Description
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Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this incredible double/single action revolver today for a penny start auction, this is the Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police "Victory" Model!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: .38 Military & Police "Victory" Model
Serial: V280868
Range of Manufacture: 1942-1945
Caliber: .38 S&W Special
Finish: Sandblasted Black Magic Finish
Barrel Length: 4" Pinned barrel
Optics/Sights: Round blade front with Fixed square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Black/Yellow synthetic grips with checkering
Action: Double/Single Action
Markings: Standard / Top strap stamped with a flaming bomb and "U.S.Property" followed by "G.H.D." which is the acceptance mark of Guy H. Drery, an ordnance officer. The cylinder, bottom barrel flat, and butt are all stamped with matching serial numbers.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
While all of the .38 revolvers made by Smith & Wesson during World War II were dubbed “Victory Model,” the term as generally used today refers to the .38 S&W Spl. 4"-barreled revolvers as made under U.S. Navy and U.S. Ordnance Dept. contracts. The Navy initially bypassed the standard procurement procedure of ordering its small arms under the auspices of the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept. and issued production contracts directly to Smith & Wesson. This course of action, however, soon resulted in problems, and Ordnance eventually got involved.
“The contracts at Smith & Wesson for Caliber .38 Special Revolvers were taken over by Ordnance, ASF (Army Service Force) in early 1942. Under Navy contracts, no inspector was stationed at the plant, and the quality of revolvers suffered as a result. The Resident Inspector of Ordnance at Smith & Wesson worked under the handicap of having no drawings or gages with which to conduct a thorough inspection. The manufacturer had no complete set of drawings for the revolver, so Ordnance inspection consisted of a visual and manual examination, function, proof, and target firing. During the early production, as much as 30% of a day’s production was rejected for various defects.”
With the increased oversight by Ordnance, including more stringent inspection standards, the quality of the Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers continued to improve. The .38 Spl. Revolvers built under Navy contract had 4" barrels and the standard finish was a sandblasted black magic finish. The serial number, having a “V” (Victory) prefix, was stamped on the butt. A lanyard ring was also attached to the butt. Some early production .38 Spl. Victory Model revolvers were not stamped with Navy markings at the factory. In most cases, these guns were subsequently stamped “Property of U.S. Navy” on the left side of the frame. As production continued, the Navy markings were factory-applied to the top strap above the cylinder.
Approximately 65,000 Victory Model revolvers were purchased by the Navy directly from Smith & Wesson. After Army Ordnance took over procurement, the marking was changed to “U.S. Property G.H.D.” The “G.H.D.” marking signified U.S. Army Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Guy H. Drewry, head of the Springfield Ordnance District (SOD) in which Smith & Wesson was located.
Drewry’s initials will be found on other types of arms made in the SOD, including Winchester M1 Garand rifles, M1 carbines and military shotguns. It is sometimes believed that such initials represent the person who actually inspected the guns, but that was not the case. Rather, it indicates that the arms were inspected by Ordnance personnel operating under Col. Drewry’s authority.
According to the note sent by the owner, "This Smith & Wesson Victory .38 revolver was issued to my father as he served in the US Navy as the radio operator on a WWIII LST (Landing Ship Tank) in the Japanese theater. My dad told me that he had orders to keep his sidearm with him while on duty in the radio shack. I suspect that was probably due to preserving the security of transmitted and received top secret communications. In my research of this gun, I learned that it was issued to the US Naval personnel, especially pilots. It was also issued to the British but in a special .38 caliber. Additionally, I read that it was capable of firing signal flare ammunition. I have fired this pistol successfully with "antique" surplus and modern .38 caliber ammunition as well as .38 +P ammunition. Because of the frame's heftiness, it was capable of handling these loads."
This surviving specimen remains recognizable as a wartime production firearm. As is typical within the serial number range of the revolver, the left side of the top strap is marked "U.S.Property" followed by the initials "G.H.D." which is the acceptance mark of Guy H. Drewry, an ordnance officer at the time. The initial "P" a proof marking, appears on the frame, cylinder and the underside of the barrel and also includes the lanyard loop for tethering. Included is a period holster that held the pistol.
