The Smith & Wesson Victory Model ~ A Vital War Contribution! 

I am about your age. My Grandfather chased a Mexican bandit in 1916 on the Mexican border with Gen. Pershing. Then he was off to France where he was awarded two Silver Stars. I have one and my cousin has the other. He carried a Colt .45 and was discharged when he realized he still had it so he went back and turned it in. Love your content.

I appreciated your learned video on the S&W Victory Model. I own one from 1942, US Navy marked. My uncle was a Marine Aircrewman from VMTB-232 shot down over Okinawa in April,45 and declared missing in action for the ages. He was issued a Victory Model for self defense, rest his soul. I purchased this pistol in homage to him, his crew and all Navy and Marine Flyers lost in n WW2. An awesome video, thanks.

What a Fine Fine Classic 🇺🇸

The Victory model revolver did the job, and the allies won the war. My dad was issued an M1 Carbine but no sidearm.

My brother was a helicopter crew member in Viet Nam. He said pilots preferred revolvers because they could be operated with one hand in case of injury.

Totally digging the history of guns. 👍👍👍

Thanks for the cool history lesson. I have the pre war version of this purchased by my great uncle in 1927 with the original receipt and original transfer paper. Almost perfect condition and although valued around $400 it’s priceless to me.

There's a reason why this is one of my favorite channels, and you, sir, are the reason. Really appreciate your videos and insights. God bless you.

.38-200 is a very nice cartridge. I only wish it was .357 diameter rather than .361

I cannot convey to you how much I appreciate your unique knowledge and how generous you are with it. This is fascinating. Please keep posting anything you care to share. I love it all.

Always enjoy your episodes.

What a great history lesson. Really enjoyed it.

Good video, I found one at Turners ...a Broad Arrow marked Commonwealth in 38/200, excellent condition...$99. That long ago.

Sir you are a gentleman and a scholar.. Thank you.

Great show as allways, God Bless.

Very informative! Excellent video

Thanks for the interesting info on the Smith and Wesson Victory. It is always both instructive and interesting to watch and listen to you.

Another great video! Thank you. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🚓

Thank you for this presentation sir.

I really appreciate your work here and all the effort you put into educating an otherwise ignorant public about our combined heritage. May you live in good health and vigor forever! Many Thanks!

As always, informative, entertaining and great to sit with you and listen to someone who has a wealth of knowledge and the patience to share with us. Thank you. Gun Blue 490.

Very informative and well said

Very interesting!

Gotta love old wheel guns.

Such a nice show, we had one of these when I was a young boy, ours had a 6" bbl on it and was a remarkable shooter as well

Do more gun talks / stories like this with us please.

YES truly a GREAT generation! My dad was in the Amy Air Corps serving in the Pacific and ended up playing in the Air Corps Band he was issued an M1 Carbine but alot of the guys had revolvers.Thanks for all the info!

My dad got the S&W 38 200 surplus right after WW2 ended. It's a beautiful revolver with the "V" in front of the serial number and British stamps on it. Shoots well and I love this gun's history! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you!

Very informative as always, I never knew about this revolver. I thought you were referring to the .22 target pistol. Also, your revolver buying guide was the most informative 50 minutes for me all week, I learned so much, specifically that the Model 29 was never intended for .44 magnum, and the names of the individual components.

I carried a S&W Model 10 quite often in the USAF in the early 1970s. The museum at my airbase had some of these Victory models on display. This is one of your best videos.

I bought one of those when I was 17 (dad supervised trade with a friend]). For many years by mom kept it as a nightstand gun loaded with 158gr semi wadcutters. It is a safe queen now but still available if needed. I like it and a 1917 Smith. That looks like a M3 holster. Thanks

That holster you have, is it marked as military issue, or plain and pre issue. These things just amaze me and is so interesting. Hope you well, and look forward to each new video.

Great video. Would you consider doing the same style of video showcasing the WWII 1917 models by S&W and Colt? Really enjoy the historical view on these guns. Thanks

Thank you for the video and hope you and your family have a good year ahead cheers all the best stay safe my friend ✌️☘️🦘🫶❤️

Great information. My father has an early .38 200 5” that was before they fixed the drop fire issues and not sure why but it’s not marked for what service it went to. Sadly the lanyard loop was ground off. Looks factory, but I’m sure it’s not

According to the Jim Supica Catalouge of S&W, the Victory models weren't exactly parkerized, instead, they were "Hot dip blued" after being given a matte polish. I believe it was called a "Black Magic" finish. The result is a finish that is quite unique in look both then and now as they aged. It's really something you have to see in person. Either way, fantastic video and love it when you're covering smiths!

