455 Canadian

[Glenn Kelley]

I just read glowe's thread below and it was a great help with mine.

It has the crown over 30 on the bottom of the grip and the C with the broad arrow is stamped between the cylinder release and the trigger.Mine is not in the condition his is as it appears to have been carried alo*****chanically it is good and the bore is not a mirror but it is not dark either.

I have a couple questions.On the frame behind the crane is the number 1951 what does it refer to?The serial number is 680xxx,can anyone date it from that?

I just got it yesterday and the more I handle it the better I like it.
Thanks in advance.

Glenn

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. The .455 Second Models never got above serial number 75000 (actually a little less), so I think you may have an extra X in the one you report. But in general, the second models mostly shipped within a 12-month time frame, mid-1915 to mid-1916. Your gun (if it indeed has a serial number in the 68000 range) probably shipped fairly late in that period. I have 73778, a much modified and refinished gun that now has adjustable sights and has been altered to take .45 Colt. It shipped in July 1916.

The number you see on the frame when the cylinder is open is a process control number that means nothing once the serial number has been applied to the different parts of the revolver.

I know why you like your revolver. The .455s are a very cool revolver in either the first or second model.

[Glenn Kelley]

Thanks for the reply David.Your right one extra X.
So how do I tell the difference between a first and second model?
Something else I noticed just now.There is no half cock position for the hammer is this normal?
Glenn

[sureshotbob]

The 1st moel AKA {triple lock} has a extra lock on the front of the ejector rod and the ejector rod is shrouded. The 2nd model dosn't have the 3rd lock and has no ejector shroud on the bbl.
I can't remember about the half cock on the hammer and mine is in the safe in the bedroom and I don't want to wake my wife this late. If nobody answers I'll check in the morning.

[glowe]

I just checked mine and there is no half cock. Given that mine has seen little use, I assume that was not a feature on these revolvers.

[DCWilson]

The story is that the Brits didn't like the First Model .455s because they were hard to clean. Trench mud could get into the shroud and possibly take the gun out of service or at least slow reloading in critical conditions. There were only 5000 first models, and then 70,000 more second models in the same numbering sequence.

When S&W got a contract for the Model 1917, which was designed for service in WWI , they left off the ejector rod shroud because of the mud experience and, I would guess, for production economy as well. The basic design of N-frame S&Ws (large frame, usually in .44 or .45 calibers) incorporates the ejector rod shroud. Military models mostly don't have it.

No half cock position on S&W double action revolvers. No sure about the earliest single action models; I don't look at those very much.

[Texas Star]

Fellows, have you ever seen ANY double-action revolver with a "half-cock notch"?

This sounds like a question from someone more familiar with Colt or Ruger Single-Action guns or the M-1911A-1 Colt auto.

I did once own a Second Model S&W .455, and it did not, of course, have a half cock notch. Nothing is missing; that's the way it was designed.

The trigger can either be pulled all the way through for a double-action shot, or the hammer can be cocked for a shorter release single-action trigger pull less likely to disturb the aim.

BTW, Elmer Keith told in, "Sixguns" about a Canadian who had one of the S&W .455's in a shoulder holster under his tunic. He was captured by Germans, and when they took cover from a barrage in an old shell hole, he used the flash of exploding artillery rounds (it was night) to locate each of his captors, then drew the .455 and killed all of them. I think there were three. Don't recall whether Elmer said if the .455 was a Triple Lock or a Second Model.

[Glenn Kelley]

Texas Star,
Your posting with the advantage of a nights sleep.
Of course your right,I had just never thought about it and have been using a couple rifles that do.

Thanks to everyone for the information.

Glenn