I am kind of surprised I can't find a list of Smith & Wesson serial numbers All S&W revolvers have the serial number stamped in the bottom of the grip frame. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot,.38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. AYA 1995-2006 Year ser. Smith & Wesson Revolver Serial Number Chart. SUPERPOSED MODEL - O & U - 28 ga. &.410 bore Year 28 ga.410 bOre 1960-1962 NOT AVAILABLE 1963J3 F3 1964J4 F4 1965J5 F5 1966J6 F6 1967J7 F7 1968J8 F8 1969J69 F69 1970J70 F70 1971J71 F71 1972J72 F72 1973J73 F73 1974J74 F74 1975J75 F75 1976J76 F76 LIEGE O & U - Approximately 10,000 produced Year ser.

Smith And Wesson Revolvers

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot, .38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in (130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also known to have been made for special contracts.^[1] Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most popular handgun of the 20th century.^[2]

• 1History
• 2Model 10 Variants
• 4Users

I'll take a shot at it. If it is a Smith and Wesson and if it is a 38 Special Hand Ejector M&P, the serial number would put it between 1940 and 1945. This is according to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson - Second Edition - Jim Supra and Richard Nahas. Serial number for that model from those years ran from 700000 to 1000000. The Victory model was so named for the 'V' prefix which was placed before the serial number and represented 'Victory' against the Axis powers in World War II. Serial numbers for the.38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119. The S&W Model 10 military revolvers produced from 1942 to 1944 had serial numbers with a 'V' prefix, and were known as the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. It is noteworthy that early Victory Models did not always have the V prefix. Smith and wesson model 10 serial numbers, smith and wesson model 10-5 manufacture dates, smith and wesson model 10-5 serial numbers, smith and wesson serial number, smith wesson model 10 serial numbers. Click on a term to search for related topics. National Gun Forum. Smith and wesson victory model serial numbers, smith and wesson victory model value, victory model s&w 38 spl. Click on a term to search for related topics.

History[edit]

In 1899, the United States Army and Navy placed orders with Smith & Wesson for two to three thousand Model 1899 Hand Ejector revolvers chambered for the M1892 .38 Long Colt U.S. Service Cartridge. With this order, the Hand Ejector Model became known as the .38 Military and Police model.^[3] That same year, in response to reports from military sources serving in the Philippines on the relative ineffectiveness of the new cartridge, Smith & Wesson began offering the Military & Police in a new chambering, .38 S&W Special (a.k.a. .38 Special), a slightly elongated version of the .38 Long Colt cartridge with greater bullet weight (158 grains) and powder charge increased from 18 to 21 grains of gunpowder.^[3]

In 1902 the .38 Military & Police (2nd Model) was introduced, featuring substantial changes.^[1] These included major modification and simplification of the internal lockwork and the addition of a locking underlug on the barrel to engage the previously free-standing ejector rod. Barrel lengths were 4-, 5-, 6-, and 6.5-inches with a rounded butt. Serial numbers for the Military & Police ranged from number 1 in the series to 20,975. Most of the early M&P revolvers chambered in .38 Special appear to have been sold to the civilian market.^[3] By 1904, S&W was offering the .38 M&P with a rounded or square butt, and 4-, 5-, and 6.5-inch barrels.

World War I[edit]

The .38 S&W Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, introduced 1915, incorporated a passive hammer block and enlarged service sights that quickly became a standard across the service revolver segment of the industry. The M&P revolver was issued in large numbers during World War I, where it proved itself to be a highly reliable and accurate weapon. Although WWI saw the rise of semi-automatic pistols, revolvers such as the M&P were often the weapon of choice, as they were generally considered more reliable and easier to use than automatic pistols.

After the War, the M&P would become the standard issue police sidearm for the next 70 years. It would also become very popular with civilian shooters, with several new models being made, including the first snubnosed 2-, 2.5- and 3-barrel models being made in 1936.^[1][4]

World War II[edit]

The S&W M&P military revolvers produced from 1942 to 1944 had serial numbers with a 'V' prefix, and were known as the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. It is noteworthy that early Victory Models did not always have the V prefix. During World War II over 570,000 of these pistols were supplied to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa under the Lend-Lease program, chambered in the British .38/200 caliber already in use in the Enfield No 2 Mk I Revolver and the Webley Mk IV Revolver. Most Victory Models sent to Britain were fitted with 4-inch or 5-inch barrels, although a few early versions had 6-inch barrels.^[5][6]

The Victory Model was used by United States forces during World War II, being chambered in the well-known and popular .38 Special cartridge. The Victory Model was a standard-issue sidearm for United States Navy and Marine Corps aircrews, and was also used by security guards at factories and defense installations throughout the United States during the war.^[7]

Smith And Wesson Model 10 38 Special

Some of these revolvers remained in service well into the 1990s with units of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Air Force and the Coast Guard. Until the introduction of the Beretta M9 9mm pistol in 1990, U.S. Army helicopter crew members and female military police officers were equipped with .38 caliber Victory Model revolvers. Criminal Investigation Division agents were issued .38 caliber revolvers with two inch barrels. The Victory Model remained in use with Air National Guard tanker and transport crews as late as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and with United States Navy security personnel until 1995.^[8]

Some Lend-Lease Victory Model revolvers originally chambered for the British .38/200 were returned to the United States and rechambered to fire the more popular and more powerful .38 Special ammunition, and such revolvers are usually so marked on their barrels. Rechambering of .38-200 cylinders to .38 Special results in oversized chambers, which may cause problems. Lee Harvey Oswald was carrying a re-chambered Victory Model when he was apprehended on November 22, 1963.^[9]

The finish on Victory Models was typically a sandblasted and parkerized finish, which is noticeably different from the higher-quality blue or nickel/chrome finishes usually found on commercial M&P/Model 10 revolvers. Other distinguishing features of the Victory Model revolver are the lanyard loop at the bottom of the grip frame, and the use of smooth (rather than checkered) walnut grip panels. However some early models did use a checkered grip, most notably the pre-1942 manufacture.^[10]

Model 10[edit]

After World War II, Smith & Wesson returned to manufacturing the M&P series. Along with cosmetic changes and replacement of the frame fitting grip with the Magna stocks, the spring-loaded hammer block safety gave way to a cam-actuated hammer block that rode in a channel in the side plate (Smith 1968). In 1957, Smith & Wesson adopted the convention of using numeric designations to distinguish their various models of handguns, and the M&P was renamed the Model 10.^[8]

The M&P/Model 10 has been available in both blued steel finish and nickel finish for most of its production run. The model has also been offered throughout the years with both the round butt and square butt grip patterns. Beginning with the Model 10-5 series in the late 1960s, the tapered barrel and its trademark 'half moon' front sight (as shown in the illustrations on this page) were replaced by a straight bull barrel and a sloped milled ramp front sight. Late model Model 10s are capable of handling any .38 Special cartridge produced today up to and including +P+ rounds.^[8]

As of 2012 the Model 10 was available only in a 4-inch barrel model, as was its stainless steel (Inox) counterpart, the Smith & Wesson Model 64.^[11] Some 6,000,000 M&P revolvers have been produced over the years, making it the most popular handgun of the 20th century.^[12]

Model 10 Variants[edit]

.357 Magnum variations[edit]

After a small prototype run of Model 10-6 revolvers in .357 Magnum caliber, Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 13 heavy barrel in carbon steel and then the Model 65 in stainless steel. Both revolvers featured varying barrel weights and lengths—generally three and four inches with and without underlugs (shrouds). Production dates begin in 1974 for the Model 13 and end upon discontinuation in 1999. The Model 65 was in production from 1972-1999.^[1] Both the blued and stainless models were popular with police and FBI, and a variation of the Model 65 was marketed in the Lady Smith line from 1992 to 1999.

.38 S&W variations[edit]

Smith Wesson Serial Numbers Manufacture Date

From the Late 1940's to early 1960's Smith & Wesson made a Variation of the Model 10 chambered for .38 S&W called the Model 11^[13] that was sent to British Commonwealth countries to supply their armies^[13] and police forces.^[14] they were also sent to Canada as well.^[15]

Replacement[edit]

The S&W Model 10 revolver was a popular weapon before the semi-automatic pistol replaced the revolver in many police departments, as well as police units and armies.

