Smith And Wesson Victory Model Serial Numbers

• Smith And Wesson Victory Model Serial Numbers Search
• Smith And Wesson Victory Model Serial Numbers Identification

The Victory Model Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Revolver

The revolvers of the U.S. armed forces have always been under appreciated by collectors, the good news is that makes them relatively inexpensive to acquire, but this is changing. At a recent trip to the 2003 Louisville gun show I noticed prices on Victory revolvers had increased noticeably. That being said you might want to consider adding a few Victory models to your USGI collection.

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson.38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot,.38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with. Six-round target revolver with a 6' barrel. This model was also known as the 22/32 Bekeart after Phil Bekeart, who was the California arms dealer who convinced Smith & Wesson to manufacture the 22/32 H.E. The revolver has very fine target sights. The revolver has approximately 95% of its original blue and 100% of its hammer case.

While the information I provide below can be helpful please see the list on the bottom of this page for reference material you should have if you are going to collect these historical pieces . The Victory model revolvers participated in various roles from guard duty to riding in a shoulder holster with fighter and bomber pilots. I have talked to many ex-military personnel that carried them as late as the 1980s, as you can see these pistols played a significant part of our history. To this day the Victory model is a very enjoyable shooting collectible, mainly due to its inexpensive cost, light recoil, and good accuracy.
Enjoy and happy collecting, Ty

The Victory model was so named for the 'V' prefix which was placed before the serial number and represented 'Victory' against the Axis powers in World War II.

Serial numbers for the .38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119 with a date of late August of 1945 (end of production). V1 to approximately V39,999 were predominately .38 S&W Caliber (I have observed revolvers in the 1-40000 range in .38 special caliber). Serial numbers are located on Inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of barrel. Crane and crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number as is correct for Victory model revolvers.

The Victory Revolver was produced during World War II, it is a variation of the Military & Police Model of 1905, fourth change and had the following characteristics between 1942 and 1945:

Barrel: 2, 4, 5, or 6 inch. (4 inch common in .38 special, 5 inch common in 38/200 or .38 S&W)
Sights: Fixed
Finish: Early sandblast blue, sandblast mid-night black (appears grayish black). And finally a parkerized finish. Hammer and Trigger are case hardened.
Grips: Checkered walnut with medallion until early 1942, post February of 1942 they are smooth American Walnut with out medallions.

Ordnance acceptance marks:
The acceptance mark varies with the particulars of the order placed. With U.S. Navy orders you will find no acceptance marks on the original two contracts they placed. On later Navy revolvers, ordered through the Army they will be found with the more typical Army G.H.D. acceptance mark. Below you will find some of the common stamps with links to examples.

W.B. - The acceptance mark of Ordnance officer Waldemar Bromberg is located on the butt (to about serial number V145000). Just to the right of the acceptance mark (W.B.) is usually found an ordnance bomb and proof mark. The 'P' proof mark indicates this revolver has passed military proof testing. EXAMPLE – Click Here

G.H.D – From approximately 1942 to about May 1943 the acceptance mark of Ordnance officer Guy H. Drewry is found on the butt. From approximately V300000 to end of production G.H.D is found on the left top strap; EXAMPLE – Click Here

Property marks:
The most common property marks found on the Victory model are the UNITED STATES PROPERTY, US PROPERTY, and the US NAVY markings.

UNITED STATES PROPERTY – Found on left top strap to approximately V300000 and on the M&Ps pre Victory. Applied at the S&W factory. Example - Click Here

U.S. PROPERTY – The property mark was shortened to 'U.S. PROPERTY' at about serial number V300000. At this time the G.H.D acceptance mark was moved from the butt to the left top strap with the property mark. Applied at the S&W factory. EXAMPLE – Click Here

U.S. NAVY – Found on the revolvers left top strap as per the two Navy contracts. The Navy also applied a Property mark on the left side plate on some revolvers; these were filled in with red paint. This is not an S&W applied marking. EXAMPLE – Click Here and Here for the Navy applied mark.

