Victory "glassine" packaging

[bullmack]

I purchased the pictured Victory from the family of a WWII Navy pilot. Her retired as a Commander and carried the revolver in both WWII and Korea.

The items pictured came with the gun, including the glassine type storage "bag". Can anyone shed any light on the purpose behind the glassine bag?

 

[smoothshooter]

I would say multi-purpose.

Protection for the gun, ammo, belt, holster when stored.
Emergency water container.
Barf bag.
Pee-bag for use on long flights. Was probably replaced many times for many reasons over the years if used while flying, etc.
Original owner may have picked the bag up to ship or transport the gun back home in.

 

[digi-shots]

I believe the cover was used to keep water and sea spray away from the gun. I’ve seen vintage WWII photos of pilots with their Victory in shoulder holsters with this same type plastic cover.

I think I have a couple of pics of these covers in my photo album section... under Victory revolvers.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I can't help you with the bag, but, man, that appears to be a beautiful Victory. Congrats!

 

[Absalom]

Pate briefly discusses them as “waterproof plastic pouches”, and on p.305 has a photo of a Navy pilot with his Victory in a shoulder holster encased in such a pouch. They were definitely a handgun-specific item and show up in a list of accessories alongside cleaning items and holsters, as “Cover, Protective, Pistol or Revolver (Navy)”. Pate says that not much is known about them, but the Navy appears to have acquired them as direct purchases as well as from the Army, and air crew were the main users. And that’s it.

 

[Texas Star]

I agree with Linda, but can't you post a larger photo?

 

[chiefdave]

It's a rare find when you can acquire a military firearm that is traceable to a specific service member.

 

[digi-shots]

Here's a photo of a flier on board the USS ESSEX in what looks like a debriefing, I believe from Pate's book:

 

[digi-shots]

And another close up of similar pouch with Navy Victory:

 

[Donald Paul]

I purchased the pictured Victory from the family of a WWII Navy pilot. He retired as a Commander and carried the revolver in both WWII and Korea.

...perfect.

 

[DWalt]

I suspect these pouches are vinyl plastic. Glassine is a thin translucent paper which would never hold up for this type of service.

 

[Masterpiece]

I suspect these pouches are vinyl plastic.

Just to add a photo to those already posted...I've attached one below to show the difference between the Two Styles that were available...One on left fits the .45 Autos & the One on the right fits both the Colt & S&W Revolvers in use at that time!!

And to answer the question of the material these were made of...Yes it was a Vinyl-Like Flexible Material!!

 

[Homie]

The "pouches" were also included in USAF survival vests in the early '50s.

 

[Absalom]

Just to add a photo to those already posted...I've attached one below to show the difference between the Two Styles that were available...One on left fits the .45 Autos & the One on the right fits both the Colt & S&W Revolvers in use at that time!!

And to answer the question of the material these were made of...Yes it was a Vinyl-Like Flexible Material!!

Not just the size, but the material seems to have varied. The pouch on the right in your photo as well as the one used by the flyer from Pate’s book appear as a clear see-through plastic on top; you can clearly make out the wooden stock. The left pouch, just like the one with the OP’s gun, looks like a heavier opaque shower-curtain type vinyl.

 

[bullmack]

Thanks for all the replies. I was certain many would know the material, purpose, etc. I was pretty sure it wasn't glassine but my mind couldn't find the word "plastic" in it's database.

 

[kwill1911]

There were also dark green versions that were squared off and slightly larger. They were generally used with M1911A1 pistols and were called "invasion bags."

 

[digi-shots]

Great posts everyone!

I have no idea of its exact chemical makeup... flexible plastic, vinyl etc.. I'm sure when they were new that they were fairly see-though and flexible enough for the handguns.

I have a couple of them and a few are a bit stiff, probably due to the material degrading over the years.

I filled one with warm water and dried it out with a hair dryer and then placed it flat on a solid surface... the wrinkles, etc. came out and looks better for display.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

You have a nice package there that is a beautiful revolver but the whole package together truly makes a fine fine display

 

[DWalt]

"I have no idea of its exact chemical makeup... flexible plastic, vinyl etc.. I'm sure when they were new that they were fairly see-though and flexible enough for the handguns."

Probably polyvinyl chloride, aka PVC and Vinyl. It's one of the relatively few plastics which was in commercial use prior to WWII, mainly for making flexible plastic sheeting.

 

[opoefc]

These vinyl plastic bags described above were common in the war surplus stores in San Diego after WW2. Sold surplus by the US Navy. You could buy about a doz. or more, for a dollar. I used them for many years to store guns carried to & from gun shows, ranges and S&WCA meets. I still have quite a few left over from my Victory collecting days that I use for my shooters and beater guns. I wouldn't put a minty gun in them as I'm not sure how the chemical composition of the material might effect a blue finish over time. Ed.