I have a Victory model that is lightly stamped on the top left hand side U.S. NAVY. Serial # is V 2298xx. Wonder what year it was made and did it indeed go to the Navy as I understand all Navy marked guns did not. Finish is original, neither blue or Parkerizing but looks like a thin dark gray phosphate? And are the lanyard rings the same for the Victory model and the 1917. It is worn smooth with no color case left on the ring. Thanks for any info.
Victory model questions
- Thread starter alwslate
- Start date
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ordnanceguy
Member
Sounds like a nice one.
Without a complete serial number I am unable to answer your questions. If you can post or PM me the complete serial number I will check the Victory Database and try to help you.
Regards
Charlie
Without a complete serial number I am unable to answer your questions. If you can post or PM me the complete serial number I will check the Victory Database and try to help you.
Regards
Charlie
OP
Nice shape, and original finish. I've owned it for many years now and am just curious about it. PM sent.
ordnanceguy
Member
Alwslate:
Thanks for sending me your PM with the complete serial number. Based on that from the Victory Model Database of the S&WCA I can estimate for you that your Victory likely shipped from the factory in the January-February, 1943 time frame.
Your revolver was most likely shipped under DSC authorization to a civilian destination such as a defense plant, law enforcement agency or public utility. I consider the chance of it having been shipped to the U.S. Navy as low. Only a factory letter can give you the ship date and destination with certainty, but I feel confident in the accuracy of this estimate.
***But see my corrected answer below.
I hope it proves helpful to you.
Regards,
Charlie
Thanks for sending me your PM with the complete serial number. Based on that from the Victory Model Database of the S&WCA I can estimate for you that your Victory likely shipped from the factory in the January-February, 1943 time frame.
Your revolver was most likely shipped under DSC authorization to a civilian destination such as a defense plant, law enforcement agency or public utility. I consider the chance of it having been shipped to the U.S. Navy as low. Only a factory letter can give you the ship date and destination with certainty, but I feel confident in the accuracy of this estimate.
***But see my corrected answer below.
I hope it proves helpful to you.
Regards,
Charlie
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DWalt
Member
From my list I agree that very likely V 2298xx shipped in early 1943. And I show many .38 Special Victories in that same SN neighborhood have the Navy topstrap property stamp. Given this one was stated to have a Navy stamp, short of having a letter establishing that it was actually shipped elsewhere, what is the basis for believing that it probably did not go to the Navy? My notes indicate that the Navy topstrap stamping continued to be applied into the V 26xxxx range later in 1943, but I do not have an exact stopping point number or date. The highest Navy stamped Victory SN I have on my list is V 265296, which shipped in 3/43.
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ordnanceguy
Member
DWalt:
You are right. Between reading the original post late last night and looking for the info to answer it today I plain forgot about the Navy top strap marking. That seals it as a Navy shipped gun and not a DSC shipment as I had indicated earlier.
I'm sorry for creating the confusion. I should have re-read the post again before answering it. Thanks for bringing the error to my attention.
Regards,
Charlie
You are right. Between reading the original post late last night and looking for the info to answer it today I plain forgot about the Navy top strap marking. That seals it as a Navy shipped gun and not a DSC shipment as I had indicated earlier.
I'm sorry for creating the confusion. I should have re-read the post again before answering it. Thanks for bringing the error to my attention.
Regards,
Charlie
DWalt
Member
The finish used at that time was a hot oxide bluing called Black Magic, sometimes called Midnight Black, applied over a beadblasted metal surface. Essentially the same bluing process is used on many factory guns today. A very few guns were Parkerized by S&W, those are rarities. The finish is dull as the metal was not polished to a high shine prior to bluing.
OP
I have a few pics taken with my iphone that I will post if and when I figure out how to do that 
See these tutorials:I have a few pics taken with my iphone that I will post if and when I figure out how to do that
Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures
