Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44
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.
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Jim:
This parallels info in a book on RCMP firearms and info that I got via their HQ in Ottawa some years ago. The inspector who replied to my letter has the same last name as I do. Maybe someone saw our name and figured he was a relative? He also enclosed a paper written by a new constable on the history of the Force which was also covered in a, Classics comic book in the 1950's.
Among the inclusions in his pkg. were photos of Colt and S&W (Bodyguard) snub revolvers and a Model 10 with 5-inch bbl. A ruler in the photo confirmed bbl. length and I know what a five-inch M&P looks like. I also saw that length in use by the RCMP detachment in Corner Brook, Nfld. while stationed there with the USAF. I was the USAF cop who dealt most with the Mountie liaisons.
I also talked with a RCMP constable in Dallas while he was there for their famed Musical Ride. He groomed his horse and talked to my kids and me.
They're good cops, if a bit heavy-handed at times.
THe only place where I've previously heard of a 5.5-inch bbl. (other than in your post here) was in an article by Massad Ayoob, who told me he'd seen one at the depot in Regina, SASK. I think he knows a 5.5-incher when he sees one, but until I see photos, that gun is like Bigfoot: I want to believe, and accept expert testimony. But...
A few may have been cut down to fit the holsters after acquiring six-inchers from some force that RCMP absorbed. But most M-10's had the usual five-inch barrels. Why any shortened ones wouldn't have been cut at five inches baffles me.
If anyone knows more and has seen guns they KNOW have 5.5 inch barrels, please post.
BTW, the service load for the M-10 in later decades was a lead SWC-HP Plus P round. It gave good results, and the Force was satisfied with that stopping power when they adopted the S&W 9mm autos.