• Certain units of the Ireland's Gardaí (Irish Police) had replaced the Model 10 by the SIG Sauer P226 and Walther P99C semi-automatic pistols.
• Victoria Police replaced the K frame model 10 with the M&P in .40 S&W.
• New Zealand Police replaced the revolver with the Glock 17.^[8]
• New South Wales Police Force replaced the Model 10 with the Glock 22, Glock 23 and Glock 27.
• The weapon was used by Norway's Home Guard until 1986 and the Norwegian Police Service until 2008, being replaced by the Heckler & Koch P30
• Portugal police replaced the weapon by the Walther PP, subsequently by the Glock 19.^[8]
• Royal Malaysia Police used Model 10 as standard sidearm from early 1970 alongside Model 15 before it fully replaced by Beretta PX4 and Walther P99. It was used by Police Volunteer Reserve as standard sidearm and also by RELA Corps for training and self-defence purpose for their officers alongside with Smith & Wesson Model 36 2 inch barrel.^[8]
• The Model 10 was formerly the standard issue for many firearms-trained police officers in the United Kingdom and in many forces they were replaced by the Glock 17.^[8]
• The weapon was used by United States Army and United States Marine Corps, only to be replaced by the M1911A1 and the M9 pistols.^[8] Prior to the introduction of the M9 pistol in 1986, the Army issued Model 10s to helicopter crew members and female military police officers. Snub nose versions were used by Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents.

Users[edit]

Many of the S & W Military & Police revolvers were captured and used by some of the police forces, such as the Austrian Police, during the occupation after World War II. It is incorrect to refer to them as 'the Model 10' as model numbers were not introduced by Smith & Wesson until 1957. Note that, during First World War, copies (slightly undersized) of the Military & Police were produced in Eibar and Guernica (Spain), in 8mm 1892 caliber for the French armies; the Milice man on the right holds such a copy.

The weapon is currently^[when?] used by French cash couriers and banks, Disciplined Services of Hong Kong, Myanmar Police Force officers and other Burmese paramilitary units, Peruvian National Police and other police units.

A few copies of Smith & Wesson Model 10 were produced in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI) as the Revolver IMI 9mm. The weapon was chambered in the 9mm Luger caliber, instead of .38 Special, the original caliber.^[16][17] Also, Norinco of China has manufactured the NP50, which is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Model 64, since 2000.

List[edit]

