Rather, it indicates that the arms were inspected by Ordnance personnel operating under Col. Drewrys authority. Production of the Smith & Wesson .38 Spl. You can unsubscribe at anytime. Hyatt Guns proudly provides a full line of Smith & Wesson revolvers. Nonetheless, it didnt take long for the impracticality of this policy to become apparent. Victory Model revolver under U.S. government contracts (DSC, Navy and Ordnance) between 1941 and 1945 totalled the not-insignificant sum of 352,315 guns. See Details. revolvers for stateside Navy and Coast Guard personnel. Mine has both markings, so its one of the Lend-Lease revolvers. $429.99 View Site. But for some reason, buying a gun online can Revolver development and sophistication was at a break-neck pace during the last third of the 19th century. and 150 ft.-lbs. The early cap-and-ball revolvers were being replaced by those firing self-contained cartridges. The Springfield, Massachusetts-based company of Smith and Wesson has a very well known and highly respected reputation of being a gun manufacturer that drives the industry. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Spend your time enjoying the gun you want, not getting frustrated with a complex website that makes gun buying hard. It is built on a polymer frame with reinforced stainless steel chassis, barrel, and slide, and offers a textured grip and 3-dot sights. The .38 revolver is not just for the old-school Hollywood cops you see on TV and in movies. The M15 itself is a good, proven design that Smith & Wesson originally introduced in 1949 as the K-38 Combat Masterpiece. 731 at Brownells. The standard ammunition procured for issue with the .38 Spl. contracts. The result was a revolver that was less accurate, but superb at destroying brass. S&W Model 637 Airweight 38 Special Revolver $519.00 Rebate Available Add to Compare (64) S&W Model 500 8.38" Threaded 500 S&W Revolver $1,517.99 Add to Compare (58) S&W Model 638 Airweight 1.87" 38 Special Revolver $519.00 Rebate Available Add to Compare (20) S&W Governor Black 410 Gauge / 45 Long Colt / 45 ACP Revolver $939.00 Add to Compare (11) .38 S&W 3 Items Fiocchi Classic .38 S&W Short Ammunition 50 Rounds Full Metal Jacket 145 Grains . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield is a semi-auto pistol that packs the favored features of the M&P9 into an ultra-compact design. Enter your email address to receive our latest deals, personalized offers, and MVP access to pre-order notifications.See Details, 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors. Soon Colt, Enfield, Webley and a host of lesser known companies in other countries began making revolvers chambered in .38 S&W. The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless models were produced from 1887 (1888 for the 32) to just before World War II. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Guns.com is built to be simple easily organized products, useful descriptions from experts, and support to guide you to the right choice. Regardless of which model you pick, it is hard to make a bad revolver choice when going with a Smith. The Model 15 served a long and storied career with the USAF up until the very last ones were recently replaced by the SIG Sauer M18 pistol. Some will have both U.S. and British markings. Show Only Guns You won't be winning any long distance sharpshooting challenges with it, but you will feel safe carrying one. By mid-1944, the Navy reversed its original policy and began to issue M1911A1 .45 pistols to some non-combatant personnel, such as guards aboard merchant vessels so that the .38 revolvers they would ordinarily be armed with could be available to flight crews. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. Use our simple filters to quickly and easily find magazines that are compatible with your pistol. Smith & Wesson's classic five-shot "snub nose" revolvers are optimized for carry and span numerous models, almost exclusively with fixed sights. This is a very nice 4in Nickel plated Smith & Wesson M&P 38 Special. Around the 1950s, the old S-frame became the N-frame with the Registered Magnum (later christened the Model 27), the first revolver to use the .357 Magnum. The Nylon 66, a relatively inexpensive rimfire with faux woodgrain, was the first successful synthetic-stock firearm. Going lighter is the alloy-framed Model 38 and 438, while the stainless/alloy Airweight Model 638 is the best of both worlds. Out of stock View Details . Many online gun sales actually take away from your local According to Smith & Wesson this revolver was manufactured in the year 1937. After action analysis by Webley of World War I showed that officersthe primary carrier of pistolsliked the power of the Webley Mk IV revolver and its .455 Webley cartridge, however, they wanted something lighter and easier to carry. Various .38 Specials won bulls-eye and PPC matches for decades, and still do. The United States Navy, unable to obtain the standardized M1911A1 Pistol, placed contracts directly with Smith & Wesson for the Caliber .38 Special, Military and Police Model Revolver., Although the U.S. Navy specified that the revolvers made under its contract be chambered for the .38 Spl. U.S. Navy pilot Lt. James Pope, shown here aboard the U.S.S. S&W hoped to capture the military market because the U.S. government cartridge at the time was the .38 Long Colt which was anemic. Work was commenced immediately by Ordnance and Smith & Wesson to develop an improved Hammer Block capable of preventing discharge even if the revolver fell several feet, striking on the Hammer. Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard Revolver - The M&P BODYGUARD 38 delivers the optimal combination of accuracy and simplicity for personal protection needs. IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR SMITH & WESSON . Part of the reason for this policy was to mitigate the logistical problems inherent to having handguns chambered for two different cartridges in oversea theaters. ), 8 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2022), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2022), Best AR-15 Options For Any Budget And Buyers Guide (2022), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2022). The Model 642 is a small J-frame revolver chambered in 38 Special with a 5-round capacity and rated for use with +P ammunition. Ordnance records indicate that a total of 590,305 of the .38-200 revolvers were manufactured by Smith & Wesson between October 1941 and March 1945, which was significantly more than the number of S&W .38 Spl. It is crafted with a stainless steel slide and barrel, aggressively textured polymer grips, and an integrated picatinny rail. Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38. tracer cartridges produced during the war intended for signaling purposes. With the increased oversight by Ordnance, including more stringent inspection standards, the quality of the Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers continued to improve. Smith & Wesson Model 52-2, 38 Special MidRange, 5" Blue, New in the Box, Some Papers, Extra Magazine, No Tools. Volberg, Small Arms Branch, Chief of Ordnance:[W]e have received advice from Smith & Wesson, Incorporated that they are prepared to produce a limited number of 2" barrel .38 caliber Special revolvers without impairing their production schedule.The War Production Board, under the date May 8, 1944, has given approval for the production by Smith & Wesson of 500 .38 caliber Special 2" barrel revolvers in order to supply essential non-military users. Guns.com's selection won't leave you feeling unprepared. . Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. These five-shot J-frames include the standard steel-framed Model 36 in .38 Special, the stainless Model 60 which was later offered in .357 Magnum, the alloy-framed Model 37 and 437, the alloy-framed/stainless barreled Airweight Model 637, and the top-of-the-line Models 337 and 360 (.357 Mag) which use Scandium alloy frames (along with a Titanium cylinder on the 337) and have adjustable rear sights. This attention did not slip by other manufacturers. Often the exact model is not mentioned, but, based on the numbers made and wide issuance, the odds are that most were the S&W .38 Spl. Get Guns.com offers and news!! document Project Supporting Paper; Miscellaneous Pistols and Revolvers: In addition to the M1917 revolvers sizeable numbers of various other revolvers and pistols were procured by Ordnance. Classified Ad (1000+), Search Full Text of Listings Most components still in production were diverted to use in the .38 Special Victory Model, and surplus components in a finished state that were not interchangeable with the .38 Special, such as cylinders and barrels, were shipped to field service depots. This indicates that it received a through factory inspection or overhaul, in 1954, at the Lithgow Arsenal. This 640 is in good condition with some minor frame scratches. It is seen here being fired by Navy cadets. and 175 ft.-lbs. This is a Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 Revolver with a 6-shot cylinder along with a 4" barrel. revolvers produced during the war. This load remained popular with British officers through World War II and beyond. This course of action was related in the Ordnance Dept. Uncle Sam certainly got his moneys worth from the Victory Model! After Army Ordnance took over procurement, the marking was changed to U.S. Property G.H.D. The G.H.D. marking signified U.S. Army Col. (later Brig. It comes with an IonBond Diamondback finish. Most are available in various sizes and calibers, with a plethora of options and features. All were the basic .38 S&W cartridge. Compare. Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers have had your back since 1950. As related in an Ordnance Dept. Today it is just offered in its signature .460 Mag chambering in both a standard and as the X-treme Velocity Revolver or XVR model. Victory Model revolvers were not stamped with Navy markings at the factory. SMALL. They included the six-shot Model 30 in .32 S&W Long, the five-shot Model 32, and the .22 LR Model 34 Kit Gun. The five-shot Smith & Wesson with a 3"barrel weighed in about a pound, allowing it to easily slip into a coat pocket. J-frames with a more "snagless" profile lacking an exposed hammer, include the standard steel-framed Model 40 in .38 Special, the stainless Model 640, the alloy-framed Airweight Model 42 and 442, the alloy/stainless Model 642, and the Models 342 and 340 (.357 Mag) which use Scandium alloy frames (with a Titanium cylinder on the 342) and have adjustable rear sights. