38 S&W Special CTG - YOM

[264swedmoor]

The s/n is 506xxx with a V, but the V is stamped away from the s/n so it does not immediately precede the s/n. I gather that this means that it was around during WW2 but I recall seeing s/ns in the high 470xxx range with owners claiming that they were made in the 1920s. 470xxx to 506xxx is only about 35,000 units (assuming uninterrupted sequential numbering) which could easily have been reached pre-war, I think.

So, the question: what's the ballpark manufacture date of a 38 S&W Special CTG with a s/n beginning with 506xxx?

I'd rather not spend $100 buying a certificate of authenticity just to learn the year of manufacture.

 

[J-Bar]

I am not an expert. I have a copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition. On page 487, under ".38/200 and .38 Special Victory Models", serial numbers V1-V811119 were made from 1942 - 1945. So if interpolation works, the ballpark would be 1943-44. That's a guess, and a big ballpark.

If your revolver is not a Victory model and is a .38 Special Hand Ejector M & P: Serial numbers 241704 - 700000 were made from 1915 to 1942. A somewhat larger ballpark.

You pays your money and you takes your chance.

 

[Monac]

I guess I came in late. Are we assuming from the V prefix to the serial number that this is a Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolver from WWII? And that YOM means Year Of Manufacture? I apoligize if I am being dense.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

The 'V' should be to one side of the swivel and the numbers on the other.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

First of all, 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG is the call out of the cartridge the revolver is chambered for, it is not the name of the revolver, CTG simply stands for Cartridge. 38 S&W Special is the same as 38 Special, since S&W developed the cartridge, they always mark barrels this way.






The correct name of the revolver is 38 Military and Police, "Victory" Model.






The V is on the other side of the lanyard hole from the rest of the serial number. But the V is considered part of the serial number.






About 242,291 Victory Models were made from 1942 until 1945. Anyone who claims they were made earlier is full of hooey.

But the 38 Military and Police was first made in 1899, just not the Victory Model, so that may be what those guys are referring too.


Serial numbers ran from V1 to V769000.

In 1944 a sailor was killed in a shipboard accident when a Victory Model fell to the deck of a warship. The hammer block inside the revolver had failed, and S&W undertook a crash program to redesign the hammer block.

Victory Models with the new, safer hammer block received a SV serial number prefix, indicating the new hammer block was inside. Serial numbers SV769001 through SV811832 completed the Victory Model series.

Your V506xxx Victory Model would have shipped sometime between 1942 and 1944 when the new hammer block and SV Prefix came about.

If you want to nail it down further than that you will have to spend the $100.

 

[Jim Watson]

The "Victory Model" was just S&W's way to keep from running serial numbers above 1000000. There is no difference in the guns, V6 is the same as 999999.
They did stamp no 1000000 and finish it to prewar standard polished blue, along with V1 - V5 for presentation to government and defense industry VIPs.

 

[trackskippy]

There must be some variations in how they stamped the numbers. I have a 4" 38 Special that has the V right next to the number (V123xxx) on one side of the lanyard, and a star and ordnance bomb on the other. That gun doesnt have any "property" makings on it either. As I understand it, some of these were not issued to the military, and were used by guards here in the states.

I also have a couple of Brit proofed 5" M&P's chambered in 38 S&W (38/200). I'll have to dig them out and see how they were stamped.

 

[264swedmoor]

I guess I came in late. Are we assuming from the V prefix to the serial number that this is a Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolver from WWII? And that YOM means Year Of Manufacture? I apoligize if I am being dense.

Yes. Sorry, I was being lazy.

 

[264swedmoor]

Howdy

First of all, 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG is the call out of the cartridge the revolver is chambered for, it is not the name of the revolver, CTG simply stands for Cartridge. 38 S&W Special is the same as 38 Special, since S&W developed the cartridge, they always mark barrels this way.

View attachment 1090116




The correct name of the revolver is 38 Military and Police, "Victory" Model.

View attachment 1090117




The V is on the other side of the lanyard hole from the rest of the serial number. But the V is considered part of the serial number.

View attachment 1090118




About 242,291 Victory Models were made from 1942 until 1945. Anyone who claims they were made earlier is full of hooey.

But the 38 Military and Police was first made in 1899, just not the Victory Model, so that may be what those guys are referring too.


Serial numbers ran from V1 to V769000.

In 1944 a sailor was killed in a shipboard accident when a Victory Model fell to the deck of a warship. The hammer block inside the revolver had failed, and S&W undertook a crash program to redesign the hammer block.

Victory Models with the new, safer hammer block received a SV serial number prefix, indicating the new hammer block was inside. Serial numbers SV769001 through SV811832 completed the Victory Model series.

Your V506xxx Victory Model would have shipped sometime between 1942 and 1944 when the new hammer block and SV Prefix came about.

If you want to nail it down further than that you will have to spend the $100.

The V is indeed on the other side of the lanyard and the V is struck over a W marking as well, just rotated 90*.

 

[Monac]

Yes. Sorry, I was being lazy.

Not at all. After all, I guessed what you meant. But I wanted to make things easier for people who hadn't had their morning coffe yet.