• Algeria^[18]
• Australia^[19] - Was used by police across the country. Replaced by multiple different semi-automatic pistols between 1990-2010.
• Canada- Various Police Forces.
• China^[8]
• Costa Rica^[8]
• France^[8]
• Hong Kong- Hong Kong Police Force.^[8]
• Iceland- Armed officers of the Icelandic Police, Replaced by the Glock 17. The Icelandic Coast Guard has also used the Model 10 in the past.
• Iran^[20]
• Ireland- Armed units of the Garda Síochána (To be phased out).
• Israel^[8]
• Jamaica
• Japan - Used in some prefectural police headquarters since late 1940s.^[21]
• Jordan
• Kingdom of Laos: Received from US Government during Laotian Civil War.^[22]
• Latvia
• Libya^[23]
• Malaysia^[8]
• Myanmar
• New Zealand^[19]
• Norway - standard firearm of Norwegian Police Service from 1981 until about 2007.
• Paraguay - used during the Chaco War.^[24]
• Peru^[8]
• Philippines^[8]
• Portugal^[8]
• Saudi Arabia^[8]
• Singapore: Used by the Singapore Police Force before switching to the Taurus Model 85 revolvers in 2002 and the Model 85 revolver's are still in service today.
• South Africa^[19]
• South Korea^[8]
• South Vietnam^[25][26]
• Vietnam^[8]
• Thailand^[8]
• Turkey- Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü (Turkish National Police).^[27] Used between 1951 and the mid 1990s.
• United Kingdom - formerly a police-issue weapon.^[8]
• United States- Various Police Forces, Different prisons who had armed guards, Also used by the US Army.^[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdSupica, Jim; Richard Nahas (2001). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Iola Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 1068.
2. ^Boorman, Dean K., The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms (2002), p. 46: 'The .38 in Military and Police Model 10 has historically been the mainstay of the Smith & Wesson Company, with some 6,000,000 of this general type produced to date. It has been described as the most successful handgun of all time, and the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th Century.'
3. ^ ^abcCumpston, Mike (2003-01-16). 'The First M&P'. Gunblast.com. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
4. ^http://sportsmansvintagepress.com/read-free/smith-wesson-hand-guns/sw-terrier/ Smith & Wesson did not succumb to the fad for short-barreled revolvers until 1936, when the firm brought out what was termed the 'S&W .38/32 2″,' later christened the 'Terrier' which was simply the round butt Regulation Police Model with a two-inch barrel.
5. ^Shore, C. (Capt), With British Snipers to the Reich, Paladin Press (1988), p. 55
6. ^Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 142
7. ^Ayoob, Massad (15 March 2010). Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 71. ISBN978-1-4402-1503-2.
8. ^ ^{abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw}Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2007). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media, Inc. pp. 141–143, 174, 210–211. ISBN978-0-89689-293-4.
9. ^Martin, Orlando (January 2010). JFK. Analysis of a Shooting: The Ultimate Ballistics Truth Exposed. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 118–119. ISBN978-1-60844-315-4.
10. ^Hunter, Hunter (2009). 'S&W Victory & Colt Commando Revolvers'. American Rifleman. 157 (6): 36–37. ISSN0003-083X.
11. ^Shideler, Dan (7 August 2011). Gun Digest 2012. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 420. ISBN978-1-4402-1447-9.
12. ^Boorman, Dean K., The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms (2002), p. 46: 'The .38 in Military and Police Model 10 has historically been the mainstay of the Smith & Wesson Company, with some 6,000,000 of this general type produced to date. It has been described as the most successful handgun of all time, and the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th Century.'
13. ^ ^ab'Wiley Clapp: The .38 S&W—Isn't That Special?'. www.americanrifleman.org. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
14. ^'Info on s&w model 11 needed'. smith-wessonforum.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
15. ^'Anybody have a S&W Model 11 revolver?'. forums.gunboards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
16. ^'The Mystery of the IMI 9mm Revolver'. 12 May 2015.
17. ^'Rock Island Auction: I.M.I. (Israeli) - M&P'. www.rockislandauction.com.
18. ^'World Infantry Weapons: Algeria'. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016.
19. ^ ^abcArnold, David (28 February 2011). Classic Handguns of the 20th Century. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 33. ISBN978-1-4402-2640-3.
20. ^'WWII weapons in the Ayatollah's Iran'. wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. 16 October 2016.^{[self-published source]}
21. ^Sugiura, Hisaya (September 2015). 'Pistols of the Japanese police in the postwar era'. Gun Professionals: 72–79.
22. ^Conboy, Kenneth (23 Nov 1989). The War in Laos 1960–75. Men-at-Arms 217. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN9780850459388.
23. ^'World Infantry Weapons: Libya'. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
24. ^Alejandro de Quesada (20 November 2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing. pp. 18, 44. ISBN978-1-84908-901-2.
25. ^'Smith & Wesson .38 / NAM 64-75'. www.nam-valka.cz.
26. ^'Army of the Republic of Vietnam 1955–75'. United States.
27. ^Schwing, Ned (5 November 2005). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 323. ISBN978-0-87349-902-6.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Victory Serial Numbers List

External links[edit]

Smith And Wesson Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman Serial Numbers

Smith Wesson Ctg Serial Number

• Smith & Wesson Model 10 at the Internet Movie Firearms Database

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Victory Serial Numbers

The Victory Model Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Revolver

The revolvers of the U.S. armed forces have always been under appreciated by collectors, the good news is that makes them relatively inexpensive to acquire, but this is changing. At a recent trip to the 2003 Louisville gun show I noticed prices on Victory revolvers had increased noticeably. That being said you might want to consider adding a few Victory models to your USGI collection.

While the information I provide below can be helpful please see the list on the bottom of this page for reference material you should have if you are going to collect these historical pieces . The Victory model revolvers participated in various roles from guard duty to riding in a shoulder holster with fighter and bomber pilots. I have talked to many ex-military personnel that carried them as late as the 1980s, as you can see these pistols played a significant part of our history. To this day the Victory model is a very enjoyable shooting collectible, mainly due to its inexpensive cost, light recoil, and good accuracy.
Enjoy and happy collecting, Ty

The Victory model was so named for the 'V' prefix which was placed before the serial number and represented 'Victory' against the Axis powers in World War II.

Serial numbers for the .38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119 with a date of late August of 1945 (end of production). V1 to approximately V39,999 were predominately .38 S&W Caliber (I have observed revolvers in the 1-40000 range in .38 special caliber). Serial numbers are located on Inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of barrel. Crane and crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number as is correct for Victory model revolvers.

The Victory Revolver was produced during World War II, it is a variation of the Military & Police Model of 1905, fourth change and had the following characteristics between 1942 and 1945:

Barrel: 2, 4, 5, or 6 inch. (4 inch common in .38 special, 5 inch common in 38/200 or .38 S&W)
Sights: Fixed
Finish: Early sandblast blue, sandblast mid-night black (appears grayish black). And finally a parkerized finish. Hammer and Trigger are case hardened.
Grips: Checkered walnut with medallion until early 1942, post February of 1942 they are smooth American Walnut with out medallions.

