Victory sideplate

[tlay]

I recently bought a Navy marked victory. Somehow in its past the sideplate was changed out. It is exactly the same color and has the newer hammer block. My question is was it common to change the sideplate out to install the new hammer safety? Also I bought an older M&P sideplate with the older hammer block but it doesn't have the S&W logo. Did the early Navy marked victories have the logo? The older sideplate fits so much better. Did they change the frame on M&Ps or victories when they went to the new hammer block? The new sideplate hangs below near the trigger. Thanks.

 

[DWalt]

Allegedly, some number of older Victories went back to the S&W factory late in 1945 for retrofitting with the new hammer safety. Whether that involved fitting new sideplates, or re-machining the original sideplates, I don't know. There should be the letter "S" stamped somewhere to indicate that the change has been made. None of the 1942-43 Navy-marked Victories or pre-Victories would have originally left the factory with the new hammer safety, as that did not begin until very late 1944 - early 1945.
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Regarding the sideplate S&W logo, I can't say all Victories had it. But I can't think of seeing any that didn't. Earlier M&Ps made after WWI through the later 1930s did not have logos on their sideplates. I don't know exact dates.