JosephC Posted February 29, 2020 Share #1 Posted February 29, 2020 addition to my military arms collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephC Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share #2 Posted February 29, 2020 more pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephC Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted February 29, 2020 more - is the "S" imprint mean it was refurbished ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephC Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted February 29, 2020 some more details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephC Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted February 29, 2020 story i got from seller is he got it from someone who said it was a pilots revolver and the burn mark on the grip (I find hard to believe) is from grabbing it from a fire; crash of some kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted February 29, 2020 Share #6 Posted February 29, 2020 I would heavily discount the story from the seller, although it could very well have been a Navy or USMC aviator's gun. I don't believe it has been refurbished; that's not what the S means. It appears to be a tidy example and probably shipped in mid-1944. Charlie (moderator) may come along and pin it down more closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spagg Posted March 1, 2020 Share #7 Posted March 1, 2020 story i got from seller is he got it from someone who said it was a pilots revolver and the burn mark on the grip (I find hard to believe) is from grabbing it from a fire; crash of some kind. These were used by some Pilots during WW2. They were not as bulky as the 1911A1's. Very nice find. Here is what you need to finish it off, nice "1944 Boyt USN" S&W Pilots Holster like mine. Congrats, Sal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdk0911 Posted March 1, 2020 Share #8 Posted March 1, 2020 very nice Victory - did you check the underside of the grips to see if they are number matched? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painter777 Posted March 1, 2020 Share #9 Posted March 1, 2020 The S has to do with if it was originally built with the improved hammer block. IIRC if originally built with the hammer block it would have the S machine stamped. The S would also be found on the upper left corner of the right side plate. If the S is found being hand stamped, it was added after production. Best I can remember right now.... Cheers, Charlie-Painter777 HERE..... See Moore's Cool Gun Site, http://www.coolgunsite.com/ CLICK ON 'REV. GALLERY'.......... NOW SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE TO: WWII VICTORY MODEL NOTES PAGES........ SEE; OTHER COMMON MARKINGS, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted March 1, 2020 Share #10 Posted March 1, 2020 I would heavily discount the story from the seller, although it could very well have been a Navy or USMC aviator's gun. I don't believe it has been refurbished; that's not what the S means. It appears to be a tidy example and probably shipped in mid-1944. Charlie (moderator) may come along and pin it down more closely. The one I had was identical to this one except it was marked “Property U.S. Navy” on top of the frame..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephC Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share #11 Posted March 1, 2020 very nice Victory - did you check the underside of the grips to see if they are number matched? It appears to match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted March 1, 2020 Share #12 Posted March 1, 2020 These were used by some Pilots during WW2. They were not as bulky as the 1911A1's. Very nice find. Here is what you need to finish it off, nice "1944 Boyt USN" S&W Pilots Holster like mine. Congrats, Sal That looks like a 5 inch BSR in a nice US holster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted March 1, 2020 Share #13 Posted March 1, 2020 JosephC: Thanks for posting the pics of your very nice and original Victory. When you contacted me about it a couple of weeks ago you did not yet have pics available. Now that I have seen them I will affirm my earlier statement to you, based on the Victory Model Database, that your revolver likely shipped from the S&W factory in the May, 1944 time frame. It was likely a shipment made to the US Navy. The S mark you mentioned is simply a fitter's, assembler's or inspector's marking. It has little significance today. In contrast, the S mark mentioned above by Painter is found on the upper side plate and butt. It was intended to readily signify that the revolver had been equipped with the new safety hammer block. Hiding that mark on the frame under the stock would not accomplish the purpose of identifying those revolvers with the new safety hammer block. Congrats on a very nice example. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronald Posted March 2, 2020 Share #14 Posted March 2, 2020 Wouldn't it have the US Navy property stamp on the top strap if it went to the navy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmcdoc67 Posted March 2, 2020 Share #15 Posted March 2, 2020 Have had several Victory models in my collection for years. The last 2 were a 5" British Lend Lease, the other interesting one (4" model) came from the estate of Adm. William E. Gentner. He was a WW2 Naval aviator and carried the Victory model during combat air missions. Later became 6th Fleet commander. Think I posted pics here someplace last year. Both have factory documentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted March 2, 2020 Share #16 Posted March 2, 2020 Wouldn't it have the US Navy property stamp on the top strap if it went to the navy? Nope, not necessarily. The Victory Model revolvers had U.S. NAVY marked on the left top strap below serial number approximately V265XXX. Above that serial number Navy shipped Victory revolvers had left top strap markings of ð U.S. PROPERTY GHD. A few Navy shipped Victories had no top strap markings at all. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronald Posted March 2, 2020 Share #17 Posted March 2, 2020 Thank you Charlie. Appreciate your knowledge in these matters. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gap Posted March 4, 2020 Share #18 Posted March 4, 2020 Several years ago I spoke directly with the S&W Historian, Roy Jinks, and he told me that the vast majority of Victory revolvers marked US Property were shipped to the Navy. Makes sense, you rarely see photos of Army personnel with Victory revolvers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painter777 Posted March 6, 2020 Share #19 Posted March 6, 2020 Maybe shipped through the Navy and marked U.S. PROPERTY because so many were for lend lease. I believe I read (or dreamed ) that the NAVY marked ones were the rarest in totals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwill Posted March 7, 2020 Share #20 Posted March 7, 2020 Maybe shipped through the Navy and marked U.S. PROPERTY because so many were for lend lease. I believe I read (or dreamed ) that the NAVY marked ones were the rarest in totals. No, Lend-Lease guns did not go through the Navy. Most of them are easily identified because they are marked "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" (spelled out), have 5 inch barrels and are chambered in .38 S&W. When the Ordnance Dept. (Army) took over small arms purchases for all service branches the top strap marking changed from "U.S. NAVY" to "U.S. PROPERTY." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painter777 Posted March 7, 2020 Share #21 Posted March 7, 2020 kwill, Appreciate your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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