Victory question

[Rugskipper]

I won this auction this evening, and I'm thinking this thing went pretty cheap.
S&W Smith & Wesson M&P Victory .38 Revolver : Revolvers at GunBroker.com
I'm getting the old familiar feeling I may have made a mistake, and I'd appreciate an expert opinion. Did other bidders see something I missed and therefore passed on this one?
I'm more of an N frame kind of guy, but I like the occasional K frame, and I've always wanted a Victory. I've had many chances at 5" lend-lease guns but they never "spoke" to me like the 4" .38 specials which seem to constantly go up in price even though the amount I was willing to spend did not. Other than some character marks and a lot of filth is there anything that would keep this from being a good shooter grade victory? Obviously I'll do the standard checks when it comes in, and fix what's needed. It just seems, well....cheap.
Anybody know where it might have shipped or when? I may eventually letter it but I have a large pile of others to letter ahead of it.
BTW, if anyone wants those diamond magnas on it, they're yours in return for a set of appropriate smooth walnuts.
If I goofed up be honest. I'm a big boy and can take it. I didn't burn any money on it I couldn't afford to lose.

 

[10-12]

All else being equal I would say that you did OK if you got it for $181 plus $35 for shipping plus a reasonable cost for your dealer to receive it. Grips could run another $35 or a bit more. You would have a nice looking Victory for under $300. They will only go up in price. I would have gone for it.

Bill

 

[JSR III]

I would have paid that if the Victory model was higher on my must have list. Right now it's in the top 20 but not on the upper end. Are those stocks numbered? I would think that you should be able to trade them with someone looking for some diamonds.

 

[DCWilson]

Spring or summer 1943. Providing the gun passes all the quick action tests when you get it in your hands, you did not get stuck at that price. The gun needs a good cleanup (including a lockwork teardown cleaning, I would bet), but that's all. Should be a fine shooter.

 

[Citiboy289]

I use this site alot when shopping out older military surplus , Give you at least a ballpark idea for US military pieces ----------- U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

 

[MKT]

As David said, it appears to just need a thorough cleaning and proper grips. Grips should be the smooth war-time grips, everything else looks righteous from the pictures.

 

[opoefc]

Citiboy289, Don't rely on that "US Military dates of manufacture" site's info. on Victory Models. It's mostly incorrect. Dates given for maufacture periods are wrong, the claim that Victory models were Parkerized is wrong, etc. Stay on our site for the correct info. Good luck, Ed.