Real nice Victory Model find today!

[rcmodel]

Picked up this S&W Victory Model from an estate today.
It belonged to a Hellcat pilot on the USS Franklin aircraft carrier.

My father rode the USS Franklin to the Philippines on it's shakedown cruse in 1944 after being home on leave for my birth, and the ship was bombed and almost sank a short time later.
http://www.ussfranklin.org/

Anyway, this gun was made in early 1944, is almost unfired, squeaky clean inside, and about as nice as they get.
Apparently, it went on the USS Franklin when it was commissioned, and came home fully loaded, in a sea bag!
I got three WWII Rem-UMC FMJ shells with it
The vets Grandson-in-law shot the other three about a month ago to see if it worked!!!

I'm real happy to have found it for $500, especially with the history to a ship my dad rode off to war on!





rcmodel

 

[JoeMal]

Looks like a great find! Great condition for being 65+ years old...the grips look flawless and smooth

 

[cyclopsshooter]

droool- lucky dog... only victory model i have been able to snag has the us property rollmark ground off..

 

[Cocked & Locked]

That's a fine looking Victory Model S&W you've got!

The one pictured below was given to my wife and I by her mother. It was my wife's dad's Navy issued Victory Model. He also was WWII Navy Pilot.

Several years ago when my wife got her concealed carry permit, this is the handgun she qualified with.

 

[Walkalong]

Very cool.

 

[788Ham]

Congrats rc ! Nice find, also about the Franklin. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[Toforo]

Picked up this S&W Victory Model from an estate today.
It belonged to a Hellcat pilot on the USS Franklin aircraft carrier.

My father rode the USS Franklin to the Philippines on it's shakedown cruse in 1944 after being home on leave for my birth, and the ship was bombed and almost sank a short time later.
http://www.ussfranklin.org/

Anyway, this gun was made in early 1944, is almost unfired, squeaky clean inside, and about as nice as they get.
Apparently, it went on the USS Franklin when it was commissioned, and came home fully loaded, in a sea bag!
I got three WWII Rem-UMC FMJ shells with it
Grandson-in-law shot the other three about a month ago to see if it worked!!!

I'm real happy to have found it for $500, especially with the history to a ship my dad rode off to war on!





rcmodel

NICE find RC - but I think I've seen this pistol before!

 

[madcratebuilder]

Very nice Victory. Does it have the Eagle w/ three star cartouche and flaming bomb cartouche? US NAVY on top strap?

 

[rcmodel]

NICE find RC - but I think I've seen this pistol before

Nope. I just got it yesterday.
You might be thinking about the Colt Commando I picked up last fall.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6790131&postcount=9

Does it have the Eagle w/ three star cartouche and flaming bomb cartouche? US NAVY on top strap?

No. Just the more common "Bomb - U.S. Property - GHD" stamp on the top strap.

rc

 

[oldfool]

super nice, rc !
doubly so for the personal connection

color me envious

 

[Shear_stress]

Very cool not just to have the revolver, but to know its history.

 

[Toforo]

Quote:
NICE find RC - but I think I've seen this pistol before
Nope. I just got it yesterday.

Nah - I'm thinking about this one......

......you posted it over at KTOG too, lol

 

[420Stainless]

An absolute beauty. Glad you were able to catch that one.

 

[TexasBill]

That's a good-looking revolver and it's extremely cool that you also know its provenance. I am green-eyed with envy.

Y'know, next year will be the 70th anniversary of the first production of the Victory model. It sure would be nice if Smith & Wesson came out with a commemorative Victory model.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Quote:
Does it have the Eagle w/ three star cartouche and flaming bomb cartouche? US NAVY on top strap?
No. Just the more common "Bomb - U.S. Property - GHD" stamp on the top strap.

rc

It's one of the nicest if not the nicest Victory I have seen rc. Having the history with it is priceless, I too am green with envy. Congrats!

I recently picked up this $100 Navy marked Vic, all the cartouche marks, pristine bore, but sadly it wore full size grips at one time and they left their mark.

 

[bannockburn]

That is just an awesome find rc, especially with the unique historical perspective with your father. Definitely some sort of great karma going on with this Victory Model.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Nice snag /save, were others bidding?

I've seen a few rough Victory Models for sale at $400 + and would definately have paid $500 for one in that condition.

Heres to folks that store firearms properly/luckily for decades then sell them.

 

[rcmodel]

Nice snag /save, were others bidding?

No bidding involved.

His daughter-in-law ask me to make her an offer a couple of months ago.
I offered $400 as the gun had been left in it's holster, dirty, for 60+ years, and I couldn't get a good handle on condition until I cleaned it up.

Anyway, she called and offered to sell it again for $500 the other day, so I took a gamble, and it most certainly paid off when the dirt & grime came off!!

rc

 

[Husker_Fan]

Congratulations rc. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

 

[Guillermo]

RC,

That is wo question the prettiest victory model I have ever seen.

Add the history and that is a truly spectacular find.

I am very happy that it found such a good home. A home where it will be cherished as the jewel that it is.

A gorgeous piece of history owned by a man that appreciates it.

Simply perfect!!!

 

[Shienhausser]

Im very jealous. I hope it stays with you for a long time.

 

[trikster]

Simply beautiful. I thought mine was nice...