Contents:
This example will ship with a genuine leather holster and a note sent by the Owner!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: .38 Military & Police "Victory" Model
Serial: V280868
Range of Manufacture: 1942-1945
Caliber: .38 S&W Special
Finish: Sandblasted Black Magic Finish
Barrel Length: 4" Pinned barrel
Optics/Sights: Round blade front with Fixed square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Black/Yellow synthetic grips with checkering
Action: Double/Single Action
Markings: Standard / Top strap stamped with a flaming bomb and "U.S.Property" followed by "G.H.D." which is the acceptance mark of Guy H. Drery, an ordnance officer. The cylinder, bottom barrel flat, and butt are all stamped with matching serial numbers.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
While all of the .38 revolvers made by Smith & Wesson during World War II were dubbed “Victory Model,” the term as generally used today refers to the .38 S&W Spl. 4"-barreled revolvers as made under U.S. Navy and U.S. Ordnance Dept. contracts. The Navy initially bypassed the standard procurement procedure of ordering its small arms under the auspices of the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept. and issued production contracts directly to Smith & Wesson. This course of action, however, soon resulted in problems, and Ordnance eventually got involved.
“The contracts at Smith & Wesson for Caliber .38 Special Revolvers were taken over by Ordnance, ASF (Army Service Force) in early 1942. Under Navy contracts, no inspector was stationed at the plant, and the quality of revolvers suffered as a result. The Resident Inspector of Ordnance at Smith & Wesson worked under the handicap of having no drawings or gages with which to conduct a thorough inspection. The manufacturer had no complete set of drawings for the revolver, so Ordnance inspection consisted of a visual and manual examination, function, proof, and target firing. During the early production, as much as 30% of a day’s production was rejected for various defects.”
With the increased oversight by Ordnance, including more stringent inspection standards, the quality of the Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers continued to improve. The .38 Spl. Revolvers built under Navy contract had 4" barrels and the standard finish was a sandblasted black magic finish. The serial number, having a “V” (Victory) prefix, was stamped on the butt. A lanyard ring was also attached to the butt. Some early production .38 Spl. Victory Model revolvers were not stamped with Navy markings at the factory. In most cases, these guns were subsequently stamped “Property of U.S. Navy” on the left side of the frame. As production continued, the Navy markings were factory-applied to the top strap above the cylinder.
Approximately 65,000 Victory Model revolvers were purchased by the Navy directly from Smith & Wesson. After Army Ordnance took over procurement, the marking was changed to “U.S. Property G.H.D.” The “G.H.D.” marking signified U.S. Army Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Guy H. Drewry, head of the Springfield Ordnance District (SOD) in which Smith & Wesson was located.
Drewry’s initials will be found on other types of arms made in the SOD, including Winchester M1 Garand rifles, M1 carbines and military shotguns. It is sometimes believed that such initials represent the person who actually inspected the guns, but that was not the case. Rather, it indicates that the arms were inspected by Ordnance personnel operating under Col. Drewry’s authority.
According to the note sent by the owner, "This Smith & Wesson Victory .38 revolver was issued to my father as he served in the US Navy as the radio operator on a WWIII LST (Landing Ship Tank) in the Japanese theater. My dad told me that he had orders to keep his sidearm with him while on duty in the radio shack. I suspect that was probably due to preserving the security of transmitted and received top secret communications. In my research of this gun, I learned that it was issued to the US Naval personnel, especially pilots. It was also issued to the British but in a special .38 caliber. Additionally, I read that it was capable of firing signal flare ammunition. I have fired this pistol successfully with "antique" surplus and modern .38 caliber ammunition as well as .38 +P ammunition. Because of the frame's heftiness, it was capable of handling these loads."
This surviving specimen remains recognizable as a wartime production firearm. As is typical within the serial number range of the revolver, the left side of the top strap is marked "U.S.Property" followed by the initials "G.H.D." which is the acceptance mark of Guy H. Drewry, an ordnance officer at the time. The initial "P" a proof marking, appears on the frame, cylinder and the underside of the barrel and also includes the lanyard loop for tethering. Included is a period holster that held the pistol.
Contents:
This example will ship with a genuine leather holster and a note sent by the Owner!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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About Us
From a small town hobby, to a leader in the investment and collector grade firearms industry. Bryant Ridge Firearms is here to offer the best in quality and customer service when you are looking to unload your collector grade firearm collection.
