Victory model questions

[gdk771]

Hello,

I was wondering if someone could tell me more about this Victory model? It appears to be missing the flaming bomb on the top strap. There are also some GHD inspector marks on the butt where I was not expecting them. Any idea what the dot and the "P" mean? I don't see any "S" markings for the hammer safety mod which seems odd as it underwent FTR in 1953. Are the grips replacement? They don't have any serial numbers on them. There is also a lone "V" stamped halfway up the butt inside the grips. Does this mean victory model? The trigger and hammer appear to be color case hardened which I believe is correct. The only item that appears to be blued is the ejector rod. Is this correct? Everything else appears to match but I am no expert on these. It was apparently imported by a Vega in what I am assuming is Sacramento CA. I remember these from the mid 2000's but the ones I saw back then were imported by Century and marked CAI. Any idea when it was originally made? I am assuming it was issued to Britain or a British colony because of the 38 S&W caliber and the FTR markings.

 

[MajorD]

These are part of a large batch that if memory serves was imported in about 1999/2000 from Australia. The location of the G.H.D. Is strange, someone will chime in I am sure, but I have never seen it in that location
Looks good as refinished, and these were modified to use 38 special.
Yes the case hardened hammer/ trigger and blued ejector are correct.
I recall when these came in, one of our gun club members was a kitchen table FFL and brought a box full to the club for sale $100 each
A "P" generally represents proof firing mark, but I usually see it on the lef side of frame near recoil shield not on the butt. Not sure about the circle.
Normally the grips would have a serial number, so they are probably replacements.
Get some ammo and shoot it, they are very pleasant guns to shoot

 

[gdk771]

Thanks for the info. I don't think this one was modified as there is only one step in the cylinder. Wouldn't there be a second smaller step for the 38 special mod?

 

[JP@AK]

It is a BSR from 1942. It isn't .32 caliber. It was originally chambered for the .38 S&W, which is what the barrel says.

That early on, the inspector's initials did occur on the butt, IIRC. Charlie can confirm (or deny) that.

The full word "United States Property" is also common for BSRs at that time.

The Aussies would not have upgraded the safety. I'm actually not aware of any BSRs that got the safety upgrade.

 

[smithman 10]

I had a nice 4" Victory in .38 Special but let it go years ago and these threads just confirm that I am not too smart sometimes!

 

[gdk771]

Yeah, the GHD on the butt stock and the circle threw me off. Did not know they did not add the hammer safety to the export ones. JP@AK what is a BSR? How do you guys know it came from Australia? Is there some sort of marking in the FTR logo? Was the ordinance bomb not added to these? Sorry for all the questions but I am learning a lot here.

 

[JP@AK]

BSR stands for British Service Revolver. The revolvers sent to UK member countries during WWII are referred to that way. Unlike the U.S. Victory models, the BSR had a 5" barrel and was chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge (instead of the .38 Special).

The FTR and associated markings on the frame and the import by VEGA were the clues that it was an Aussie export (and later import).

I could be wrong, but I believe I see a poorly stamped "Flaming Bomb" on the butt, near the P military proof mark and the initials of Guy H. Drewry. All of that makes sense on a BSR shipped in 1942.

 

[gdk771]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I updated my original post I meant to type 38 S&W and accidentally typed 32 instead. So what I thought was a circle is actually a poorly struck ordnance bomb it would appear. That makes sense now. Thanks for the clarification on that. I have usually seen the bomb and the GHD marks on the top strap on other Victory models. Any idea what the "V" stamp opposite the hammer spring is on the frame underneath the grips? Also, on either side of the 38 S&W cartridge markings on the barrel there are some sort of symbols on either side that almost look like hour glasses with a triangle on the side. Is this some sort of decoration that S&W put there?

 

[Muley Gil]

That V is probably a fitter's mark.

 

[DWalt]

The "FTR" is associated with Australian military rebuilds. Allegedly the Aussies gave them a Parkerized refinish as part of the FTR. The original S&W finish was a hot oxide bluing, not Parkerizing. FTR stood for factory thorough repair, done by Munitions Australia, apparently some Aussie armory, in 1953. If yours was not modified to .38 Special, you may find it difficult and expensive to find ammunition.
The hourglass type barrel stamps are usually called Dingbats. Story is they had something to do with aligning the barrel stamp.

 

[Mark IV]

I had a nice 4" Victory in .38 Special but let it go years ago and these threads just confirm that I am not too smart sometimes!

This post could be my sig-line !!!

 

[VinnieL59]

I wish I had bought a Victory model when they were available for reasonable prices. I worked in a small Sheriff's Dept in MO. from1977 till 1979. The Sheriff had 10 Victory models assigned to his department by I think the Offie of Civil Defense. I had one of them. It was without a doubt the smoothest S&W I have ever fired. I loved the grey Parkerized finish on them. Despite all the polishing, smoothing and fitting my S&Ws have had, none are quite as smooth-operating as that old victory model was.