Victory model serial numbers

[shil]

Hello, everyone. A friend of mine came across what was apparently a .38 Special (according to the barrel stamp) Victory which had a set of aftermarket grips installed. They were covering the bottom of the grip frame, so he couldn't see the serial number. He saw a number stamped on the frame in the yoke recess, prefixed with what he swears was a "Z". Is that number necessarily the same as the one on the grip frame? If yes, what's the significance of the "Z"? He went back to buy the gun when he came up with the bucks, but it had been sold . We're just curious at this stage about what he missed out on, if anything.

 

[LWCmdr45]

During the period of Victory Model manufacture, the serial number did not appear under the cylinder crane. Other than the base of the butt, the V.M. serial number typically appears at the underside of the barrel, the rear of the cylinder and the inside surface of the ejector star. The markings found on the frame under the crane are factory assembly codes, unrelated to the serial number.

Steve

 

[shil]

Thanks, Steve. I'll pass the info on to my friend.

Gene