S W 38 Victory Model Serial Number Lookup Extra Quality -
Before tracking down a specific manufacturing date, it is crucial to understand the baseline factory configurations. Deviations in these attributes can signal aftermarket alterations, impacting the firearm's total value. U.S. Military Issue Variant British / Commonwealth Variant (BSR) .38 S&W Special (Most Common) .38 S&W (.38/200 British) Barrel Lengths 2-inch or 4-inch (Standard) 5-inch (Standard) Factory Finish Sandblasted Parkerized (Dull Gray/Green) Black Oxide / Parkerized Grip Material Smooth, uncheckered walnut Smooth, uncheckered walnut Hardware Lanyard swivel ring attached to butt Lanyard swivel ring attached to butt How to Locate and Identify the Correct Serial Number
Is the barrel stamped .38 S&W CTG (5-inch) or .38 S&W Special CTG (4-inch)?
Ensure the cylinder, barrel, and frame numbers all match. Non-matching parts significantly drop the value. s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality
1️⃣ Most Victory Models produced during WWII have a serial number starting with a "V" (e.g., V235XXX). These are the classic US service revolvers.
: Often penciled or stamped into the wood on original grips. Before tracking down a specific manufacturing date, it
The Ultimate Smith & Wesson .38 Victory Model Serial Number Lookup Guide
To perform a successful serial number lookup, you will need to locate the serial number on your revolver. Typically, the serial number is stamped on the frame, beneath the butt plate, or on the cylinder. Once you have found the serial number, you can use the following steps: Military Issue Variant British / Commonwealth Variant (BSR)
Victory Models are characterized by a serial number that begins with the letter "V" (e.g., V123456).
3️⃣ Some early models have no "V" at all, falling right after the standard Military & Police series (roughly sn 800,000 to 1,000,000).
The "V" stands for Victory. Production followed this general timeline based on the serial range: Hunters House Serial Prefix Production Year Key Feature V1 to ~V769,000 1942–1944 Standard war production. S769,001 to S811,119 1944–1945 Introduction of improved hammer block. SV769,001 to SV811,119 Modified lockwork/new safety hammer block. Identifying "Extra Quality" & Key Features