Victory models have also been produced with out property marks, these revolvers were probably delivered by the U.S. Defense Supply Corporation (DSC) to defense contractors and public agencies that required them for guarding war sensitive materials.

Other common markings:
S - Revolvers that have the 'S' marking on the right side plate as well as before the serial number on the butt have the improved hammer block installed. If the 'S' in the serial number on the butt appears to be machine applied this would indicate it was produced with improved hammer block, and that it was not added later or it would have been hand stamped. The improved hammer block was put into production after an accidental discharge killed a sailor during World War II. This improved hammer block is still utilized in today's commercial Smith and Wesson revolvers. EXAMPLE – Click Here

P – Proof marking. This can very depending on the contract. Navy marked pistols usually have none. But C.W. Pates books indicate that some delivered under an Army contract could be found with a P mark. Post the V400,000 serial number range they are located on the underside of the barrel, back of the cylinder and left side plate. The later appear to be Army Supply Program contract revolvers. EXAMPLE – Click Here

Serial Numbers:
Serial numbers are located on the inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of grip. Serial numbers should be matching on all revolvers. Crane and Crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number and is correct for Victory model revolvers.
Grip/StockEXAMPLE – Click Here
Barrel EXAMPLE – Click Here
Cylinder EXAMPLE – Click Here
Extractor Start EXAMPLE – Click Here
Butt EXAMPLE – Click Here

Production:
38/200 British Service Revolver (S&W Caliber) - There were over 571,629 of these models produced between October 1941 and May 1945 for the British Common wealth countries. These countries include the Union of South Africa (21,347), Canada (45,328), and Australia (8,000). The remaining 384,100 shipped between 1941 and the end of World War II were supplied by the U.S. Army Ordnance through the lend lease program to Britain for distribution.

Victory model 38 Special – 352,000 shipped to the Army and Navy. Some of these were shipped to a commission responsible for supplying the civilian industries. They will usually have no property marks. Uses included guarding factories, ports, and federal/local government agencies.

Note: You can find all kinds of variations, with additional war and post war markings. These include rebuild markings, country ownership markings, unit markings, and much more. For a complete listing see the books referenced below.

Recommended reading:
US Handguns of WW II - The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers by Charles W. Pate
Americas Right Arm - The S&W Military and Police Revolver by John Henwood
Smith and Wesson 1857 - 1945 by Robert J. Neal and Roy G. Jinks

A descendant of the .38 Hand Ejector Military & Police Model of 1899, Smith & Wesson’s first swing-out-cylinder revolver to chamber the then-new .38 Special cartridge, the Victory model, was an updated wartime production version introduced in 1942. It was ultimately supplied to every branch of the American armed forces as well as British Commonwealth countries during WWII and continued in production until 1945.

Smith & Wesson is currently marketing a semi-automatic pistol as a Military and Police (M&P) model, but the name is taken from the double action (DA) revolver that made it famous. Later, the same revolver was assigned the model number '10,' when S&W stopped naming their handguns and gave them numbers, instead. The Victory.38 was a wartime version of the original Smith and Wesson Model 10 first introduced in 1899. The gun was variously known as the S&W Military and Police or the S&W Hand Ejector.

By 1942, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police Model 1899 revolver had morphed through several upgrades and modifications to what was then known as the “.38 Hand Ejector Military & Police Model of 1905, Fourth Change.” During those 42-plus years of manufacture, almost 1 million of these medium-framed revolvers were produced. On April 24, 1942, when serial numbers for the M&P series reached 1 million, a new series was initiated, with serial numbers beginning, for the first time, with a letter prefix. The letter “V” was chosen, with the first revolver in the sequence numbered V1. This new series of revolvers was nicknamed the Victory model to signify Smith & Wesson’s hopes for a quick victory and an end to the war.

I just found this on the Smith & Wesson Forum. I guess that makes mine October of 1942 or early November 1942. 'I just received my factory letter and it confirms that Victory revolver number V158896 was shipped on November 20, 1942 to the US Navy, Oakland, CA. Smith & Wesson is currently marketing a semi-automatic pistol as a Military and Police (M&P) model, but the name is taken from the double action (DA) revolver that made it famous. Later, the same revolver was assigned the model number '10,' when S&W stopped naming their handguns and gave them numbers, instead. Let us start with a great gun that just simply shoots bullets – the Smith & Wesson Model 10. Smith & Wesson Military & Police Model 1899 The corner stone for this gun was laid in 1899 with the introduction of the Smith and Wesson.38 Hand Ejector.

Fighting For Victory

Before the United States entered World War II, Smith & Wesson had been producing a variation of the M&P revolver for British Commonwealth nations. Except for its chambering, it was practically identical to the commercial variation in production at the time.

This British version, at their request, was designed to fire the .38 Smith & Wesson round (not the .38 Special), a slightly less powerful cartridge loaded with a heavier 200-grain lead round-nose (LRN) bullet. This round became known as the .38/200, and the revolver built to fire it was known as the .38/200 British service revolver.

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To meet the needs of the UK’s war effort, from early 1940 until early 1941, most of Smith & Wesson’s revolver production was directed at the manufacture of this variant. These British service revolvers were serialized in the M&P series and were initially supplied with barrels of 4, 5 and 6 inches. Early guns were brightly blued, then brush-polished blued and then sandblasted blued, with those produced later in the run wearing a sandblasted Parkerized finish.

By February of 1941, production of the British service revolver had increased sufficiently to let Smith & Wesson reintroduce the .38 Special-chambered Military & Police revolver. With the United States’ entry into the war in December of 1941, the British version and a U.S. version chambered in .38 Special were produced concurrently, with both models numbered within the new V-prefixed serial number range.

British guns were produced only with 5-inch barrels, and the American version came with a 2- or 4-inch tube. With the war in full force, both models wore a sandblasted Parkerized exterior. Although some early guns were issued with checkered walnut grips with S&W medallions, most had grips made of plain, smooth walnut. All Victory models had square-butt frames, and lanyard rings also came standard. The weight of an unloaded 4-inch-barreled version was 34 ounces.

The revolver’s sights were fixed, with the front consisting of a half-moon blade forged integrally with the barrel, and the rear was a trough milled into the topstrap. The hammers sported narrow, knurled spurs, and the triggers were serrated. Unlike the rest of their Parkerized exteriors, these parts were casehardened.

Making Changes

During its production run, several minor design changes were introduced on the Smith & Wesson Victory model to facilitate increased production and, in one case, improve safety. After production of about 769,000 revolvers in the series, Smith & Wesson incorporated a new hammer-block safety system after receiving reports of a failure with the old system in which a dropped revolver fired.

With the introduction of this new hammer block, the factory changed the prefix on its numbering system from “V” to “VS” to allow for easy identification of revolvers. Partially completed revolvers—those with frames already numbered but of the old style—were upgraded with the new safety system, and an “S” was added to the beginning of their serial numbers, creating a third prefix—“SV”—within the Victory series’ wartime production run.

The last Smith & Wesson Victory model revolver, serial number VS811119, was produced in August of 1945. When Smith & Wesson resumed commercial production of the Military & Police model in late 1945, as the war had been won and the letter “V” was dropped from the serial number prefix. The first commercially produced M&P revolver assembled after war’s end bore serial number S811120.

About 850,000 Smith & Wesson Victory model revolvers of both chamberings were produced. Many of the lend-lease British revolvers found their way back to the United States, where they were rechambered for the more popular .38 Special cartridge. That conversion that didn’t work well because of the slightly larger diameter of the .38/200 round, which left rechambered cylinders somewhat oversized. I owned one of these converted revolvers in the 1970s, and although it was shootable, the spent cases were somewhat bulged and distorted, and the extraction of fired cases was often recalcitrant. For the S&W collector’s sake, I wish they’d have left these guns alone.