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? While we work to keep our online inventory up to date, we recommend calling (508)982-0722 before visiting the shop to confirm the product you wish to purchase is still available. However, its a tack-driver, and once I get some Commonwealth-equivalent ammo loaded up, Ill be stylin. The hip holsters were used more often by security personnel, but period photos show some flyers with their Victory Model revolvers in hip holsters. Many models are designed specifically for military and law enforcement use but remain popular with civilians as well. Smith & Wesson Brings Flat Dark Earth to M&P M2.0 Compact Pistol. This led to the L-frame in 1980. Why Victory model? This is the smallest frame. The Smith and Wesson 38 revolver is a highly accurate and very popular handgun due to its versatility. A leather hip holster was also made for these revolvers, but the shoulder holster was generally preferred by pilots due to space constraints in the cramped cockpits. 4"-barreled revolvers as made under U.S. Navy and U.S. Essentially a Combat Masterpiece but in .357 Magnum rather than .38 Special, this K-frame arrived on hand with the Model 19 while its stainless steel brother is the Model 66, a gun that many feel is the ultimate K-frame. F.M. As indicated by the markings, mine was imported by the Vega company, out of Sacramento, California (before the West Coast went completely crazy). Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. Auction (25) For nearly 100 years the .38 Special was the "go-to" cartridge for law enforcement officers. F.M. (l.) Victory Model revolvers are distinguished by a lanyard ring and their V-prefix serial numbers stamped into the butts bottom. Smith & Wesson M&P 340. But the revolvers association with the OSS was primarily in that organizations role in supplying resistance forces. Smith & Wesson 686. Most commonly seen with 4-inch barrels, these were the iconic "service revolvers" for generations. Most components still in production were diverted to use in the .38 Special Victory Model, and surplus components in a finished state that were not interchangeable with the .38 Special, such as cylinders and barrels, were shipped to field service depots. Smith & Wesson M442 13222 38 1 7/8 DON'T Tread ON ME Revolver. Hello! Some will have both U.S. and British markings. And you might even find a Smith & Wesson Single Action or two. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. The Japanese tore loose and rushed on. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. Guns.com Unboxing Studio Presents: Smith & Wesson 627 Model of 1989. S&W provided some 571,000 revolvers to the British, but of those, only 8,000 went to Australia, so that makes the non-U.S. marked ones rare. See Details. Smith & Wesson M&P .38 Special caliber revolver. A side and bottom profile view of two .38 Smith & Wesson cartridges. I#0817703 SEM, WARNING! Victory Model RevolversWith 2" BarrelsWhile the vast majority of the S&W .38 Spl. While it wasnt employed as extensively as was the M1911A1 pistol, it accompanied many U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators during the pivotal battles of the Pacific Theater. As was the case with the S&W .38-200 revolvers previously discussed, the majority of these .38 Spl. How To Know It's A S&W Victory Model: They have a "V" prefix in the serial number. Drewrys initials will be found on other types of arms made in the SOD, including Winchester M1 Garand rifles, M1 carbines and military shotguns. I mean, really? Patrick Sweeney is the author of many of Gun Digest books' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the 1911, Vols. Let's explore whether these problems have an easy fix or what your course of action should be when you encounter them. Sorry, there are no results in your area. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot, .38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Every cowboy needs a revolver. Will only ship to your FFL. You can also reach customer service by email at customerservice@smith-wesson.com. With slightly fewer models offered when compared to the Chiefs Specials and Centennials, the Bodyguard J-frames use a "humpback" shrouded hammer design. They later evolved into the "hammerless" Centennial which actually still has a hidden, internal hammer and the Bodyguard line which has the same profile as the Chief's Special but incorporates a shroud over the sides hammer. The rimfire K-frame, or K-22, is also in this family. CART. Smith & Wesson Model 642 38 Special Revolver with Crimson Trace Lasergrip $769.00; After rebate: $719.00; Notify Me When Available; Brand: Smith & Wesson; Item Number: 163811 Hold a legend in your hands and feel the raw power that only S&W can deliver. ? It continued to be issued to some Navy and Marine Corps aircrews during the Korean and Vietnam wars and beyond.