Another wonderful video, always learn something from your channel. I seen several of those revolvers during my tour in Vietnam in 1969 - 1970 but never carried one. My dad was in WWII in an artillery unit and he carried a 1911 as well as a M1.

I have 2 a .38Spl 4" bbl. And a Lend Lease .38S&W from Australia, unissued 5" bbl. Came back into the USA in the early 1990's. Both sweet shooting revolvers. I had to work over the 5" bbl'd revolver and add a missing rebound spring.

I inherited my dad’s- ha was a naval aviator. 👍🇺🇸

Hello "Gunblue490". Good historical / factual video. The U.S. did the same thing in WW1 with Colt and S & W revolvers but chambered them to fire the .45 A.C.P. cartridge with "Half-moon" clips. The Generals/Admirals realized that they did not have enough 1911A1 .45 A.C.P. pistols available as Wilson got the U.S. involved in WW1.

Thank you for this video Mr. GunBlue. I have a nice Victory model myself. How about something on the 1917s. Smith and Colt. I have one each in 38 and 45 but I sure would like to know what you might have to say about them. Thank You Sir.

Have one used by Canada on lend lease is in .38/200 I got a lot of brass from Track the wolf and hand load it with the standard .38 either lead, jacked or Wad Cutters runs great! Love it!! The holster you showed up hear is worth more then the firearm! Got a canvas holster for it has a backstrap with a thumb break snap!! More high speed then the usual flap cover!

I own 2 of them, bought both over 25 years ago ago. Paid $75 for one and $125 for the other. One had been blued, and then (overly) re-blued sometime in its past. The other had been parked but only has about 10% of the finish still on it. One has "US Property GHD" on the top strap, "GHD" being the U.S. military inspection mark of Guy H. Drewry. The other revolver has nothing at all on the top strap. Both have the flaming bomb proof marks, and the V prefix. Both have serial numbers over 250,000. Both have 4" bbls and are chambered in .38 Special. I've completely disassembled, checked and cleaned each of them. Remarkably, neither one shows very much wear at all. I fire .38 semi-wad cutters through both. They are a pleasure to shoot and I think more than reasonably accurate. I have a steel man shaped 1/2 silhouette and can hit it all day long with either one. I would love to have the one that was parked re-finished, but the flaming bomb was very lightly struck and I am afraid that it would get buffed off completely during the prep. Neither are for sale, I enjoy the history and the good shooters they are too much to sell.

70 year old son of a WWII veteran here. Every day we loose more of the Greatest Generation. It's because of them that we don't get up in the morning and say "Heil Hitler" or bow to the Emporer of Japan. I've know about some of the history of the S&W Victory Model but not much about the number produced or their early problems. I'm not a Smith and Wesson "collector" but I've had several over the years. I still covet a first model Hand Ejector "Triple Lock" 44 Special. If you haven't done one already and I missed it, how about a comparison of the Smith and Wesson 1917 vs the Colt 1917 and it's "New Service" version. Another great one was the 38-44 Heavy Duty. A lot of your younger viewers who grew up with polymer framed semi-autos probably have never heard of those. Thanks again for the great videos.

Another little known aspect concerning the Victory and Model 10 military Smith revolvers was that it could be loaded with only one hand. If a pilot survived a mishap there was a fair chance that he would come out of it with only one usable hand. Model 10 Smiths were also issued to flyers in Korea and SVN.

Had a coffee can...about half full of S&W "V" parts....my friend was WAY TOO HAPPY ( for a distinguished gentleman) when I gave him that collection....almost in tears. ..........why?

I have a S&W model 10 in .38spl. Good little shooter.

Really regret selling mine.

Very interesting. I never knew some pilots carried a revolver.

I really like the history of guns and our service men that carried them. It's a shame that this history is being lost to the younger generation. They might appreciate our nation more if they understood the sacrifice of the men and women of the great American generation. They loved our nation, and so many died for it. God bless. Maybe sometime you could go over the 30-caliber carbine. I know some history on it. I am sure you know much more.

