Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Star
Whenever this issue arises, and it happens a lot, we're told that some were made for the RCMP.
I've never seen them mentioned in books or articles about the Mounted Police, but they could have slipped by, as they were not officially adopted. The Colt New Service was their revolver then.
But if memory serves, the name Royal Canadian Mounted Police was not granted until 1920. The correct name at the time of WWI was the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.
I think this is correct. If not, someone will say so. I don't think anyone here collects their guns, but some Canadians are here, and members of the Force have been present on this board.
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There's been a few shown on this forum. They're mentioned in H of S&W, pg. 203.
In 1873 the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) was created. The .450 Adams revolver was the original sidearm, ex- British Army guns.
1904 'Royal' was bestowed upon them, RNWMP. The Colt New Service was 1st ordered, and they were chambered in .455 Eley & re-ordered 3 more times thru 1914.
1918 they switched to the .45 Colt chambered NS. This is the period that 724 S&W 455 Mk II Hand Ejector 2nd Models chambered in 45 Colt were ordered. No serial # list known, Pg 203 H of S&W.
1920 RNWMP merged w/the Dominion Police Force to become a Canadian wide force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
1920 thru 1942 45 Colt NS revolvers were re-ordered exclusively except for 1932 when the last batch of 455 Eleys was ordered. To solve the issue of two different cartridges, all 45 Colt chambered guns were moved to eastern Canada and all 455 Eleys to west of Thunder Bay in Northwest Ontario.
1954 all .45 caliber revolvers were retired and the S&W .38 Spl Military and Police (Pre mod 10) was adopted (thought to be 5 ½” barrels).
1964 retired .45 caliber revolvers were first offered to Force members for $12 ea. Then the remainder were sold to the general public.
Revolvers were usually stamped with variations of the RCMP letters. Of the 3,195 Colt NS revolvers, only 2800 were actually stamped with an issue number.