Personal Collection

The Smith & Wesson Victory model featured in this article is from my personal collection, where it’s resided since 1984. According to a letter of authenticity obtained from Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks, this six-shot revolver was shipped on May 16, 1944, to the U.S. Navy in Virginia. It’s typical in all respects, with its sandblasted Parkerized exterior and plain, unadorned walnut grips.

Although I wouldn’t call its exterior crudely finished, with its telltale mill marks and obvious lack of other surface preparation, it’s recognizable as a wartime production arm. As is typical within the serial number range of the revolver, the left side of the topstrap is marked “U.S. Property,” followed by the initials “G.H.D.,” which is the acceptance mark of Guy H. Drewry, ordnance officer at the time. The initial “P,” a proof marking, appears on the frame, cylinder and the underside of the barrel.

While lacking in aesthetics, this piece functioned smoothly and locked up as tightly as any Smith & Wesson revolver produced today, with minimal side-to-side cylinder play and fore and aft movement present. Its barrel/cylinder gap measured a borderline excessive 0.012 inches, but it had nice, smooth single- and double-action pull weights of 4.5 and 9.25 pounds, respectively.

Though the revolver bears a few mars on its finish and grips, those appear to be more in line with handling and storage dings rather than battle scars. There’s just a shadow of a cylinder drag line, and from that and all other appearances, the gun looks to have been relatively unused and fired little. During my ownership, I had never fired it. But that would soon change.

Shooting Impressions

Smith And Wesson Victory Model Serial Numbers Search

For much of WWII, the issued round for the Smith & Wesson Victory model (and any other .38 Special firearm, such as the Colt Commando revolver) would have had a 158-grain, full-steel-jacketed, copper-flash-coated bullet in compliance with the established rules of land warfare. From the 4-inch barrel of a Victory, the military loading of that projectile was reputed to travel about 850 fps at the muzzle. A 120- or 158-grain red-tipped tracer round was also standard issue for this revolver at that time, to be used by naval and marine aircrews for emergency signaling.

Not having any period ammunition, I selected two commercial round-nose .38 Special loadings from my ammunition stash: a 150-grain, copper-washed loading from Winchester’s Super-X line, and the other a 158-grain lead-projectile round from Federal. I also acquired a few military loadings to try, but those were head-stamped “RA” and “67,” indicating they were of much more modern manufacture. The loads also used a lighter 130-grain FMC projectile.

With targets set at 20 yards and my chronograph screens at 10 feet, I fired several five-shot groups with the commercial offerings but only two groups with the military rounds because of my limited supply. Groups with all the loadings formed in the 2.25- to 2.75-inch range, with each varying from my point of aim to one degree or another.

The 150-grain Winchester +P rounds hit about 5 inches above and 2 inches right of my hold at 20 yards. Hits with the heavier, slower Federal offering were just as high but well centered. My Victory revolver liked the newer, lighter-bullet Remington military loads the best, hitting quite close to my point of aim from the 20-yard mark. From 7 yards, it was easy to keep a quick six shots fired in double-action mode within the 4-inch bullseye I aimed at. As expected, the old warhorse functioned perfectly throughout the session.

Authentic Leather

Because many of the Smith & Wesson Victory model revolvers were used by U.S. Navy and Marine pilots and crews during WWII, it seemed only natural to showcase it in this article with a modern rendition of the holster it was most often issued with and carried in during the war. Because of the tight confines in military aircraft, the shoulder holster was the primary mode of carry for this weapon, as it kept the gun high, secure and out of the way, yet positioned so access was quick and easy.

