.455 British Svc Revolver Research Thread

[bracebeemer]

Jim,i'm not sure if you have my Mark ll in your data base. It was shipped to Ottawa on July 8th 1916 .Serial# 70000. Smith &Wesson .455 on left side of barrel. As an aside, it has I.Miller scratched into the bottom of grip. It remains in .455 cal. Bill

 

[Hondo44]

Thank you, I know I don't have yours, I wouldn't forget that serial #.

 

[banjoguy]

2nd Model HE #42432, Caliber IS marked on the left side

British proofs (Broad arrow, ??, E, II) & crossed pennants on the left side. Crossed pennants between one of the chambers. No other unique marks. Reblued, but still 455.

The holster it came in is modified. I can put the name scratched into the holster (American guy in 12th Canadian MG Company) at a very specific location at Paaschendaele on the night of Oct 27, 1917. Not sure if the holster is original to the gun but it's certainly been at home there for a long long time.

 

[Hondo44]

Banjoguy,

Thank you!

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum, banjoguy.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

 

[mrcvs]

Here's one to add:

No 2703, No markings on barrel other than address and British Proofmarks. Shipped 16 Dec 1914 and delivered to Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co, NYC, agents for the British Government.

 

[Texas Star]

SER #--32589

I bought this as a shooter rather than a collector.
I believe it to be a heavily modified .455 HE Model II.
It is now .45 LC--work was expertly done and the action is SLICK.
I have asked for the letter just for information.

View attachment 307983

I think this is the work of a gunsmith named George Matthews, in California. I believe he's now deceased.

 

[Hondo44]

Here's one to add:

No 2703, No markings on barrel other than address and British Proofmarks. Shipped 16 Dec 1914 and delivered to Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co, NYC, agents for the British Government.

mrcvs, Thankyou!

 

[S&W ucla]

1st model 455 NO caliber or S&W rollmark. #4871 Proofs as shown in pic. Any clue what "D-6-Q.B." stands for?

 

[Hondo44]

1st model 455 NO caliber or S&W rollmark. #4871 Proofs as shown in pic. Any clue what "D-6-Q.B." stands for?

S&W ucla,

Thank you! Sorry don't know what the D-6-QB is other than some unit designation or Quartermaster inventory #.

Here's two thread links to click on and ask about the marking:

british proof marks - Bing images

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...y-hand-ejector-birmingham-marks-new-post.html

 

[47magnum]

Hi
I have ser# 40380
left side of barrel SMITH & WESSON .455.
top of barrel has patent marking stamp 2 lines
SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS U.S.A.
PATENTED OCT.8,1901 DEC.17,1901 FEB.6,1906
on the underside of barrel in the flat there is a mark about 3/8" before the serial# I can't make out kind of looks like a B

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

It is a B, used on pre war Hand Ejectors to indicate the original finish is blue. An N or no letter indicates an original nickeled gun.

Thx for the info on your 2nd Model 455.

 

[Hondo44]

See post #1 for the latest databank update.

 

[walter o]

I have a triple lock S/N3349 no cal.marks in .455 .acceptance marks =infield small arms and broad arrow .Also crossed pendants .top of barrel
has patent dates .S/N on butt ,lanyard fitting not through it

 

[DCWilson]

Jim, just another vote of thanks for undertaking this project and keeping it current.

Your running summary makes 73778 sound better than it is. Just to be clear, the revolver is not original in any fundamental sense, though it does still carry an original .455 rollmark on the barrel. Modification details are reported in post 18 on page 1; in quick summary, it has been rechambered to .45 Colt (with a possible intermediate stop at .45 S&W/Schofield) and given Micro adjustable sights. This revolver went under the knife more than once to end up looking the way it does now.

 

[JMtoolman]

Sir, would like to add my triple lock to your numbers.
#15055
.455. on left side of barrel
.455 Eley chambers, not .455 Mark 11
Would like to know when it shipped.
Thanks, J.M.

 

[Hondo44]

JM,

All British contract Revolvers are chambered for the 455 Mk I and Mk II and Webley. S&W refers to the cartridge as Mk II only because that was the intended cartridge for the gun. But the brits wanted the longer chambers for the Mk I in case of Mk II ammo shortages.

The Brits called and stamped the 455 2nd models Mk II.

Your serial # is a bit of an anomaly: does it have British proof stamps?

 

[deadin]

Group 3.A. Serial 56167. Marked Smith & Wesson .455 left side of barrel. Standard markings, crossed flags and Enfield marks on left frame knuckle. There are no commercial marks and oddly(?), no broad arrow property and/or release marks... (-><-) (Other than the little broad arrow that is part of the Enfield acceptance mark.)
Does this indicate the gun went to somewhere other than the War Department?

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Dean,

Thx for that 2nd Model 455 (3A) version.

I've never seen any with "Commercial marks", only factory and military marks; so not sure I know what you mean.

S&W contract British service revolvers can have just import marks, proof marks, export marks, only 2 of those or all three. Just depends on how they made the journey.

An example of an exception is it was purchased by the citizens acquisition committee from a US commercial source and sent over instead of going from S&W to Rem UMC, and then overseas.

If they don't have export marks, they came home thru unofficial channels such as in a GI duffle bag.