Victory model database

[Klocke62]

Hello, I am new to the forum. Not sure if I posted this right. I was wondering if the victory database was still active? I have 6 I would to add and get any info on them. Thanks

 

[Absalom]

Welcome to the forum.

You can present your guns in a separate thread like this one or add a post to the Victory database thread.

In either case, someone will be along sooner or later to try helping you with info, and the SWCA members who keep the actual database will be able to see the information, too.

The more details, the better. Photos make things even easier.

 

[DWalt]

If you have any or all of them lettered, please abstract the vital statistics, such as shipping date and destination, caliber, barrel length, etc., from the letter. All markings/stampings on each revolver would also help, as would good pictures. The SN by itself, absent further details about the specific gun, does not add much knowledge, as the SN ranges by shipping year are already well-known.

 

[csmshort]

I would like to add my Victory models to the data base. I have two, the first is Brit lend lease in .38 S&W (.38/200) and is serial number V22177 with 5 inch barrel. It appears to have been delivered in 1942 and has United State Property on the topstrap. It appears to have been re-blued. The second is from a batch issued to the Louisville Police Department, .38 special, serial number V624138. It has Lou, Div. of Police on the backstrap and nothing on the topstrap, with a 4 inch barrel. It was delivered in June/July of 1944.

 

[csmshort]

Additions to data base continued

More pics
First set is British Lendlease
Second set is 38 Spl for Louisville Police Dept

 

[Absalom]

.....The second is from a batch issued to the Louisville Police Department, .38 special, serial number V624138. It has Lou, Div. of Police on the backstrap and nothing on the topstrap, with a 4 inch barrel. It was delivered in June/July of 1944.

A Louisville batch was actually shipped June 6, 1945. 400 guns to Chief Kimberling. I have V 626880. I lettered it and have a copy of the DSC invoice. I’m pretty sure yours would have been in that also.

According to Roy Jinks, the shipment apparently contained several guns with serials indicating production a year earler.

The Louisville Metro PD officer in charge of their museum was very surprised to hear the Chief ordered that many guns. I sent him the stuff I had, and he was going to look whether he could find anything in their files; haven’t heard back yet.

 

[gmborkovic]

Im amazed that these things never die.

 

[Absalom]

One thing I forgot to ask:

Does the Louisville gun have a matching serial on the right grip panel?

Mine has a noticable discoloration on the frame finish indicating it wore magna-shaped stocks for most of its service life, either S&W originals or Franzite-type aftermarket stuff which was all the rage in the 50s and 60s.

The stocks on mine now came from a late pre-Victory, so some dealer put them on later to “restore” the Victory to its original appearance.

 

[csmshort]

The only other place I've found a serial number on the Louisville revolver is the rear of the cylinder. And thanks for the update on the delivery date.

 

[ordnanceguy]

. I was wondering if the victory database was still active? I have 6 I would to add and get any info on them. Thanks

Yes, the VM Database is very much alive and kicking. Thank you for your willingness to contribute your data. You can post the info here and I will be happy to give you any insights that the Database may offer.

We like to have barrel length, caliber, left top strap markings, any butt markings other than serial, finish, stocks type, and any post-factory markings. If you have any factory letter data that is also very helpful.

 

[JMJ_DK]

A Model Victory to the database

Hello forum,

I have just bought my first S&W and have joined this forum in order to learn more. My "new" revolver is a 5 inch barrel Victory model. The gun broker says that it originaly was chambered with the British .38/200 (a lend-lease-revolver, I suppose) and later converted to .38 special S&W. It is stamped "U.S. Property GHD" on the top strap and the serialnumber on the butt is V655286. Overall the gun is in a very nice shape.

Additional info: On the back strap the gun is stamped WB-S-STG 363, indicating that it has been used by German police just after the war:

Wurttemberg-Baden / Stadtpolizei / Stuttgart / the inventory number used by the particular German agency.

WB-S-STG was the American Occupation Zone district of Wurttemberg-Baden, city police, Stuttgart.

This particular gun is bought through a gun broker here in Denmark. I have added a nice looking British ww2-style webbing holster for it. Should feel quite at home there, I suppose ...

Any input as to when the gun was produced and shipped to Europe is much appreciated.

Best regards
Jacob

 

[Absalom]

Hi Jacob.

Your gun was originally shipped in mid-1944. Serials in that vicinity show up in June/July. It would have shipped originally to Hartford Ordnance Depot which received Lend-lease guns, and then sent on to Europe.

You already know pretty much all there is to know. One minor thing: While one reads the “Stadtpolizei” a lot for the S, and I assumed so too, I have recently come across indications that it actually stands for “Schutzpolizei”, the traditional German term for uniformed police. But that’s not definite either.

 

[JMJ_DK]

Thanks Absalom for the info about the app. age of this historical piece and its first journey.

BG
Jacob

 

[csmshort]

Just picked up another Victory, SN: V307223, in 38 S&W, British. Five inch barrel and U.S. Property GHD on top strap. Any idea on production date? Assuming its late war.

 

[Absalom]

Just picked up another Victory, SN: V307223, in 38 S&W, British. Five inch barrel and U.S. Property GHD on top strap. Any idea on production date? Assuming its late war.

No, actually mid-war, sometime in spring 1943, March or April maybe. Keep in mind that by late war the V-prefix numbers went above 800,000.

 

[Targets Guy]

V321740 (.38SW, 5") shipped May-Jun '43

 

[csmshort]

Thanks to Absalom and Targets Guy. Standard Catalog of S&W only specifies 1941-1945.

 

[DWalt]

Thanks to Absalom and Targets Guy. Standard Catalog of S&W only specifies 1941-1945.

Just as a very rough dating guide based upon the wartime SNs I have recorded:

1941 68xxxx - 89xxxx
1942 89xxxx - V21xxxx
1943 V21xxxx - V49xxxx
1944 V49xxxx - V74xxxx
1945 V74xxxx - SV81xxxx