&P made in 1942 before the V series serials began. US butt swivels were semi-rectangular. It could have a British swivel on it. Pictures please.

Like he said "Pictures please". Pictures or it didn't happen..........

 

[triaxle]

I have no clue how to post a photo ,I tried to give as much info on it ,38 spl S.W. special CTG on right side of barrel knurled ejector rod end . the lanyard ring looks right with the rest of the gun but its kind of heavy duty looking ???????????????? and does not look redone but its real clean shape .

 

[18robert]

i also have a victory and don't know how to add pictures, i feel your pain triaxel........

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Pictures are uploaded to the site as attachments. To do this, copy the pictures to your computer into a folder you can navigate to. Size them to no larger than 1920x1080 pixels or you'll experience problems. When you are ready to post up to 5 pictures per post, scroll down below the text box and click on Go Advanced. On the upper row of icons, click on the paper clip icon. Then, select up to 5 pictures and upload them to your post.


This is what a .38 Special Victory revolver looks like.

 

[triaxle]

The gun is a perfect copy of the one in that photo but has a nice round lanyard that spins around ,it just a tadd smaller than a penny around , looks like it went with the gun from day one .all number match but no GHD . or Navy Prop or US anywhere .

 

[triaxle]

It also has the same ejector rod but looks blackish blue maybe comparied to the park color of the gun .the hammer and trigger still have the case colors not worn to a silver dull look yet .had this gun maybe 8to 9 yr .

 

[triaxle]

It looks like a dead end on this one right now , One of you guys could send my e mail your cell , I can get my daughter to photo and send to you to post . I still use a old flip phone ????????????? [email protected]

 

[triaxle]

I just checked and the grips had mating number faint stamped in but you could still see , also C on grip frame and a number 1 up high on frame strap this is on the left, right frame had J & H kind of off a little also two small fact looking punch marks side by side up high on grip strap edge . with grips on you can see none of this ???????