.455 HE with History

[Monty05]

Recently I obtained a .455 Mark ll Hand Ejector 2nd model (I think). From inscriptions on the holster and recollections from a previous owner we have been able to research it's WW1 travels.

Owner was Lt Frederick Gardener who enlisted as a private late in 1914 in the North Somerset Yeomanry and landed in France Nov 3. The unit suffered heavy losses at Bellewarde, near Ypres. Frederick received his commission as 2nd Lt with the West Somerset Yeomanry and returned to England. Perhaps around this time he was issued his revolver. The holster is marked W.S.Y.
October 9, 1915 this unit landed at Suvla Bay as part of the Gallipoli campaign. Late December all Allied forces were evacuated from Gallipoli and the WSY moved to Egypt.
He was promoted to Lieutenant and seconded to the 229 Brigade, Signals Section.
Through 1917 this brigade saw action at the Third Battle of Gaza, Capture and Defence of Jerusalem and Battle of Tell'Asur.
In May 1918 they were sent to France where they took part in the Second Battle of the Somme, and Battles of the Hindenburg Line.
Frederick was briefly appointed Captain but reverted to Lt on returning to the West Somerset Yeomanry on 1919.
It is believed that he spent some time in Canada after the war, but was back in England by 1925.His older brother William lived in Victoria, B.C. (served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force) and it is his son who came into possession of the revolver. Frederick died in Surrey, England in 1971.
The old Smith is not pristine, but in good shape for age of over 100 years. It locks tight and shoots well. These are great handguns, and having some story makes this one even more special to me.

 

[Kurusu]

Not pristine, yes. But with loads of character. And a great story to boot.

Congratulations on your find.

Edit. And yes, it is a second model.

 

[22hipower]

Looks great to me, and having the provenance is priceless. Thanks for sharing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Absalom]

Very interesting gun and story. It is rare to have that much background especially on an issue sidearm.

The gun appears to have the crossed-pennant standard military proof in front of the barrel, but (unusually) no acceptance stamp on the upper frame behind the cylinder. And someone was particularly thorough and put two sold-out-of-service marks on the same side of the frame.

Edit: Never mind about the "missing" acceptance stamp. I'm oblivious.

 

[mh51]

Pristine, no. But the research and provenance are worth their weight in gold. Very Nice!

 

[DCC]

Great PROVENANCE - thanks for sharing.
BTW - I may be preaching to the converted but I find my 455s are most accurate when using the proper hollow based WC bullets 220gr with a light charge of Ramshot Competition.
DCC in UK

 

[Jack Flash]

...
The gun appears to have the crossed-pennant standard military proof in front of the barrel, but (unusually) no acceptance stamp on the upper frame behind the cylinder. And someone was particularly thorough and put two sold-out-of-service marks on the same side of the frame.

It does have a column of markings at the extreme rear of the frame, above the stocks. I can't quite make out the inspector identification, (should be a letter and number, like F7 for example). However, the first two marks in the column (the Broad Arrow over Crown) and the last two (E over II) seem to be clear enough in the picture.

 

[Absalom]

It does have a column of markings at the extreme rear of the frame, above the stocks....

Good catch. I somehow skipped over that. On the WW II-era guns, they're usually in that location, but on the WW I guns l'm used to seeing them on the upper frame in front of the hammer.

 

[Kingspoke]

Looks great to me, and having the provenance is priceless. Thanks for sharing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Yeah, I agree, it does look great all things considered!

 

[opoefc]

If the stocks are original to the gun ( serial numbered on back of right panel),then British military rules require the unit armorer to stamp the unit's number and a rack, or inventory, number on the bottom (butt) of the wood portion of the stocks, according to Mr. David Penn, Curator of Exhibits, Imperial War Museum, London. In the haste of war preparations, this was often missed, so WW1 S&Ws seldom are found with the correct stamping. Have you lettered the gun to see when it was shipped to Britain? It may have been a private purchase after Lt. Gardner was an officer, and would not have required a unit mark. As an enlisted man, he could have been issued the gun by his unit. Depending on the ship date, you can estimate when he might have acquired the gun, however as an officer he would have been allowed to keep the gun after his discharge. Ed.

 

[Texas Star]

If the stocks are original to the gun ( serial numbered on back of right panel),then British military rules require the unit armorer to stamp the unit's number and a rack, or inventory, number on the bottom (butt) of the wood portion of the stocks, according to Mr. David Penn, Curator of Exhibits, Imperial War Museum, London. In the haste of war preparations, this was often missed, so WW1 S&Ws seldom are found with the correct stamping. Have you lettered the gun to see when it was shipped to Britain? It may have been a private purchase after Lt. Gardner was an officer, and would not have required a unit mark. As an enlisted man, he could have been issued the gun by his unit. Depending on the ship date, you can estimate when he might have acquired the gun, however as an officer he would have been allowed to keep the gun after his discharge. Ed.

Officers PAID for their revolvers prior to 1920. This one has sold out of service marks.

May have been issued, if he was a machine gunner, MP, courier, etc., then he bought it on receiving a commission. ??

That's an officer's holster. Enlisted holsters were open-topped and had a brass cleaning rod attached.

Great provenance!

 

[PJGP]

It is clearly not a private purchase, given the military proof stamp and inspection markings.

Besides, there were no 455 HEs before the military contract, and I very much doubt that any were commercially imported during the war.

Peter

 

[Texas Star]

It is clearly not a private purchase, given the military proof stamp and inspection markings.

Besides, there were no 455 HEs before the military contract, and I very much doubt that any were commercially imported during the war.

Peter

Peter-

I think it was an issued gun, but it supposedly has opposing Broad Arrow points, meaning Sold Out of Service stocks/supplies.

Member Cpt. Curl has a Triple Lock sold commercially in England about 1909. I think it's a .44 Special, but S&W revolvers were available in the UK before the war.

Granted, a MK II .455 would be a govt. ordered gun. But some were sold to individual officers.

 

[Monty05]

Further, have attached a closer view of markings on LH rear of frame.
There is no serial number on the stocks. Another I have , with no military marks, has the serial number penciled on inside of the right stock; this could have been done by anybody. Were numbers stamped on stocks?
Guess I'll look to have these lettered.
Appreciate your comments folks.

 

[Texas Star]

Further, have attached a closer view of markings on LH rear of frame.
There is no serial number on the stocks. Another I have , with no military marks, has the serial number penciled on inside of the right stock; this could have been done by anybody. Were numbers stamped on stocks?
Guess I'll look to have these lettered.
Appreciate your comments folks.

I think all of those .455 MK II's had the marks at the top rear of the frame. Mine did.

What looks like an X with a line through it are opposing Broad Arrow marks, meaning Sold Out of Stores. Whether sold to this officer or to a dealer after the war, I can't say.

But given its known history, I think the officer bought it. Don't know if he was ever issued with this gun while an enlisted man.

 

[Muley Gil]

Further, have attached a closer view of markings on LH rear of frame.
There is no serial number on the stocks. Another I have , with no military marks, has the serial number penciled on inside of the right stock; this could have been done by anybody. Were numbers stamped on stocks?
Guess I'll look to have these lettered.
Appreciate your comments folks.

During the WW I era, the serial number was penciled onto the right grip. Later, the number was stamped.