Don't just look at the number! Check the grips for the "U.S. PROPERTY" cartouche or the top strap for the "GHD" (Guy H. Drewry) inspection stamp.
Chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge (known by the British as .38-200).
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
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.
Production began around serial number in early 1942. It ran continuously up to approximately V769,000 by late 1944. Serial Number Range Estimated Year of Production V1 to V200,000 V200,001 to V500,000 V500,001 to V769,000 The "S" Safety Upgrade and the VS-Prefix (1944 – 1945) Don't just look at the number
This stands for Guy H. Drewry, the ordnance inspector. His initials signify official military acceptance. Lend-Lease Proofs
For $100 (as of 2025), you can request a factory letter from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. This letter will confirm: Drewry) inspection stamp
Production moved rapidly during the war. Use this general roadmap to locate your revolver's manufacturing window: Serial Number Range Estimated Production Year Primary Recipient / Context Early 1942 Early U.S. Navy & Defense Supplies Corporation (DSC) V 40,000 to V 200,000 Split between U.S. forces and British Lend-Lease V 200,000 to V 550,000 Peak production, heavy Allied distribution V 550,000 to V 769,000 Early to Mid-1944 Final "V" only series before safety modification SV 769,001 to SV 811,119 Late 1944 to Late 1945 Introduction of the new factory safety hammer block
Not every World War II-era Smith & Wesson M&P is a true Victory Model. The definitive "Victory" designation belongs to revolvers produced within a specific serial number range featuring a distinct letter prefix. The "V" Prefix