Victory revolver with backstrap markings. ID Help

[Teddydog]

I just picked up this Victory model that has some letters and a symbol marked on the backstrap. Would appreciate if anyone can ID the added markings.

First off...the revolver

It is a standard 4" Victory in .38 Special. It is NOT "US Property" marked on the top strap and does NOT have a set of inspection marks ("GHD"). I think this means that it was sold to a non-government entity who needed and was approved for wartime firearm procurement. In addition to standard S&W markings, I see a "P" stamp on the right side at the top back of the cylinder window and a "W" on the butt next to the "V" portion of the SN (V479678).

The gun has some strong finish wear and scattered dings and scratches, but actually seems to be little used or fired. The chambers, recoil shield and bore all show very little sign of wear.

The interesting (to me) part that I would like to know more about if possible is the backstrap marking: B A N and then a symbol like a circle of feathers or branches, but could be a sun.

Detail of the circle. You can see why I think it looks like feathers...

Has this marking been seen before and identified? Would love to know about this.

Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks!

Rob

 

[opoefc]

That's a new one on me! I would agree that the gun never was in the military's hands, so therefore it most likely left S&W as a DFC ( Defense Supply Corp ) shipment. Only a factory letter will tell us, for sure. Any guess I can make on the B A N or the "flower" would be just wild ones, at this point. A letter will give you a starting point for the research, however I would also backtrack it's history as best you can from when & where you got it, if that's possible. Ed

 

[Absalom]

This Victory was delivered by US authorities to the Berlin police in the American occupation sector in early 1946.

B = Berlin
A = Amerikanischer Sektor
N = Neukölln (the city district)

Plus there's the Berlin police star.

The guns remained standard issue until replaced by the Manurhin-Walther P1 in 1963/64.

 

[Absalom]

After some checking, I can also tell you that a grand total of 310 Victorys existed with that exact marking (there were others for different Berlin districts).

And while I can't guarantee anything and do not speak with Roy's authority, I can be pretentious and sound a bit like him when I tell you that a letter might reveal an interesting initial destination. It won't be Germany

 

[opoefc]

I missed the "W" stamp in the butt, which would have told me the gun wound up with some unit in Germany, and as said "Might have an interesting history." Ed

 

[Teddydog]

Was wondering if it was something like this.

I bought it from Simpson Ltd and it has their import stamp in the crane area. They import a lot of guns from Europe. However, they said this particular gun was a consignment piece along with a lot of other guns from the same source. If IMPORTED under consignment, that's kinda interesting by itself.

Neat piece of history. I've had several different German police guns at one time or another.

Rob

 

[Llance]

I would be surprised if it was a consignment from overseas. More likely a local person has put this revolver and several other items on consignment with Simpson's. I could go there and ask for you if it is important enough to you. I won't be able to make that trip for a couple of weeks but I'm willing to go have a look see if you want. However most likely they can tell you such over the phone.

Llance

 

[walnutred]

For those who are not familiar with this part of European history approximately 1/3rd of the German extermination projects, not sure what else to call them, were managed by the police force. After the war many of the military members involved in these exterminations were tried by military courts for war crimes. Members of the police force who were involved simply went back to their districts. This is not a bash on Germans, policemen or anyone else. I've just always found it interesting how selective we can be about history, even in 1946 when the history was being created.

 

[kwill1911]

Your gun was originally shipped to the OSS ("Naval Strategic Services" is how it will letter.) It was then given to the German police when the war ended.

 

[Absalom]

.....
Detail of the circle. You can see why I think it looks like feathers...

Below is the Berlin police star they were trying to capture, as the cap badge in use at the time. Being German, a simple star wasn't enough; they had to include a bunch of elaborate rays. Leading to the thing being called all kinds of names from starburst to sunflower and daisy. Best known from the P1s.

 

[SS336]

I have to say that revolver has some interesting history. Might be worth a letter. Amazing to me how many people know about it. I would never have guessed. Some smart fellas on here.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Neat gun. There are several of these guns listed in the Victory Model Database.

One of these BAN ☼ marked, OSS shipped guns popped here on the Forum several years ago and was discussed at length here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-victory-need-help.html?498058=#post139344458

 

[Absalom]

....
One of these BAN ☼ marked, OSS shipped guns popped here on the Forum several years ago and was discussed at length here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...-victory-need-help.html?498058=#post139344458

Interesting thread to re-visit. I didn't know as much as I do now yet