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07-29-2020, 02:29 AM
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Production date and information on a .455 Mk. II Hand Ejector
Hi,
Any help in regards to this revolver I just purchased (but haven't taken possession of yet) including date of manufacturer and whether Canadian or British would be greatly appreciated. This is my first foray into double action Smiths so a bit out of my league knowledge wise.
Thanks,
Katelynne
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07-29-2020, 02:31 AM
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Additional pictures.......
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07-29-2020, 05:40 AM
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Katieboots,
Welcome to the forum!
Noce looking revolver! I have little knowledge of the 455s except that many were converted to handle more common and familiar “American” cartridges. Several of the 455 aficionados will be along to dissect and explain the revolver you have presented.
From the photographs and the little I know, yours appears to have not been converted based on the serial numbers still being present on the cylinder.
Looking forward to more photographs and a range report!
Kevin
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Last edited by StrawHat; 07-29-2020 at 05:42 AM.
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07-29-2020, 06:58 AM
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Katieboots,
Welcome to the forum!
Your .455 looks like a fine, unmolested example. I think it was in British service, as evidenced by the Broad Arrow:
Other than that, I have little knowledge of British or Canadian military acceptance stamps. Some members do, and I hope a more knowledgeable member will chime in to explain the various stamps on your revolver.
Curl
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07-29-2020, 07:42 AM
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That looks like a very original unmolested .455 Hand Ejector, Second Model. Production date for that serial number would be late 1915. It sure looks like it is still chambered for the .455 Webley cartridge, which is a big plus for its value. Many have been converted (sometimes very crudely) to fire .45 Colt or more often .45 ACP. That one is very desirable.
In the column of markings at the rear of the frame, the Broad Arrow is a British ownership mark. I can't read the other markings all that well, but they usually indicate acceptance into service at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield. The II indicates that this is indeed the "Mark II" version (or Second Model as we say) of the S&W Hand Ejector. (The First Model was the Triple Lock).
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Last edited by Jack Flash; 07-29-2020 at 07:43 AM.
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07-29-2020, 08:38 AM
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Interesting that there is no out of service arrows on it. Marks the Brits use when they sell a gun out of military inventory.
This 4555 came to me with some white in the lettering to make it show up. You can see the arrows on the yoke
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07-29-2020, 09:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver
Interesting that there is no out of service arrows on it. Marks the Brits use when they sell a gun out of military inventory . . .
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I have three 455s that do not have the sold out of service stamp for whatever reason. It seems that a sizeable percentage of these do not have that stamp so not unusual. Maybe many were sold off in large shipments and none of them were stamped??
You have an honest wear nicely well cared for British service revolver. Fiocchi is still making ammo for this model and can usually be found online.
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07-29-2020, 10:38 AM
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Properly photographed UK examples such as Katelynne's help give us a better understanding of what stamps were actually applied for military use versus what marks may have been later applied when it was taken out of military service and sold on the civilian and/or export market.
A very nice example indeed.
I just have one question for the experts, and I feel I should probably know it by now, what does the "B-F" indicate on the barrel flat near the barrel's s/n? I know typically we would expect a "B" to mean blued but the "B-F" (in a more modern font) kinda has me scratching my head.
Are there any import markings elsewhere on the revolver? I just wonder if it could be something along those lines?
Last edited by tenntex32; 07-29-2020 at 10:45 AM.
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07-29-2020, 10:53 AM
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I absolutely love the patina on that gold medallion.
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07-29-2020, 10:56 AM
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"Welcome to the forum!"
I was fixin' to welcome katieboots also and then I noticed she had joined in 2017!!! Katelynne just doesn't post much!!!!!
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07-29-2020, 11:03 AM
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Some people only talk when they have something nice to say......
She definitely has a very nice opening statement with her 2nd Model revolver.
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07-29-2020, 11:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Flash
...
In the column of markings at the rear of the frame, the Broad Arrow is a British ownership mark. I can't read the other markings all that well, but they usually indicate acceptance into service at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield. The II indicates that this is indeed the "Mark II" version (or Second Model as we say) of the S&W Hand Ejector. (The First Model was the Triple Lock).
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The broad arrow and the II were separate stamps, while the set in-between, the Enfield inspector’s stamp with crown/ID code/E, was one stamp. That one was obviously carelessly or hastily struck on this revolver. Just about teatime
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07-29-2020, 04:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tenntex32
. . . I just have one question for the experts, and I feel I should probably know it by now, what does the "B-F" indicate on the barrel flat near the barrel's s/n? I . . .
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I saw that as well, but do not know why it was stamped that way?? I do not recall seeing that stamp before?? Who has the answer??
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07-29-2020, 06:22 PM
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I had not seen this before either.
Upon close inspection, the dash and F both appear deeper struck than the B.
Unfortunately, over the years our members who have presented .455 HE’s with photos have hardly ever included a picture of the underbarrel. I finally found one in the .455 HE picture thread, posted by H. Richard in 2016, and sure enough, there is the B - F. No discussion of the stamping in the thread, though.
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07-29-2020, 09:42 PM
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I'd like to thank everyone who's commented and helped in this post......I suppose I should have mentioned that I'm not wholly unfamiliar with the English proof marking system but up until now that's only been on the various Webley handguns I've owned over the years (with the exception of a S&W Lemon Squeezer that was sold in Blighty around 1908) and so I was unsure in this regard. The only large frame trigger cocking Smith I've ever owned was a Double Action Model Frontier in .44-40.
These new fangled swing out cylinders are something to behold indeed!
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07-29-2020, 10:32 PM
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nice orig piece
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