At the end of 1944, S&W introduced an important safety upgrade—a redesigned hammer-block safety mechanism. This upgrade was prompted by a tragic incident involving a dropped revolver, and all Victory Models produced from late 1944 onward received the new safety block. Guns with the revised safety mechanism were designated with an "S" added to the serial prefix, creating the "SV" prefix for guns already in production (indicating retrofitted safety blocks), followed by a transition to a standalone "S" prefix at approximately S769000 as production continued after the war.
Use the following guidelines to approximate your revolver's production date based on the prefix and number:
Because S&W used overlapping serial numbers before the 1980s, there is no official automated online database for lookups. Collectors rely on resources like the S&W Historical Foundation or the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" to narrow down dates. "Extra Quality" and Marking Variations s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality
The S&W Victory Model was produced from approximately 1942 to 1945, with over 800,000 units manufactured for U.S. and Allied forces.
If your serial number lookup reveals a revolver shipped to the UK, you will likely see markings or caliber stamps like ".38 S&W CTG" (British Service Cartridge) rather than the American ".38 S&W Special." 5. Value and Condition At the end of 1944, S&W introduced an
. In many cases, a lanyard ring is also attached here, and the "V" may be on one side of the ring with the numbers on the other. Secondary Matching Locations
This is a critical change. In late 1944, after a tragic accident where a sailor was killed by a dropped revolver, S&W redesigned the hammer block safety. To mark this improvement, new production received an "SV" prefix, starting around SV769001 . The "S" denoted the new hammer block. The serial number range for "SV"-prefix guns extended to approximately SV811119 by the end of production in 1945. Use the following guidelines to approximate your revolver's
The serial number tells you when it was made. The proof marks tell you where it went. Finding these markings adds "extra quality" premiums to a collector gun. United States Markings
Before searching the database, you must find the serial number in its primary location. On a true Victory Model, the serial number is located on the .
Between 1942 and 1945, Smith & Wesson produced over 800,000 units of the 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 Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolver is one of the most iconic and historically significant handguns of World War II. Produced between 1942 and 1945, these robust.38 caliber revolvers were the backbone of Allied secondary arms, serving British Commonwealth forces, the U.S. Navy, and various police and defense agencies.