| Serial Number Range | Approx. Production Date | Key Period Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | – V210,000 | April – December, 1942 | The "V" series begins in April. Peak initial wartime production. | | ~V210,000 – V490,000 | January – December, 1943 | Navy top-strap property marking discontinued around V267,000. High rate of production for Allied forces. | | ~V490,000 – V769,000 | January – December, 1944 | Standard wartime finish and configuration. | | SV769,001 – SV811,119 | Early 1945 | Introduction of the new, improved hammer-block safety, marked by the "S" prefix. Many from this series were never delivered to the military. |
To accurately date and verify your S&W Victory Model, you must look at the correct serial number location and decipher its configuration. Where to Find the Serial Number s w 38 victory model serial number lookup extra quality
| Serial Prefix | Approximate Serial Range | Production Period | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | No prefix (Pre-Victory) | ~ 800,000 – 999,999 | 1940 – April 1942 | Early wartime production before the V prefix was adopted | | V prefix | V1 – V769,000 | April 1942 – late 1944 | Main Victory Model production period | | SV prefix | SV760,000 – SV811,832 | December 1944 – 1945 | Guns with redesigned safety block (or retrofitted) | | S prefix (Post-war) | S769,000+ | 1946 onward | Transitional models after the Victory designation ended | | Serial Number Range | Approx
Since S&W does not offer a simple online serial number lookup tool, collectors have built their own resources. The , maintained by dedicated collectors on the Smith & Wesson Forum, is an invaluable tool. | | ~V210,000 – V490,000 | January –
Beyond the serial number, Victory Models carry a rich array of military markings that tell the story of their service history.
Collectors recognize a category known as "pre-Victory" models—.38 Military & Police revolvers produced in the early years of the war before the official V prefix was adopted. These guns have serial numbers without any letter prefix, typically ranging from approximately 800,000 to 999,999. Pre-Victory production continued through April 1942, at which point S&W began using the V prefix beginning with V1.
3. Identifying "Extra Quality" Victory Models (Collectors & Rarity)