US, WW2-c.1944, Smith & Wesson Victory Model .38 Special U.S. Military Revolver, Serial No. V531338, U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D., 6-Inch Barrel, UK Deactivated - 27

*US, WW2-c.1944, Smith & Wesson Victory Model .38 Special U.S. Military Revolver, Serial No. V531338, U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D., 6-Inch Barrel, UK Deactivated*

- Genuine 1944 Smith & Wesson Victory Model chambered in .38 Smith & Wesson Special for U.S. military service.
- Less common 6-inch U.S. military contract barrel.
- Correct U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. ownership marking and U.S. Ordnance Flaming Bomb acceptance stamp.
- Wartime V-prefix serial number V531338 with original military lanyard ring.
- Original smooth walnut service grips.
- Desirable pre-EU/UK deactivation retaining cocking, dry-firing, opening cylinder and functioning ejector rod.
- Complete with its original London Proof House Deactivation Certificate dated 19 November 2012.

An original Second World War Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolver manufactured in approximately 1944 for the United States military. Built on Smith & Wesson's long-established Military & Police K-Frame, the Victory Model became one of the principal American military sidearms of the Second World War, serving with the U.S. Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

This example is chambered in the correct .38 Smith & Wesson Special cartridge and retains the less commonly encountered 6-inch barrel, together with its original smooth walnut service grips and military lanyard ring.

The butt is correctly serial numbered V531338, the wartime “V” prefix identifying it as a Victory Model. The right side of the frame carries the large Smith & Wesson trade mark and "MADE IN U.S.A." The right side of the barrel is correctly stamped “38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG”, confirming the revolver’s original chambering in .38 Smith & Wesson Special, while the left side is roll marked “SMITH & WESSON.” The top of the barrel carries the full Smith & Wesson address and patent legend:
"SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. /
PATENTED FEB. 6.06, SEPT. 14.09, DEC. 29.14"
On the barrel rib immediately above the cylinder, the revolver is additionally crisply marked “U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D.” together with the U.S. Ordnance Flaming Bomb acceptance stamp, recording its inspection and acceptance into U.S. military service under Brigadier General Guy H. Drewry.

The left side of the frame additionally bears a circled CB factory inspection mark, while further wartime inspection stamps remain visible around the frame and cylinder. The cylinder is numbered 165046, while the inside of the frame carries assembly number 874977. These are factory assembly numbers used during manufacture and are entirely consistent with wartime Smith & Wesson production.

Approximate Measurements: Barrel Length: 15.2 cm (6 inches)

History Note:
The Smith & Wesson Victory Model was introduced in 1942 as the wartime development of the company's long-established Military & Police revolver. As the United States rapidly expanded its armed forces following its entry into the Second World War, Smith & Wesson simplified production to meet unprecedented military demand, adopting a parkerised or sandblasted blue wartime finish and introducing the distinctive "V" prefix serial number from which the Victory Model derives its name.

The serial number V531338 dates this revolver to 1944, placing its manufacture during the height of Allied operations in both Europe and the Pacific. The serial also confirms it as a pre-"VS" example, manufactured before Smith & Wesson introduced the improved hammer-block safety and accompanying "VS" prefix later in 1944. As such, it represents the original wartime Victory Model configuration.

The barrel markings, Smith & Wesson trade mark, 38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG calibre designation, U.S. PROPERTY G.H.D. ownership stamp, Flaming Bomb acceptance mark and serial number remain clear and easily legible throughout. The original smooth walnut grips show normal age-related handling wear while remaining free from significant damage, and the original military lanyard ring remains fitted to the butt.

Mechanically, the revolver retains its desirable earlier deactivated handling characteristics. It cocks correctly, dry-fires, the cylinder swings open normally and the ejector rod operates correctly. The action is, however, noticeably stiff and the cylinder can occasionally bind or jam during operation. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition report.

Deactivation Details:
Deactivated to desirable pre-EU/UK specification and accompanied by its original London Proof House Deactivation Certificate, numbered DA 49854, dated 19 November 2012. The certificate records the revolver as a Smith & Wesson Revolver, serial number 531338, with a 6-inch barrel and country of origin USA. As was common Proof House practice, only the numeric portion of the serial number was recorded, omitting the original wartime "V" prefix.

The revolver retains its original handling characteristics, including a functioning opening cylinder, operating ejector rod, cocking action and dry-firing mechanism, features no longer permitted under current UK/EU deactivation standards.

Please note: the accompanying certificate records the calibre as .38 S&W, whereas the revolver itself is correctly factory roll marked "38 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG", confirming it is chambered in .38 Smith & Wesson Special. This is a well-known clerical error occasionally encountered on older Proof House certificates where the similarly named .38 S&W and .38 Smith & Wesson Special cartridges were incorrectly recorded.

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