dbrown0398 Posted December 26, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 26, 2015 Received a very nice Smith and Wesson Victory Model 38 Special with US Navy property mark on it as a Christmas present & would like to know it's mfg/"born on date." Serial # is V2000XX. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Semper Fi, Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 26, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 26, 2015 HI Derek: If you can PM me with the complete serial number I can give you a very good estimate on the factory shipping date based on the information in the Victory Model Database. Is the U. S. NAVY marking on the left top strap? Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrown0398 Posted December 27, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 27, 2015 HI Derek: If you can PM me with the complete serial number I can give you a very good estimate on the factory shipping date based on the information in the Victory Model Database. Is the U. S. NAVY marking on the left top strap? Regards, Charlie Just sent you a message. Thank you for your help Sir! S/F, JDB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 27, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 27, 2015 HI Derek: Thanks for your PM with the complete serial number. That makes it a lot easier for me to help you with accurate information. Based on the compete serial you provided I can estimate for you with high confidence that your Victory was shipped from the S&W factory in the December 1942-January 1943 time frame. Your revolver likely shipped to one of two major Naval Supply Depots. I suspect that your example would letter as having shipped to the NSD at Oakland, CA as did most of the surrounding serial numbers in this range. S&W did not record manufacturing dates, only shipment dates. A factory letter from S&W will cost you $50. It can give you a precise date of shipment, certainty on the destination and some general background on this model. I can provide you with info on how to obtain such a letter if so desired. Where your revolver went after it arrived at the NSD is anyone's guess as few records have survived to tell that tale. I hope that information is helpful to you. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retread12345 Posted December 27, 2015 Share #5 Posted December 27, 2015 In my past collecting days when the Victory Model was less appreciated, I would remove the grips. On occasion the frame was stamped with a navy ship designation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrown0398 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted December 28, 2015 HI Derek: Thanks for your PM with the complete serial number. That makes it a lot easier for me to help you with accurate information. Based on the compete serial you provided I can estimate for you with high confidence that your Victory was shipped from the S&W factory in the December 1942-January 1943 time frame. Your revolver likely shipped to one of two major Naval Supply Depots. I suspect that your example would letter as having shipped to the NSD at Oakland, CA as did most of the surrounding serial numbers in this range. S&W did not record manufacturing dates, only shipment dates. A factory letter from S&W will cost you $50. It can give you a precise date of shipment, certainty on the destination and some general background on this model. I can provide you with info on how to obtain such a letter if so desired. Where your revolver went after it arrived at the NSD is anyone's guess as few records have survived to tell that tale. I hope that information is helpful to you. Regards, Charlie Charlie, spending the $50 sounds like a good investment. Do I just contact S&W or someone else for the letter? I really appreciate your help. This forum is great! Everyone is always so willing to help. Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrown0398 Posted December 28, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted December 28, 2015 In my past collecting days when the Victory Model was less appreciated, I would remove the grips. On occasion the frame was stamped with a navy ship designation Checked that, but no luck, just serial numbers. Hopefully obtaining a factory letter will give me some more insight, but just knowing when it was shipped is a huge plus. Thanks, Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted December 28, 2015 Share #8 Posted December 28, 2015 HI Derek: If you can PM me with the complete serial number I can give you a very good estimate on the factory shipping date based on the information in the Victory Model Database. Is the U. S. NAVY marking on the left top strap? Regards, Charlie Great tread, sent PM to Charlie with similar request. thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 28, 2015 Share #9 Posted December 28, 2015 Hi Derek: Send me an email to [email protected] and remove the NOSPAM reference giving me your reply email address. I will then email you the S&W form to be used. I can't send it as a PM attachment. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 28, 2015 Share #10 Posted December 28, 2015 Great tread, sent PM to Charlie with similar request. thanks Mike Hi MIke: I just replied to your PM with the shipping date estimates for you. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted December 28, 2015 Share #11 Posted December 28, 2015 Hi MIke: I just replied to your PM with the shipping date estimates for you. Regards, Charlie Thanks Charlie great info appreciate the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrown0398 Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted December 31, 2015 Hi Derek: Send me an email to [email protected] and remove the NOSPAM reference giving me your reply email address. I will then email you the S&W form to be used. I can't send it as a PM attachment. Regards, Charlie Thank you Sir. Just sent you an email. If you don't get it, please let me know & I will try again. Really appreciate all of your help. Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 31, 2015 Share #13 Posted December 31, 2015 Hi Derek: Sorry, but I did not get your email. Please try again and remember to drop the NOSPAM part. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbrown0398 Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted January 1, 2016 Hi Derek: Sorry, but I did not get your email. Please try again and remember to drop the NOSPAM part. Regards, Charlie Just gave it another shot. Hopefully it will come through this time. Thanks Sir, Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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