New Victory “W” stamp

[Arisaka99]

Had to have this; at least one other bidder had the current knowledge on the ultimate delivery location of pistols with the “W” marking with no ordnance bomb, “P” proof, and no marks on the top strap in this SN range so it ran up. Based on the great research work and posts by Charlie Flick and others, I’m 99% confident it will letter to Rosslyn and the OSS. Like many OSS Victories, this one ended up being issued by the Office of Military Government US (OMGUS) to postwar German police forces. This one, marked HE-M (improvising a sideways “J” for the dash), went to a municipal police force in Hessen (Hessen Stadtpolizei). There was a personal connection from Day 1 that called to me on this one: my Great-great-grandfather emigrated from Kassel (in Hessen) in the 1850s after serving in the Hessian Army. My first troop assignment on active duty in the late ‘80s as a young Army Lieutenant was to Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Hessen just outside Frankfurt: the largest city in the three postwar Hessen districts and the former HQ of US Occupation Forces.  After retiring, I also worked in Rosslyn, VA for a brief time as a contractor for the intelligence community. So, I was in two trackable locations where this pistol was located at some point in my own military /career journey.  Too many things to ignore. Comments and observations welcome. I’m exceptionally happy to be the pending owner of this great piece of history (tempered only by not finding it in the wild for a screaming deal). I like the condition also. 

[jangle]

Super condition for the amount of miles this piece has traveled.  Not to mention rare to boot!

Congrats on your purchase!

[Charlie Flick]

Hello Arisaka:

I congratulate you on a nice catch. Your new Victory will indeed letter as having shipped to the OSS at Rosslyn VA.

I am happy to hear that my research allowed you to recognize this one for what it is. Knowledge is power, as they say. It took me many, many years of work, maintaining the Victory Database, sorting through serials, fuzzy photos, hundreds of factory letters, and countless eyeball examinations to discover the keys to the .38 Special OSS guns. 

Regards,
Charlie

[Arisaka99]

Thanks Charlie! This forum and the S&W forum were great study tools with your old post comments and others. Sorry for the double tap; I wanted it to be searchable for other students like me in the future. I appreciate your dedication to the type!