Demilled Victory Models

Last night, I was reading in John Henwood's M&P book (http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/08/americas-right-arm.html) about the widespread demilling of Victory Models after WWII, and their subsequent sale as scrap. I suddenly found myself wanting at east one of these desecrated revolvers it own as a conversation piece and display as an example of good intentions gone bad. I would want one that was complete, that had not been scavanged for parts or turned into an arts and crafts project (or is at least reversible into a recognizable demilled Victory).

Are these still available at all? Does anyone have one or two they would be willing to sell at a fair price? Since they are "demilled" and no longer functional in any way, do the same shipping/transfer regulations apply for interstate trade?

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=43713&stc=1&d=1156107363

What the hell did they do THAT for?

I have one just like that one EXCEPT mine is in pristine condition. Marked U. S. Navy on the topstrap.

That picture makes me want to cry!

What the hell did they do THAT for?Apparently, one of the clauses in S&W's contract with the US government prior to building the Victory Models was that they would not be sold as surplus to the American public after the war. S&W had been bitten hard on their post WW1 gun sales by all of the M1917s flooding the market, and they did not want a repeat performance. Thus, the US government could give the surplus guns to other countries, move them around to other agencies, but were unable to outright sell them to the public. Post war M&P sales flourished. Extra Victory Models were destroyed.

After World War Two we had plenty of Victory models floating around so at least a fair number were sold as surplus. Then in addition many more came back from overseas. Then there were ones that had been sold to police departments and defense contractors that eventually got dumped.

What the hell did they do THAT for?

Another big reason was that president Lydon B. Johnson ordered that all surplus or unserviceable handguns be destroyed rather then sold in 1968.

That included new Hammerli Free Pistols at $1,500 a pop... :what:

The Democrat's idea of your tax dollars at work... :banghead: