Jrfoxx -
Yep, there are Navy marked victories. The one with the stamping on the sideplate like above is the early type, and rarer. Later ones just had "Property U.S. Navy" on the top strap left hand side (the same place the leased British models have "U.S. Property" stamped on them). Both Navy variants command a premium over plain US victory models, and thus it's important to avoid some fakes that are out there. There is a book called "US Handguns of WWII: secondary pistols and handguns" or something like that, by Charlie Pate. It is the reference. The "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" also has a page of two of details, but not as much as Pate. Learning the serial sequence/dates, and how to avoid the .38 S&W chambered British models are the major things to know about buying a proper, unmolested Victory.
Actually that would make a good sticky for this forum; maybe in a while I could compile tips about that and do that.
Thanks a lot, kamerer. I had never heard of the Navy Victory before, and know that I know it exists, and being a C&R nut, as well as having been in the Navy myself, now I have to get one. Thanks for costing me a bunch of money
Yep, there are Navy marked victories. The one with the stamping on the sideplate like above is the early type, and rarer. Later ones just had "Property U.S. Navy" on the top strap left hand side (the same place the leased British models have "U.S. Property" stamped on them). Both Navy variants command a premium over plain US victory models, and thus it's important to avoid some fakes that are out there. There is a book called "US Handguns of WWII: secondary pistols and handguns" or something like that, by Charlie Pate. It is the reference. The "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" also has a page of two of details, but not as much as Pate. Learning the serial sequence/dates, and how to avoid the .38 S&W chambered British models are the major things to know about buying a proper, unmolested Victory.
Actually that would make a good sticky for this forum; maybe in a while I could compile tips about that and do that.