New Victory Model

[Boy Howdy]

Just picked up this nice clean .38 spl.

Serial number 822XX

Matching grips.

Just curious why there is no "US NAVY" or "G.H.D." on the top strap?

 

 😀

[kwill]

14 minutes ago, Boy Howdy said:

Just curious why there is no "US NAVY" or "G.H.D." on the top strap?

Because it was sold by the DSC for domestic civilian use--LEO or defense plant guard gun.

 

BTW, you should include the V as it's part of the SN.  There is a similar gun with the same number without the V.

[Boy Howdy]

You are correct, kwill.

Serial number should read as V822XX.

Appreciate the reply.

[Boy Howdy]

Got this from Charlie Flick:

 

Hello Seth:

 

Nice to hear from you.

 

Your Victory V822XX likely shipped from the factory in the late August-early September, 1942 time frame.  It was not a military shipment.  Instead, it likely was shipped under authorization of the Defense Supplies Corporation to a defense industry, law enforcement agency or public utility.   Only such organizations were entitled to purchase small arms under the prevailing war time rules.

 

Because there were thousands of such recipients of these revolvers it is not possible (without a letter from the S&W Historical Foundation) to state the destination of your revolver from the factory.  Occasionally, such DSC guns have post-factory applied markings or other history that allows us to determine who the war time recipient was.  Your revolver has no such indications evident to me.

 

I hope that information is helpful to you.

 

Regards,

Charlie