El Paso Saddlery makes a superb rendering of this holster for many handguns with barrels from 3 to 8.375 inches long. Called the 1942 Tanker holster, it’s patterned closely after the M3 rig most often associated with this weapon. It’s an across-the-shoulder setup with a 1.5-inch-wide support strap fabricated from saddle-grade leather. This strap is sewn to the holster at one end and secured at the other by a buckle and D-ring, allowing adjustability for various body sizes or types of clothing. The main pouch is formed from one piece of leather folded over and sewn to accommodate the weapon it would carry.

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The backside of the holster is cut so it forms a back plate of sufficient size to form a barrier between the weapon and wearer, and to provide stability to the weapon and holster. It’s also a quick and efficient way to build a holster system, a highly desired trait in times of war. The revolver is secured in the pouch by a safety strap that fastens, like the original, with a lift-dot fastener. A second strap is sewn at the bottom of the holster for securing the system to your belt.

Although originals were unlined, El Paso Saddlery offers this upgrade. The contrasting pigskin, folded and sewn along the top of its pouch, adds a nice custom touch to the holster ensemble. A slot cut horizontally into the pouch (like that of an original) allows a little extra room to accommodate the weapon’s cylinder.

Offered plain or embossed with one of several military designations (like “US,” “USAF,” “USN” or “USMC”), mine came with the most commonly encountered “US” marking. When adjusted to your individual girth, this holster is easy and quick to put on and take off, and it carries the gun comfortably and accessibly. Like all products I’ve reviewed from El Paso Saddlery, the Tanker rig is made from high-quality materials, is extremely well assembled and fits my Victory revolver like it was sewn around it.

A basic Tanker for handguns in the 3- to 5-inch barrel range costs $119, with an extra $8 if barrels are longer. The lining will add $25, and if you’re looking for something really special, you can have yours basket-, border- or fish-scale stamped or carved in a floral pattern, and those extras are priced accordingly. The 1942 Tanker is available in russet or black. Although a replica of a military holster, today’s Tanker remains a great holster for hunters, pilots and drivers.

Smith And Wesson Model 10

Still On Duty

As it turns out, “Victory” was a pretty good name for these old revolvers, and the M&P series is still available today in Smith & Wesson’s Classic line. It’s still a workhorse capable of protecting yourself and your home.

Smith & Wesson Victory Specs

Smith & Wesson Victory Performance

Smith And Wesson Victory Model Serial Numbers Identification

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 20 yards.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Grips

For more information, visit smith-wesson.com. For more on the 1942 Tanker holster, visit epsaddlery.com.

Smith Wesson Model Number Search

This article is from “Military Surplus” 2018. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

Model 10 Revolver

The Smith & Wesson company was formed in 1852, in Norwich, Connecticut. The company's first offering was a lever-action repeating pistol. Moving forward from those beginnings, Smith & Wesson shaped innovations in the manufacturing of modern handguns. As of March 2011, Smith & Wesson offers approximately 110 different pistols of varied designs and features.

Examine the barrel of the Smith & Wesson pistol. Locate either 'Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Massachusetts' or 'Smith & Wesson; Houlton, ME' stamped on the barrel. This identification proves that the handgun is an authentic Smith & Wesson pistol.

Locate the serial number on the left side of the pistol's frame. The standard location for the serial number is above the trigger guard. Some serial numbers are located underneath the frame in front of the trigger guard. Others are on the rear of the frame, above the gun's grip.

Look up the pistol's full serial number -- including all letters and numbers -- in the back section of the 'Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson' book. These listings inform you of the pistol's date of manufacture, based on the serial number.

Items you will need

• Smith and Wesson pistol

• Smith & Wesson catalog

• Get a basic idea of whether your Smith & Wesson pistol was manufactured at a very early date or a later date by identifying the letters from A to Z in the serial number. The letter 'A' denotes a pistol manufactured at a very early date. The letters continue on through the alphabet, for pistols manufactured at later dates.

  The numbers in the Smith & Wesson serial numbers are random numbers.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Victory Serial Numbers List

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