: Matte sandblasted phosphate (Parkerized) or a dull smooth black oxide (Binghamite).
Look up the serial number on a Smith & Wesson .38 Victory Model, and you find a date. By using the range tables, understanding the factory markings, and checking the details in this guide, you can understand its history, its value, and its legacy. From the battlefields of Europe to the islands of the Pacific, the Victory Model served with distinction. When you hold a clean, all-matching, original-condition example, you are holding a piece of living history—that is the ultimate "extra quality."
: Numbers visible inside the crane or yoke area when the cylinder is swung open are temporary factory assembly numbers, not the serial number. 2. Decode the Serial Number Prefix
For a definitive, specialized lookup, many owners use the Smith & Wesson Forum or, for maximum accuracy, a historical letter from the S&W Historical Foundation.
Original finish and matching numbers on the barrel, cylinder, and butt are key for high value.
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.
, with production officially ending on August 27, 1945, at serial number Serial Range (Approx.) Finish & Features Early 1942 V1 – V40,000 Bright or brushed blue finish Mid 1942 – 1944 V40,001 – V769,000
If you are in the market for a Victory Model, follow these steps to avoid costly mistakes:
If you share the (using "X" for the last two digits, like V123,4XX), the markings on the topstrap , and the barrel length , I can help you find more specific information about its history and rarity. Classics: Smith & Wesson's Victory Revolver in .38 S&W
Revolvers in the 700,000 to 1,000,000 range without a "V" prefix were produced just before the official Victory series started in April 1942. "Extra Quality" & Authentication Markers Smith & Wesson Serial Numbers
While Smith & Wesson has not released an exact, public daily database for Victory model serial numbers, researchers have determined general production windows based on the "V" prefix ranges. V1 - approx. V100,000 1943: V100,001 - V400,000 (Approx.) 1944: V400,001 - V600,000 (Approx.) 1945 (End of Production): Up to VS811,119
The model earned its nickname from the "V" (Victory) prefix added to its serial numbers, starting in April 1942. This single letter marked a new era for the company and the creation of a collectible icon.
: Matte sandblasted phosphate (Parkerized) or a dull smooth black oxide (Binghamite).
Look up the serial number on a Smith & Wesson .38 Victory Model, and you find a date. By using the range tables, understanding the factory markings, and checking the details in this guide, you can understand its history, its value, and its legacy. From the battlefields of Europe to the islands of the Pacific, the Victory Model served with distinction. When you hold a clean, all-matching, original-condition example, you are holding a piece of living history—that is the ultimate "extra quality."
: Numbers visible inside the crane or yoke area when the cylinder is swung open are temporary factory assembly numbers, not the serial number. 2. Decode the Serial Number Prefix
For a definitive, specialized lookup, many owners use the Smith & Wesson Forum or, for maximum accuracy, a historical letter from the S&W Historical Foundation. s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality
Original finish and matching numbers on the barrel, cylinder, and butt are key for high value.
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.
, with production officially ending on August 27, 1945, at serial number Serial Range (Approx.) Finish & Features Early 1942 V1 – V40,000 Bright or brushed blue finish Mid 1942 – 1944 V40,001 – V769,000 : Matte sandblasted phosphate (Parkerized) or a dull
If you are in the market for a Victory Model, follow these steps to avoid costly mistakes:
If you share the (using "X" for the last two digits, like V123,4XX), the markings on the topstrap , and the barrel length , I can help you find more specific information about its history and rarity. Classics: Smith & Wesson's Victory Revolver in .38 S&W
Revolvers in the 700,000 to 1,000,000 range without a "V" prefix were produced just before the official Victory series started in April 1942. "Extra Quality" & Authentication Markers Smith & Wesson Serial Numbers From the battlefields of Europe to the islands
While Smith & Wesson has not released an exact, public daily database for Victory model serial numbers, researchers have determined general production windows based on the "V" prefix ranges. V1 - approx. V100,000 1943: V100,001 - V400,000 (Approx.) 1944: V400,001 - V600,000 (Approx.) 1945 (End of Production): Up to VS811,119
The model earned its nickname from the "V" (Victory) prefix added to its serial numbers, starting in April 1942. This single letter marked a new era for the company and the creation of a collectible icon.