If your pistol is subject to this advisory, please call Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852 or email us atMP380EZAdvisory@Smith-Wesson.comA FedEx return label and shipping instructions to facilitate the return of your M&P® SHIELD™ 380 EZ™ will be mailed to you promptly. If you have any questions you may call 1-800-331-0852 for more information. Smith & Wesson became a subsidiary of Bangor-Punta from 1965–1983. Between 1983–1987, Smith & Wesson was owned by the Lear Siegler Co. On May 22, 1987, it was.
Smith & Wesson Revolver Identification
SOLD FOR: $1550.89
LSB#: 210514MW58
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 547, 9mm Military & Police, Approximately 10,270 Produced
Serial Number: 9D37725
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Caliber: 9mm
Action Type: 6-Shot, Double / Single Action, Swing-Out, Fluted Cylinder Revolver.
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”, the right “9MM CTG. PAT. 4127955”. The left side of the frame has S&W’s monogram logo, the right has the four-line Marcas Registradas. The yoke cut is marked with the serial number above “MOD. 547”. The yoke and sides of the frame have inspection marks. The butt is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 4” Heavy with Solid Rib
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp blade set on the solid rib. The rear sight is a square notch milled into the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood magna stocks with S&W medallions at their tops. There are one or two light compressions, the most noticeable is on the front of the left panel. The checkering is strong. Overall, the grips rate in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. The cylinder has a thin turn line. There are a couple of little marks. The barrel is over-rotated, easily observed when looking at the top of the rib where it meets the top strap. The trigger and hammer have some light operational wear. Otherwise, there are just light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp, the grip screw has light wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder produces light side-to-side play in full lockup of all 6 chambers. The double-action trigger pull is smooth, the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a serial matching two-piece box and paperwork including the manual.
Our Assessment: This is a Smith and Wesson Model 547 9mm Military and Police double-action revolver. It is chambered for 9mm Parabellum, has a 4” heavy barrel and a six-round cylinder, and the cylinder has a star with extractors especially designed to fit the extractor grooves of 9mm cartridge cases. The pistol is in about Excellent condition with about 98% of its original finish remaining. It has a light dragline in the cylinder and the tiniest of marks from standard use. The grip checkering is strong with no mars and the bore is bright with sharp rifling. The revolver comes in its original factory box with wax paper. This is a great looking revolver that looks as though it was shot only a few times and then locked back up for the next thirty years, taken out of the safe only to be cleaned and oiled. This gun is perfect for someone who collects S&W revolvers – a nice-looking revolver that was only made for about 5 years with its factory box. if the collectors don’t pay enough attention, then someone is going to get a chance at a great-looking K-framed S&W double-action revolver chambered in 9mm Parabellum that will be great for home protection and can also be used for concealed carry. With its great bore and cylinder lockup, this revolver should last for a lifetime of shooting enjoyment. Please see our photos and good luck!
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.
How To Look Up S&w Serial Numbers
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
Smith Wesson Revolver Serial Numbers
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.
S W Serial Numbers Chart
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