Ordnance acceptance marks:
The acceptance mark varies with the particulars of the order placed. With U.S. Navy orders you will find no acceptance marks on the original two contracts they placed. On later Navy revolvers, ordered through the Army they will be found with the more typical Army G.H.D. acceptance mark. Below you will find some of the common stamps with links to examples.

W.B. - The acceptance mark of Ordnance officer Waldemar Bromberg is located on the butt (to about serial number V145000). Just to the right of the acceptance mark (W.B.) is usually found an ordnance bomb and proof mark. The 'P' proof mark indicates this revolver has passed military proof testing. EXAMPLE – Click Here

G.H.D – From approximately 1942 to about May 1943 the acceptance mark of Ordnance officer Guy H. Drewry is found on the butt. From approximately V300000 to end of production G.H.D is found on the left top strap; EXAMPLE – Click Here

Property marks:
The most common property marks found on the Victory model are the UNITED STATES PROPERTY, US PROPERTY, and the US NAVY markings.

UNITED STATES PROPERTY – Found on left top strap to approximately V300000 and on the M&Ps pre Victory. Applied at the S&W factory. Example - Click Here

U.S. PROPERTY – The property mark was shortened to 'U.S. PROPERTY' at about serial number V300000. At this time the G.H.D acceptance mark was moved from the butt to the left top strap with the property mark. Applied at the S&W factory. EXAMPLE – Click Here

U.S. NAVY – Found on the revolvers left top strap as per the two Navy contracts. The Navy also applied a Property mark on the left side plate on some revolvers; these were filled in with red paint. This is not an S&W applied marking. EXAMPLE – Click Here and Here for the Navy applied mark.

Victory models have also been produced with out property marks, these revolvers were probably delivered by the U.S. Defense Supply Corporation (DSC) to defense contractors and public agencies that required them for guarding war sensitive materials.

Other common markings:
S - Revolvers that have the 'S' marking on the right side plate as well as before the serial number on the butt have the improved hammer block installed. If the 'S' in the serial number on the butt appears to be machine applied this would indicate it was produced with improved hammer block, and that it was not added later or it would have been hand stamped. The improved hammer block was put into production after an accidental discharge killed a sailor during World War II. This improved hammer block is still utilized in today's commercial Smith and Wesson revolvers. EXAMPLE – Click Here

P – Proof marking. This can very depending on the contract. Navy marked pistols usually have none. But C.W. Pates books indicate that some delivered under an Army contract could be found with a P mark. Post the V400,000 serial number range they are located on the underside of the barrel, back of the cylinder and left side plate. The later appear to be Army Supply Program contract revolvers. EXAMPLE – Click Here

Serial Numbers:
Serial numbers are located on the inside right grip, frame butt, Cylinder, extractor star, and bottom of grip. Serial numbers should be matching on all revolvers. Crane and Crane recess are also serial numbered to each other, but this is a different number then the revolvers serial number and is correct for Victory model revolvers.
Grip/StockEXAMPLE – Click Here
Barrel EXAMPLE – Click Here
Cylinder EXAMPLE – Click Here
Extractor Start EXAMPLE – Click Here
Butt EXAMPLE – Click Here

Production:
38/200 British Service Revolver (S&W Caliber) - There were over 571,629 of these models produced between October 1941 and May 1945 for the British Common wealth countries. These countries include the Union of South Africa (21,347), Canada (45,328), and Australia (8,000). The remaining 384,100 shipped between 1941 and the end of World War II were supplied by the U.S. Army Ordnance through the lend lease program to Britain for distribution.

Victory model 38 Special – 352,000 shipped to the Army and Navy. Some of these were shipped to a commission responsible for supplying the civilian industries. They will usually have no property marks. Uses included guarding factories, ports, and federal/local government agencies.

Note: You can find all kinds of variations, with additional war and post war markings. These include rebuild markings, country ownership markings, unit markings, and much more. For a complete listing see the books referenced below.

Recommended reading:
US Handguns of WW II - The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers by Charles W. Pate
Americas Right Arm - The S&W Military and Police Revolver by John Henwood
Smith and Wesson 1857 - 1945 by Robert J. Neal and Roy G. Jinks