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.38/200 S&W
- Thread starter MJ1
- Start date
There are no British or any other proof marks other than the flaming bomb on the heel or other rebuild proofs. I think you will find the V prefix was a much later event. I have read several versions about the VICTORY. I present this pistol on it's own merits. Condition, condition and condition.
I get it now; your SN is 957K - I misread it at first. Victory SNs stopped at 811119 in August of 1945. Obviously Colt was still making them post war in the S/W caliber for the civilian market, maybe with left over U.S. Property frames?
Parkerized finish is in great shape.
From:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/victory_model_smith_and_wesson.htm
The Victory model was so named for the "V" prefix which was placed before the serial number and represented "Victory" against the Axis powers in World War II.
Serial numbers for the .38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119 with a date of late August of 1945 (end of production). V1 to approximately V39,999 were predominately .38 S&W Caliber (I have observed revolvers in the 1-40000 range in .38 special caliber). Serial numbers are located on Inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of barrel. Crane and crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number as is correct for Victory model revolvers.
The Victory Revolver was produced during World War II, it is a variation of the Military & Police Model of 1905, fourth change and had the following characteristics between 1942 and 1945:
Barrel: 2, 4, 5, or 6 inch. (4 inch common in .38 special, 5 inch common in 38/200 or .38 S&W)
Sights: Fixed
Finish: Early sandblast blue, sandblast mid-night black (appears grayish black). And finally a parkerized finish. Hammer and Trigger are case hardened.
Grips: Checkered walnut with medallion until early 1942, post February of 1942 they are smooth American Walnut with out medallions.
Parkerized finish is in great shape.
From:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/victory_model_smith_and_wesson.htm
The Victory model was so named for the "V" prefix which was placed before the serial number and represented "Victory" against the Axis powers in World War II.
Serial numbers for the .38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119 with a date of late August of 1945 (end of production). V1 to approximately V39,999 were predominately .38 S&W Caliber (I have observed revolvers in the 1-40000 range in .38 special caliber). Serial numbers are located on Inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of barrel. Crane and crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number as is correct for Victory model revolvers.
The Victory Revolver was produced during World War II, it is a variation of the Military & Police Model of 1905, fourth change and had the following characteristics between 1942 and 1945:
Barrel: 2, 4, 5, or 6 inch. (4 inch common in .38 special, 5 inch common in 38/200 or .38 S&W)
Sights: Fixed
Finish: Early sandblast blue, sandblast mid-night black (appears grayish black). And finally a parkerized finish. Hammer and Trigger are case hardened.
Grips: Checkered walnut with medallion until early 1942, post February of 1942 they are smooth American Walnut with out medallions.
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MJ1's example of a lend lease revolver is sometimes referred to as a "pre-Victory". It looks to be in excellent condition and was most likely delivered to Hartford Ordnance in May 1942 (before being shipped most probably to the British or even the Canadians/Australians). These revolvers were technically Military & Police 1905 4th Change models that ran up to serial number 1,000,000. The first Victory Model (V1) came directly after that sometime in 1942. Beautiful gun.
There are a myriad of explanations as to why this revolver was not proofed by whatever British or Commonwealth force received it. The most simple is probably the most likely. That batch of revolvers sat at Hartford Ordnance and never actually shipped out, or the revolver was shipped out to one of the numerous British/Commonwealth receiving ports and was never distributed.
