Victory DOB

[claygrazer]

A friend just inherited a five screw 4" barrel Victory 38 M&P from his aunt. This gun defies some of the descriptions in the SCSW third edition. The serial number is V152XX, making it an early sample. There is no S or C in the serial number. It is polished blue, not sand blast blue or black. There is a plug in the grip frame bottom where the lanyard ring should go. If you look at the circular picture on page 143 of the SCSW, you will see three different configurations for a hammer spur. The spur at the top of the circular picture is the same spur as on this gun. The spur has fine checkering and the trigger is serrated. Both are color case hardened.

It is very clean, with just a few small rust pits. The blueing is in excellent condition. The S&W logo on the side plate is very faint. The grips are S&W monogramed checkered diamond magnas. The cylinder rod is right hand screw with a bulbous end. There are minor forging flaws in the frame.

What have we got here? It appears it might be a postwar commercial gun made from leftover wartime production parts.

Clay

 

[ordnanceguy]

What have we got here? It appears it might be a postwar commercial gun made from leftover wartime production parts. Clay

Hello Clay:

I think what your friend has there is a refinished Victory that has had its lanyard ring removed and the hole plugged.

If it has a V-prefix it is not a post war gun. If you will post here or email me the complete serial, the butt markings and any left top strap markings I will be able to give you an estimated shipping date from the Victory Model Database.

HTH.

Regards,
Charlie Flick
S&WCA #729
NRA Life
S&WHF Member

 

[opoefc]

I agree with Charlie, It's a refinished gun with some embellishments to the trigger & hammer. What is the serial number on the right grip panel's backside? The faint logo is the effect of the polishing done to blue the gun. Also, if it was a commercial production done with a left over frame, it would have the new safety block and the factory would have stamped the S in the serail number. Ed.

 

[claygrazer]

I think you guys are right. If the gun had been a post war build from leftover parts, it whould have had the "modern" safety. This gun does not have the S in the serial number. I took the gun completely apart this weekend for a thorough cleaning. There was dried grease and thick oil all through the mechanism.

There are some parts that are completely different from any Smith parts I have seen. The spring mechanism in the trigger that keeps forward load on the hand is totally different, and more complicated than seen on todays guns. In place of the safety groove on the side plate, there is a cantilevered spring that applies side ways load on the hand. The hand has a ramped surface on which this side plate spring rides. Very curious. My Kuhnhausen book does not show any of these old parts.

Thanks for the replys,
Clay

 

[opoefc]

Clay, Those "strange" parts are correct for the gun of the vintage you have. That's the way they were made before the "new" safety hammer block" was designed and installed starting in 1944. The old hammer block was OK if you kept the gun clean. The accidental death of a USN sailer was caused by him dropping his old style loaded Victory Model on it'd hammer, which he had never cleaned out the grease & cosmoline in the action and that grease kept the old safety block from working like it was designed to do. Ed.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Hi Clay:

Thanks for your PM sending me your serial number and other data for inclusion in the Victory Model Database. I have sent you a reply PM with the estimated ship date. My Database collaborator LWCmdr45 and I appreciate your data contribution.

Regards,
Charlie Flick

 

[claygrazer]

Charlie,
Thanks for the Private Message reply. Could you post your response on the general forum so I could send it to my friend? By the way, what is DSC?
Thanks,
Clay

 

[popgun]

Defense Supply Corporation

Charlie,
Thanks for the Private Message reply. Could you post your response on the general forum so I could send it to my friend? By the way, what is DSC?
Thanks,
Clay

Defense Supply Corporation

 

[ordnanceguy]

Charlie,
Thanks for the Private Message reply. Could you post your response on the general forum so I could send it to my friend? By the way, what is DSC? Thanks, Clay

Hi Clay:

The Victory in question was likely shipped from the factory in the June, 1942 time frame. I mentioned in my PM to you that it was almost certainly a DSC (Defense Supplies Corporation) shipment because of the absence of any left top strap markings and other DSC guns in close proximity to this serial in the Victory Model Database. The DSC was the government agency appointed to coordinate the purchases of firearms during the war by law enforcements agencies, defense plants and other entities with a legitimate requirement for firearms during wartime.

I hope this helps you. Thanks again for the data.

Regards,
Charlie Flick
S&WCA #729
NRA Life
S&WHF member

 

[claygrazer]

Thanks for the great information. It turns out that the gun belonged to the husband of my friend's great aunt. We speculate that it was his gun during his service in the War, and that he had it refinished later on. My friend is trying to find out more information.
Clay

 

[claygrazer]

Charlie,
I have another friend (believe it or not) that has a Victory that belonged to his Dad, who was in the Navy during WWII. It is serial number V 313612. It is not an S version. It is marked "U.S. Property" and has Guy H. Drewry "GHD" inspector mark. It is in the original Black Magic finish and has the lanyard ring still attached. Do you have a manufacture date available?
Thanks,
Clay

 

[LWCmdr45]

I'm sure Charlie will be along later but, in the meantime, allow me to answer that your friend's gun shipped circa May, 1943.

Steve

 

[Texas Star]

Clay, Those "strange" parts are correct for the gun of the vintage you have. That's the way they were made before the "new" safety hammer block" was designed and installed starting in 1944. The old hammer block was OK if you kept the gun clean. The accidental death of a USN sailer was caused by him dropping his old style loaded Victory Model on it'd hammer, which he had never cleaned out the grease & cosmoline in the action and that grease kept the old safety block from working like it was designed to do. Ed.

This makes sense. But was it officially confirmed; if so, where?

Thanks,

T-Star

 

[claygrazer]

The story is in the SCSW, so it must be true.