S W 38 Victory Model Serial Number Lookup Extra Quality
If you are holding a Victory Model, the serial number is the key to its history.
Where to find it:
The Serial Number Ranges:
Example Lookup: If your gun is stamped V235,000, it was likely produced in mid-to-late 1942. If your gun is stamped V750,000, it is a late-war production (1944/45).
If you are looking to verify the specific history of a serial number, you can contact the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. They have the original factory ledgers and can provide a "History Letter" for a fee. This letter will confirm the exact shipping date and destination (e.g., "Shipped to the U.S. Navy Depot, Brooklyn, NY").
Safety Warning: Many Victory Models were sent to the UK and rechambered for the .38-200 cartridge. If your cylinder has been shaved (look for a step on the rear of the cylinder), the gun was likely modified to fire .38 Special in a .38 S&W chamber. This is generally considered unsafe with modern +P ammo; standard pressure lead rounds are recommended. s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality
Summary: To find the "quality" in a serial number lookup, look for the "V" prefix (indicating wartime production) and check for the "U.S. PROPERTY" stamp. A gun with matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, and cylinder, and with a high percentage of original finish remaining, represents the "extra quality" collectors desire today.
The Smith & Wesson .38 Victory Model is a wartime variant of the Military & Police (M&P) revolver produced between 1942 and 1945
. It is highly regarded by collectors for its historical significance and smooth internal mechanics, despite a simplified "war finish". www.recoilweb.com Serial Number Lookup & Identification
The serial number is the definitive way to identify a true Victory model. : The official serial number is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame (butt)
. You may also find it on the rear of the cylinder and the bottom of the barrel. "V" Prefix If you are holding a Victory Model, the
: Original models start with a "V" prefix, introduced after S&W reached the 1,000,000 mark in its M&P series. "VS" or "SV" Prefix
: Revolvers produced in 1945 (approximately starting at serial 769,001) feature an "S" or "SV" prefix, indicating an upgraded, positive hammer block safety designed after an accidental discharge incident on a Navy vessel. Assembly Numbers
: Numbers found inside the crane/yoke area are usually internal assembly numbers and do not function for serial number lookups. Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation Production Eras
Confirmed Victory Models have case-hardened (mottled gray/blue) hammers and triggers. All-over blue or nickel indicates a re-finish. Re-finished = no longer extra quality.
Serial: V 348291
Result:
The S&W .38 Victory Model is a cornerstone of military revolver collecting. But for every authentic example, there are three cobbled-together fakes. By mastering the serial number lookup and the extra quality checklist above, you transform from a casual buyer into an informed curator.
Action Items Before Buying:
Remember: True extra quality is not a marketing claim. It is a provable state of originality, mechanical perfection, and historical integrity—all confirmed by a single, correct serial number.
Before diving into the lookup process, you must understand what the Victory Model is—and isn’t.
Between 1942 and 1945, Smith & Wesson produced over 800,000 units of the .38/200 Military & Police (M&P) revolver, officially designated the “Victory Model.” These were finished with a dull sandblast or parkerized finish (not the shiny blue of civilian guns) to reduce glare in the Pacific theater. The Serial Number Ranges:
The "Extra Quality" Trap: Many sellers claim “extra quality” referring to bore condition or lock-up. But true extra quality begins with serial number authenticity. A legitimate Victory Model serial number will fall between approximately V 1 and V 769,000 (for the .38 S&W caliber), or within the SV 1 – SV 75,000 range (for the late-war .38 Special variant).
If your revolver’s serial number does not follow this pattern, you may be looking at a post-war commercial M&P or a cloned fake.