Tell me about my Smith and Wesson Victory

[HA556]

So, to help with the supposedly over abundance of surplus firearms, I did my part to re-home one today. I picked up this S&W Victory .38spl w/4 inch barrel. Good rifling/no deep dings or gouges. Finish is pretty much gone and the walnut grips are in good shape. Overall seems to function as one would and I kind of like it. The cylinder release mechanism is as bit loose and rattles. That will need to be addressed.

Any Smith and Wesson aficionados out there can tell me a little about what I've gotten myself into?

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[nehalemguy]

Original grips were plain walnut I believe and you are missing the lanyard ring. Does the cylinder have a matching serial number? Any stamps on the top strap?

-E-

 

[HA556]

Does the cylinder have a matching serial number? Any stamps on the top strap?

Here are all the markings that I can see. I have not taken off the stocks yet.

 

[HA556]

 

[RVTECH]

Original grips were plain walnut I believe

Yes they were and these are the original grips on my Victory.

Does yours have any marking on the frame ABOVE the cylinder on the left side?

 

[64MercurysRule]

https://www.guns.com/news/reviews/revolver-smith-wesson-victory-model-review

The Victory model Smith and Wesson

An Official Journal Of The NRA | "V" Is For Victory: The Smith & Wesson Victory Model Revolver

Although the M1911A1 was the standard U.S military sidearm during World War II, more than 350,000 S&W Victory Model revolvers were produced, and they accompanied many U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators during pivotal battles of the Pacific Theater.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[HA556]

Does yours have any marking on the frame ABOVE the cylinder on the left side?

 

[Moeca]

These are nice revolvers that shoot well. Yours looks well used but in good shape for the age. If your looking to put it back to original a original lanyard ring and grips show up on ebay often. Believe Numrich and Sarco both had parts as well.
Below is info I had on dating them.

Manufactured between 1941 and 1944.
Revolvers made before 12/04/41 have a bright blue finish.
Revolvers made form 12/04/41 to 04/10/42 have a brushed blue finish.
Revolvers made after 04/10/42 are parkerized.
Victory model production ended 8/27/45 at serial number VS811,119.

 

[Pete F]

Mine has the US Property marking and stamp for lending it to Australia. It also has a return stamp when Australia sent it back to the US.

It is in pretty good condition, parkerized finish. Sorry for lack of pictures.

 

[CLT65]

Those smooth target S&W grips are completely wrong for that gun, as has been said, but if they hadn't been "fitted" to that gun, they would have been worth a fair amount themselves. Unfortunately those look like they've been worked over. Originals are readily available if that matters to you. If you're not a purist those should work just fine.

I'm admittedly funny about some of my guns. I'm not a serious collector and don't insist on pure originality, but on some of my old S&W revolvers, I just like them to at least look original. A few years ago I bought an old M&P K frame from the 1920's and it had some faux stag grips on it. I couldn't get rid of those fast enough, as bad as a set of Pachmayrs. I looked around until I found some fairly matching period original grips at a price I could live with. I have a 1970's Model 10 HB that came with Pachmayrs. I put some nice Altamont wood grips on it, and am happy with that.

 

[HA556]

If you're not a purist those should work just fine.

I'm not and they actually fit my hand really well! I'm thinking of just leaving them on.

 

[64MercurysRule]

Looking around on Internet forums it looks like that serial # puts it at an April 1944 manufacture date .
Those grips look like an early 1980's stock and made from Goncalo Alves wood . Congrats on the acquisition .

 

[CLT65]

I'm not and they actually fit my hand really well! I'm thinking of just leaving them on.

Nothing wrong with that! If they look good and feel good, what's not to like? I hope it shoots well too. I'm a big fan of vintage S&W revolvers.

Added: I was working on a couple of mine a while back, and ended up with a handful of new/old stock K frame mainsprings. If yours has any misfire trouble caused by a week mainspring, let me know; I'll give you one.

 

[WAYNO]

I trained on these Victory Smith's.
Through many years these revolvers served roles where they could be used and not tie up the 1911's. During Vietnam, these were Army flight crew survival weapons. And in the early eighties, when there just weren't enough of these Smith's available in the numbers needed, the Army began replacing them with Ruger Speed Six and Service Six revolvers.
The small arms repair school I attended trained us on both revolvers simultaneously.
Interesting too, when we qualified with these revolvers, it was for familiarization only. No scores were kept.

 

[HA556]

If yours has any misfire trouble caused by a week mainspring, let me know; I'll give you one.

That is very generous of you and greatly appreciated!

 

[titsonritz]

It's cool even though it doesn't have the original grips, that's all you need to know.

 

[Staccato]

I did some research a while back on S&W Victories. The early war Navy issued ones are an interesting historical footnote.
This site had a lot of really useful, specific info. Hope this helps. Congrats on the old warhorse!

https://www.coolgunsite.com/pistols/sw_v210725/U.S.%20NAVY%20Victory%20Model.htm

 

[HA556]

I keep seeing some of these with markings on the top strap. There are none on this one. Would that indicate it as not being one of those sent out over seas?

 

[RVTECH]

The early war Navy issued ones

Mine is one of these and is marked 'U.S. Navy' on the top strap.

It was my dads 'Duffel bag' gun and it came home with him.

It is the gun I learned to shoot with!

Also kind of interesting is it has NO typical marking on the right side of the barrel, so obviously it got missed!

 

[HA556]

Well, the .38 is now in the hands of a capable gunsmith. I am really hoping for a good shooter as I'd like to keep this one.