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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 10-17-2018, 10:19 PM
MrG5122 MrG5122 is offline
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Default .455 Mark II second model

I ran across this one today. Guessing 85%+ condition. I’m sorry I did not look at the barrel markings. It did appear by looking at the chambers to be chambered in 45 Colt. Lanyard ring was missing.

The guy behind the counter said the proof stamps were Canadian. Could this be one of the 724 made for the Canadian government in 45 colt per SCSW. Value?
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Old 10-17-2018, 10:51 PM
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If it is a factory 45 colt think it would be marked as such. Not as 455. If it was modified either they reamed cylinder and slightly recessed for thicker colt rims or shaved cylinder so the rims would clear. If shaved cylinder cylinder serial number would be gone. There is a real poor method and that is shave recoil shield. Also could replace cylinder and end up with cylinder serial not marching frame.
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Old 10-17-2018, 11:04 PM
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It is more likely to be a second model .455 converted to .45 Colt.
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Old 10-18-2018, 01:06 AM
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To be one of the 724 factory 45 Colt chambered 2nd
Models it would have:

A front sight slightly higher than a 455 2nd Model.

No barrel cartridge marking.

Matching serial # on the rear face of cyl WITHOUT recessed chambers.

Canadian govt stamps.


A factory 45 Colt with all of the above EXCEPT the Canadian stamps would be one of 15 sold commercially. These are likely “over run” guns from the above order.
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Old 10-18-2018, 01:28 AM
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A high probabliity that it is a .455 rechambered to .45 Colt. Not so bad as a shooter if the rechambering was done properly (not shaving the rear cylinder face).
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Old 10-18-2018, 02:00 AM
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I hope the dealer knows what he is talking about. There was no such thing as “Canadian proofs”, just a small acceptance mark involving crown plus number, usually on the butt, but also seen elsewhere, and the military property mark, the “broad arrow in a C”. On quite a few .455 HE’s one can also find a complete set of British Enfield marks, the cluster on the back frame plus the crossed-pennant proof, in addition to the Canadian property stamp, indicating those guns made their way to Canada via Britain.
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Old 10-18-2018, 08:18 PM
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Not to hijack this thread, but I've always been confused by most of the British Military nomenclature- there's always a numbered model and a Mark Number- the revolvers, the Enfields, and it seems like they kept producing lower numbered specimens after the higher numbered ones were introduced....Anyone have a good link that explains all of their intricacies?
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Old 10-18-2018, 08:29 PM
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I hope the dealer knows what he is talking about. There was no such thing as “Canadian proofs”, just a small acceptance mark involving crown plus number, usually on the butt, but also seen elsewhere, and the military property mark, the “broad arrow in a C”. On quite a few .455 HE’s one can also find a complete set of British Enfield marks, the cluster on the back frame plus the crossed-pennant proof, in addition to the Canadian property stamp, indicating those guns made their way to Canada via Britain.
I would love to see some pics of these stampings to compare. I think I will give it another drive-by..
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Old 10-18-2018, 09:11 PM
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I would love to see some pics of these stampings to compare. I think I will give it another drive-by..
I don’t want to presume to re-post other members’ photos from older threads.

So I recommend you do a forum search for “Canadian .455 HE”. A number of threads will pop up, several with photos of the Enfield marks, crossed pennants, and Canadian acceptance stamp and arrow in a C.
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Old 10-18-2018, 10:35 PM
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I thought I read somewhere that the 724 chambered in 45 Colt were for the RCMP. Is that correct?
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Old 10-18-2018, 10:53 PM
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I don’t want to presume to re-post other members’ photos from older threads.

So I recommend you do a forum search for “Canadian .455 HE”. A number of threads will pop up, several with photos of the Enfield marks, crossed pennants, and Canadian acceptance stamp and arrow in a C.
Google images and definitions of British marks:
british proof marks - Bing images



Identify Hand Ejector Birmingham Marks - in the S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 section of Smith & Wesson Forum.

This thread is located at:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...-new-post.html
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Old 10-18-2018, 10:56 PM
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I thought I read somewhere that the 724 chambered in 45 Colt were for the RCMP. Is that correct?
Yes.

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 by the RNWMP. No serial # list known, Pg 203 H of S&W. But a # range has been reported.

Most of the 724 are in the 70K range, though there are some earlier... in the 40K range... that didn't go to Canada. #74301 is one that did, a Canadian-shipped .455 HE 2nd Mod. in .45 Colt.
Post #13 has an interesting story of one here:
RCMP .455 SECOND MODEL
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Old 10-19-2018, 02:42 AM
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Google images and definitions of British marks:
british proof marks - Bing images

Identify Hand Ejector Birmingham Marks - in the S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 section of Smith & Wesson Forum.

This thread is located at:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...-new-post.html
Be aware that most of Jim’s links deal with another aspect to consider, post-war British commercial proofs, which are yet another entirely different animal than the British Enfield and Canadian marks discussed so far.

A gun that came here directly from Canada will not have Birmingham or London post-war proofs, but there are guns that apparently spent time in Canadian service, yet went off duty in Britain and so were proofed there for commercial sale.

