S W 38 Victory Model Serial Number Lookup Extra Quality [ Real - 2024 ]

Visible underneath the barrel when looking from the bottom.

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The Model 38 Victory was produced with a 5-inch barrel and a 6-shot cylinder. It features a blued finish, with a rounded butt and a smooth grip. The revolver was designed for military and law enforcement use, and many were issued to police departments and military units during World War II.

This is the official serial number of record. The lanyard loop may partially obscure it. Secondary Locations (For Matching Parts Check) s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality

Some Victory Models were shipped without any military property marks at all. These typically represent revolvers produced for the U.S. Navy without standard markings. As one collector noted, a factory-lettered Navy Victory Model with serial number 994198 had no government markings whatsoever, yet a factory letter confirmed its U.S. Navy shipment. Such anomalies are valuable to collectors precisely because they deviate from standard patterns.

On original wooden grips, the serial number was often penciled or stamped inside.

Victory Model production began around serial in early 1942 and ended at approximately VS811,119 in August 1945. V1 to ~V200,000: Early production (1942 to mid-1943). Visible underneath the barrel when looking from the bottom

Earlier models often have superior finish and tighter tolerances.

: Marks like "Crown over BNP" (Birmingham Nitro Proof) or tons-per-square-inch pressure ratings indicate the gun was cleared for commercial sale in the UK before export. 5. Collector Value and "Extra Quality" Factors

Original wartime parkerizing is thin, gray-green, and slightly chalky. Post-war commercial re-blues are shiny and deep. Shiny = value cut in half. Use a magnet on the aluminum grip adapter (if present)—real ones are steel. It features a blued finish, with a rounded

While Smith & Wesson has not released an exact, public daily database for Victory model serial numbers, researchers have determined general production windows based on the "V" prefix ranges. V1 - approx. V100,000 1943: V100,001 - V400,000 (Approx.) 1944: V400,001 - V600,000 (Approx.) 1945 (End of Production): Up to VS811,119

While there is no official S&W free online registry, the Smith & Wesson Forum's Victory Model Database is an extensive community resource that can often provide approximate ship dates and configuration information. You can post your serial number in the forum's "Hand Ejectors" section with photographs for community assistance. The database maintainers also accept direct contributions to help expand their reference knowledge.

The Victory Model is a variation of the S&W .38 Hand Ejector Model 10. It earned its name from the added to the serial number, signifying the "Victory" over the Axis powers. Key Features of the Victory Model:

Note: You may also find the number stamped on the underside of the barrel, the rear face of the cylinder, and the inside of the ejector star. In a high-value "extra quality" specimen, all these numbers should match. Step 2: Decoding the Serial Number Range

Here are some extra quality details about the S&W Model 38 Victory: