1917 with some English markings

[Absalom]

Not imagining it, that's a sideways crown.

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. I think it's a bald guy waving his arms behind two large pumpkins .... sorry ....

But seriously, I think it has to be a partial one of the old British proofs, crown over circle, which would go with the NOT ENGLISH MAKE per this list:

 

[Absalom]

Did the broad arrow show acceptance by the British military?

And to nitpick one more minor point: Strictly speaking, the broad arrow was the British military property mark.

The set of acceptance stamps, consisting of a crown with inspector's codes and Enfield identifier below, is usually found underneath the broad arrow in the same location at the back of the frame.

However, as mentioned before, the stamping was not 100% consistent. Also, while the British phased out the practice in the course of the war, many officers still purchased sidearms privately, as had been required prior to the war, so there may be "military" guns not marked at all.

 

[Gene L]

Thanks, S&Wchad, for identifying the eagle head stamp near the trigger guard. I puzzled over it on mine, looked as someone else posted, kinda like a penguin or a ghost!

The SN from my source (oldguns,net) shows date of Oct of 1918, which I guess is why the ordnance flaming bomb is on there?

Lots of informed people on this board.

 

[StrawHat]

...Lots of informed people on this board...

That, is an understatement!

Every day I come to this forum I learn something.

Thank you all for sharing what has been posted so far. Lots to digest and try to put into place with this revolver.

And, it came wrapped in a holster, M4 by Milwaukee Saddlery rated 1944, but the Sgt who put his name and service number on the holster was too young for service in WWII. So, another mystery.

Kevin

 

[Gene L]

I can't give you much info on the markings but I'm pretty certain it's be reblued in it's long and useful lifetime.

I agree, which may be the reason some marks are faint...like the flaming bomb, the crown, and maybe the "Not made....".

Looks like aggressive buffing.

 

[Hondo44]

The SN from my source (oldguns,net) shows date of Oct of 1918, which I guess is why the ordnance flaming bomb is on there?

Correct, WWI 1917s are marked "GHS" in a circle, (Gilbert H. Stewart), Gov’t inspector, left side frame up near the hammer: serial number range 1 to at least 43894.

Later guns are marked with a flaming bomb on upper rear left side of frame, beginning c. #42000 for the duration.

 

[Gene L]

Correct, WWI 1917s are marked "GHS" in a circle, (Gilbert H. Stewart), Gov’t inspector, left side frame up near the hammer: serial number range 1 to at least 43894.

Later guns are marked with a flaming bomb on upper rear left side of frame, beginning c. #42000 for the duration.

Mine is a 54XXX Apr 1918 and has no GHS mark on it, I assumed because it was made before the Govt took over and began inspecting them...does have the in-house eagle head mentioned above.

I'm certainly no expert as an owner of only one, but have seen several videos on 1917s, and I was looking for the GHS, and several of the ones I saw didn't have it.

 

[Jack Flash]

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. I think it's a bald guy waving his arms behind two large pumpkins .... sorry ....

But seriously, I think it has to be a partial one of the old British proofs, crown over circle, which would go with the NOT ENGLISH MAKE per this list:

Makes sense.

As one loop seems to be at a different elevation than the other, I am going to guess it's the CP (intertwined) surmounted by a Crown, poorly struck / partially obliterated. They were fond of using that one.

 

[AlanDavid]

As stated above the only thing that can be said for certain is that the revolver was commercially proofed at the London proof house from 1925 to 1954/55.
Most of these British marked Model 1917's that I have seen have been proofed in London and not Birmingham. The only British military marking I have seen is one or two guns marked with a crown over AM for Air Ministry, these guns ending up with the RAF. Even though 10,000 of the 20,000 M1917 revolvers purchased in June 1940 went to the Air Ministry - the other 10,000 ended up in the Middle East - AM marked examples are very rare. I have never seen one with a broad arrow ownership mark or any Enfield inspection/acceptance markings and believe that I never will as like the 500,000 Model 1917 Rifles that the U.K. purchased in June 1940, these were not marked either. The exception to this is the two inch wide band of red paint that was applied to the forewood of the rifles to show they were .300 (.30/06) caibre and not .303. I have seen M1917 revolvers with the vestige of red paint on the barrel also.
So personally I think the OP's revolver is one of the 20,000 purchased in June 1940, but without the AM marking or the remnant of red paint this
is speculative.
Regards
AlanD

 

[StrawHat]

So far, here is what I have been able to find out about this revolver and holster. It was, at one time, owned by Sgt Warren Frederick. Sgt Frederick was a Korean War veteran who served at an Artillery base in Texas during the Korean War. He passed away in January of 2019. About 5 years earlier, his family decided to move him in to a private apartment. Because of this moves his firearms were sold at auction. I acquired this earlier in 2020. His daughters are not gun savvy and could not provide any information on either revolver or holster. I talked to one of his friends, also a KW veteran who believes Sgt Frederick purchased the holster and revolver during his stay in Texas.

Unfortunately, that is all I have found out and it appears the well has been run dry.

Kevin