Victory Model cartridge/loops...What is correct?

[MelvinWalker]

So I have a WW2 pistol belt with original USN belt holster for a standard 4 inch Navy Victory.

My question is what is the correct belt style cartridge box/loop set up would have been with this? I see this repro shoulder holster for sale as attached here for aircrew, etc. but what would have held the extra rounds on a belt style holster? Surely they would have more than just the six loaded in the cylinder? I just never see anything for a victory model set up with belt holster. Anybody know?

 

[murphydog]

There was/is a cartridge pouch that attaches to the M1936 belt. Six loops, two side and a bottom flaps, and a top flap with a snap holding it closed.

Edited to add a random image of the item off the Internet.

 

[MelvinWalker]

There was/is a cartridge pouch that attaches to the M1936 belt. Six loops, two side and a bottom flaps, and a top flap with a snap holding it closed.

Edited to add a random image of the item off the Internet.

Yeah....After you posted I looked for how you described it and found some repros. There's even one on Amazon believe or not for $29, which is frankly not that bad really. It's even dated "1942"

The repro which will work fine for me because I am going to actually use it with the Victory at the range...I have some original period web gear from the 40's and it's kinda fragile now. I would be about afraid to use much of that original 75 year old cotton stuff much.

Thanks again....I looked but didn't know what I was looking for.

 

[gunbarrel]

Since that USN pouch only held six rounds, some were "rigger-modified" to hold more rounds. In addition, the US M1936 web belt itself was also rigger-modified to add ammo loops; usually with web material, but also with leather. See pictures.

 

[gunbarrel]

Additional pictures. The last picture is that of a belt in the collection of Jerry K in the US Militaria Forum.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Ammunition

Since we are on the subject, what is the period correct issued ammunition for the WW2 era Victory? I remember ordnanceguy or another knowledgeable poster said that original issue ammo is quite expensive and uncommon now.

 

[gunbarrel]

See ordnanceguy's explanation here:

Finally found WWII .38 Special boxed - HANDGUNS - U.S. Militaria Forum

 

[ordnanceguy]

Melvin:

Gunbarrel and Murphydog are correct about the purpose-built ammo pouch. The genuine ones are pretty scarce now and, thus, expensive.

Be aware that the Navy had an alternate ammunition pouch. According to the Bureau of Ordnance Catalog of Navy Material dated July 1945, an accessory for the Victory Model revolver was the "...POUCH, First Aid packet (used with the revolver as ammunition carrier)". Those pouches are still plentiful and easy to find and would be entirely authentic as an ammo carrier on a Victory belt rig.

HTH.

Regards,
Charlie

 

[DWalt]

At one time, it was not unusual to see cartridge loops that were sewn on, usually canvas. Field additions by ship's riggers. I have several boxes of the WWII FMJ .38 Special Remington ammunition. It came in a civilian style one piece cardboard box, no military markings. However, there is no index number on the front label, and something seldom mentioned. The REM UMC in the headstamp has no dash between the REM and the UMC. There were also .38 Special red tracer cartridges issued for emergency signaling purposes. They came in a plain box with military markings. They are VERY seldom encountered, even single rounds. A lot of the wartime .38 FMJ ammunition remained in military inventory through the Korean War, some maybe even longer.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Since we are on the subject, what is the period correct issued ammunition for the WW2 era Victory? I remember ordnanceguy or another knowledgeable poster said that original issue ammo is quite expensive and uncommon now.

Here you go. This is the correct WW2 production USGI ammunition.

Regards,
Charlie