It can get a bit confusing

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Old 10-20-2018, 06:24 PM
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Ok. Did a drive by and took some pics. If this is the real deal what is a fair value?
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Old 10-20-2018, 06:49 PM
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Ok. Did a drive by and took some pics. If this is the real deal what is a fair value?
Can't help with a price, but unless there is nothing ahead of that 299.95 I would say they are high. It appears to be a .455 that passed through Britain and Canada, converted by recessing the charge holes for the .45 Colt rim. Looks like a clean job from here. With appropriate stocks.
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Old 10-20-2018, 06:51 PM
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The conversion to .45 Colt was done the correct way by recessing the cylinder for the rims slightly. You can still fire .455 ammo and have the correct head space.
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Old 10-20-2018, 07:13 PM
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Thanks gentlemen
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Old 10-20-2018, 07:16 PM
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Yep, Canadian marks after a set of Enfield acceptance stamps and the pennant proof in front of the cylinder, but I see no evidence of any post-war marks, so it went US-British service-Canadian service-back to US.

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Old 10-20-2018, 07:45 PM
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Ok. Did a drive by and took some pics. If this is the real deal what is a fair value?
Since it's not "the real deal", the conversion and condition appears to put it in the 'shooter' category, I'd say $800 + or - a few hundred would be a fair ballpark price w/o a better look at it.

What's the asking price? $1299? $2990?
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Old 10-21-2018, 04:14 PM
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Since it's not "the real deal", the conversion and condition appears to put it in the 'shooter' category, I'd say $800 + or - a few hundred would be a fair ballpark price w/o a better look at it.

What's the asking price? $1299? $2990?
$1299. I offered them $900 and they came down $100. It's still there.
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Old 10-21-2018, 07:07 PM
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Use this test:
If you went back today and it was gone, how regretful will you feel passing it up at $1200?

If not that much, let them keep it for awhile. If it's still there in 3 weeks or month, maybe they'll deal more.

If you would regret letting it go, and really like it and want it, get it. You'll just be buying it a little early, as they say.

Remember gun buying rule #1: The sting of not buying a hard to find gun that you wanted, always lasts a lot longer than the sting of the price you would have paid!
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Old 10-22-2018, 01:07 AM
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At $1200 it will probably be there for quite a while.
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Old 10-22-2018, 01:57 PM
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About 6 months ago an original unmodified .455 2nd Model in pretty good shape was in a local gun shop's used gun display case for $1200. A month ago it was still there at the same price. I don't know if it is still there.
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Old 10-22-2018, 07:48 PM
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$1299. I offered them $900 and they came down $100. It's still there.
So you're only $300 apart. In your shoes, I might try offering $1,000 and see if they come down to $1,099. Whether it's worth that much or not is up to you.


About 7 - 8 years ago, I saw a really nice .455 in original condition for $800. I thought that was a lot so I decided to wait a couple of weeks and see if the price dropped. It was gone next time I came in. I doubt I could find one like it for that price now.
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Old 10-22-2018, 07:49 PM
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I found this one in a Cabella's in the Denver area a few years ago. Sitting in the case in the fine gun room it didn't look just right, so I had them get it out, and discovered it had been sleeved for 38 Special. Work was done so well, it didn't disturb the original finish. The only outward difference I notices was the front sight had been reduced to zero the 38 Special rounds.

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Old 10-22-2018, 11:20 PM
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I'm actually looking for a cherry <1952 K22 with the fish hook hammer and original numbered sharp shouldered magnas. This one piqued my interest mainly because I don't own a 45 Colt. If it was factory chambered I'd buy it tomorrow. Thanks for all the help. This is not the first time you guys have bailed me out.
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Old 10-23-2018, 09:22 AM
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Nothing wrong with a 455 altered to shoot both the original caliber and a 45 Colt round. I love shooting mine and nothing better than going out to the club with a 455 and gathering a crowd of black plastic gun owners. I showed my small collection of 455s to my gunsmith and he had never held one before, but has been in business for decades so they are not hanging around every LGS you stop at. I think the price is too high, but would certainly offer a reasonable price and see what happens. I can tell you that you will find lots more K22 Masterpiece revolvers out there than 455s, altered or not.

The last one I bought was a bargain, but to many a sow's ear as well. It had been parkerized and altered for 45 Colt. I shoot both in the gun and it functions perfectly, as well as when it was new. It had a thin pair of MOP after-market stocks on it which were slippery as well as ugly. Found a set of faux ivory stocks on ebay, drilled a hole in the top and added original gold medallions and it looks 100% better. Tight and accurate is the best you can do for a 455 shooter and this one fits the bill. I now have three and one is original 455, one is 455/45 Colt, and one is 45ACP full moon clip alteration. Shoot them all and would not want to be without at least one on every trip to the range. Good luck.
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Old 10-23-2018, 11:37 AM
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Gary, what are you using for a back drop for your pictures? Does it have any Marine Corps info on it?

Nice old Smifs ya got there.
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Old 10-23-2018, 05:15 PM
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Gary, what are you using for a back drop for your pictures? Does it have any Marine Corps info on it? . . .
It is a large multi-page poster sized World Atlas that chronicles WWI. It was published by Farm & Fireside National Farm Magazine. I believe it dates from 1922. The maps highlight the Western Front, the American and Allied Armies, and Armed Forces before and after the war. There is only one reference to Marines as shown in images below. Interesting statistics and subject matter.
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