I would prefer that for duty over a GI 1911 anyday.

I worked on one that belongs to a friend, it was a 38 s&w lend lease model. I couldn't figure out if it was for British or was in Australia tho.

The greatest generation went though 4 years of WW2 and also the Great Depression we can’t forget that.

$2000! Unbelievable! To think that in Canada the version with the 4 inch barrel version is prohibited and they probably were all destroyed. Not that there were many here. Most of what I've seen would have been in 38 S&W . Its a shame.

Sir - at about 9:50 into the this video you mention a “catch, stub, stubber”. I have my father’s old S&W M&P, Model of 1905, 4th Change. Manf. mid-1920’s. It too has what you describe as a catch or stub on double action trigger pull, although light. Is this something that came from the factory, or does it occur from years of use and normal wear of the sear? (No intent of regular use.) Thank you for your most informative videos, and I will appreciate any reply. Thanks and be well.

Fantastic video! I found one chambered in 38 S&W recently. I love it! I have a quick question, my cylinder release latch is loose and wobbles but the screw that runs through it feels tight. Any ideas as to what the issue is?

"Gunblue 490 this is Terry on my winchester model 7o featherweight does the shorter barrel affect accuracy I think it is about 19 and one half inches I have always shot winchester 130 grain power points since it was new it always shot one half to three quarters of an inch at 100 yards I always liked this gun if I replace this gun what would you recommed I like the 270 calibers.

I just bought victory model mp 38 never fired in box it came with

I sure would appreciate it if you would show the hammer block on that one. I believe you said it was the first generation and it failed resulting in a sailors death. Victory 38. Would like to understand how it worked and how it fit. Thanks as always.

I just love you wisdom and you are a classy guy, so hard to find these days

The S&W Military & Police model pencil-barreled revolver, loaded with tracer ammo, was still issued in 1968-69 for flight ops off the USS Randolph. The holsters were exactly the same as the one you displayed except that the cartridge loops were not fabric. Bruce Canfield has a reasonably comprehensive discussion of the Victory model in his book on U.S weapons of WWII, and that also details some personal views of servicemen who carried this revolver, many of whom were ground troops. It seemed to be particularly popular as a night-time foxhole handgun. That confidence was not misplaced, as it went on to become the most widely used police sidearm from the end of WWII until the mid-1990's, a 50-year run!

Best New England accent ever

Good morning from Barren County, KY GunBlue490, I have a question for you: I am a reloader. What do you consider to be "The Best Defensive" load for 38special, without getting into the .38+P spectrum? Thank you in advance. JT

Two grand? Yikes! I remember when I was in college in the 1970s and working part-time for Pinkerton's, the office had several dozen S&W Victory Models and Colt Commandos they kept stacked in a desk drawer for issue to the guys who were performing armed security. Back then they weren't worth squat. For comparison, I bought a near mint Colt Diamondback for $150.

This was my first pistol! I inherited it from my grandfather. Oddly, mine has a snub nose. Were they made that way at the factory or was this a later modification? I have no idea.

What is the barrel/cylinder gap on that particular firearm. Someone mentioned in the previous video that the gaps tended to be large.

I realize that many of these revolvers were carried by fighter pilots in both the European and Pacific Theatres, but does anyone know if these were carried very often by U. S. or Commonwealth bomber crews? I realize that most bomber crews carried the 1911 A1, but I am curious if some bomber crewmen were issued the Victory Model revolvers.

How can I contact you about a S&W revolver with a barrel issue?

I read somewhere that Lee Harvey Oswald's pistol was an import 38/200 that was converted to 38 special , do you have any info on that ?

Were these revolvers common with U.S. infantrymen too, or were these only issued to aircrews and military police?

I just bought mp38. Never fired in the box. What do you think

My uncle fought inww 2

Peak Sidearm Choice for the Second World War

Please show cleaning your favorite firearms.🙏

Hello.

i have father new . no box, colt cobra det specialwith custom molded colt holster anyone wanna make an offer???

Gunblue is it 4 sale babygoat

553rd MP ,FT.CAMPBELL,K-9 HANDLERS ISSUED .38 MOD 10. 1977.

I remember when they were not worth any thing .

Old School!