S W 38 Victory Model Serial Number Lookup Extra Quality !!link!!

Locate the "V" prefixed serial number on the bottom of the grip.

Serial number dating can only provide approximate ship dates—not exact manufacture dates. For precise information, you must obtain a factory letter from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. The letter will provide the exact date the revolver left the factory and its original destination.

The Smith & Wesson Victory Model is a wartime variant of the Military & Police (M&P) revolver (later designated the Model 10) produced from 1942 to 1945. Identifiable by its , it served as a primary sidearm for U.S. Navy/Marine aircrews and Allied forces under the Lend-Lease program. This report details the specific serial ranges, distinguishing quality markers, and authentication steps for "extra quality" collector-grade specimens. 2. Serial Number Chronology and Identification s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality

To perform an extra-quality serial number inspection, avoid relying on internal assembly numbers. Smith & Wesson stamped different numbers in multiple places during production, which often confuses first-time owners.

This is the primary and official location. Locate the "V" prefixed serial number on the

(Premium or advanced tier)

: Revolvers produced in 1945 (approximately starting at serial 769,001) feature an "S" or "SV" prefix, indicating an upgraded, positive hammer block safety designed after an accidental discharge incident on a Navy vessel. Assembly Numbers The letter will provide the exact date the

The top strap should read “SMITH & WESSON .38 S&W CTG” (or .38 S&W SPECIAL on SV guns). British Commonwealth models will have “.38-767” or crown-over-BNP proofs. Faint, buffed-off markings = over-polished junk.

Transition to the prefix in December 1944 due to safety modifications. 1945 VS769,001 to ~VS850,000+

If the revolver was part of a specific British contract, it might have a "VS" prefix (Victory SV).

It is vital to know that the Victory Model was produced in two entirely different chamberings depending on which nation ordered them. The British Service Revolver (BSR)