Got another one. Marked : New Service 455 Eley on barrel. British proofs all over. This
is best one I've run into, and I don't go out of my way to find them. This makes 4 in
last year. 3 Colts and a S&W. Nobody that I got one from can tell me where gun had
come from, only that it had been in family for 50yrs. or so and couldn't remember
anyone shooting them. Were these sold surplus at one time? It seems funny 4 of them
popping up in a small area. Word got out I traded a 22 rifle for one and they come out
of wood work. Traded 38 pistol for this one.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1421818900.682799.jpg


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Hi,
Are yours in the original 455 chambering? I had a 2nd model HE that I regret having sold. The 455 was a lot of fun to reload. Cases are a bit of work to fabricate since the rim has to be thinned to .040", as well as OAL trimmed obviously. But that's OK...once formed they last a long time.
Most examples of S&Ws, Colts, and even Webleys seem to have been butchered to shoot 45 ACP or Long Colt. Maybe one day I'll find a nice original in my neck of the woods.

Anyhow, Congrats on a nice find!

Jim

This one is original 455. 1 Colt and the S&W have bee "converted to 45 colt. The
other Colt in 455 has barrel cut back to ejector rod, I made sight for it from 22
rifle sight. I've loaded for it, made 100 brass , made bullets in modified 45/70
mould. Cast fairly soft, sized .457", on 4 1/2 gr. of Unique. Gun shoots pretty good
smith must have cut barrel it has nice crown. Bullet is 272gr.


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I picked this one up a few years ago. It was originally .455 Ely, but was re-chambered to .45 Colt. I wouldn't have made a snubby out of it otherwise.

It was made in 1916, and originally issued to the Brits, but on the inside of one of the grip panels (which are not factory), it says, "Harrelson, R. L., USN", so that leads me to believe it wound up in the hands of a US sailor. It was part of an estate that an elderly woman brought to my LGS. She brought in her deceased brother's collection. There was about 70 pieces dating back to the 1860's, and I bought a couple of them.

Attached Images

DSC_0065.jpg (124.4 KB, 23 views)

Back around 1965, I bought a Colt New Service from Navy Arms/Service Armament at a Columbia, SC gun show. Val Forgett, the owner of the copany was there and had a whole table full of the Colts and Webley surplus revolvers. I paid about $25 as I recall. It was chambered for the later, shorter MKII .455 and would fire .45ACP without moon clips.

__________________
Tom
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