.455 Mark II 2nd model - unsure

[jrm6142]

Hey everyone. I just joined the forum and this is my first post. I was hoping for some help with identifying a revolver I recently acquired. I attached 3 pictures so you can see. I am certain that its a .455 Mark II Hand Ejector 2nd model. What is throwing me off is that the serial number is 174290, marked both on the butt and on the cylinder. Its missing the butt swivel for lanyard, but other than that the gun is flawless. It also does not have any import marks on it. According to Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, serial number should be somewhere within 65000 made and all of them should have import markings so I'm unsure whats going on.

 

[desi2358]

No British proof marks? With a high serial number maybe a special order or a commercial model intended for sale in Canada? The 455 round remained popular there for quite a few years, saw military, law enforcement and private use. That's one I would have to get a letter on.

 

[22hipower]

The SN is in the range of later commercial 1917s, I have SN 179014 which shipped in August of 1927. The stocks are correct for the 1920s, is the right hand inside panel numbered to the gun? It might be in pencil and hard to read or might be stamped. Nice gun, and welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Jack Flash]

Both S&W and Colt chambered their big revolvers in .455 for the Canadian trade (and possibly the Brits, Aussies, and South Africans) well after WWI. I think they quit sometime around the beginning of WWII.

 

[handejector]

Does the barrel have a serial number on the bottom?
Does the cylinder have a number on the back?
Show us a pic of the cylinder from the rear looking into the chambers.
I would also like to see a pic of the frame behind the yoke.

What I see-
You have a Commercial 1917 frame that has been reblued.
Someone put a 455 barrel on it that has the original finish.
The cylinder appears to be a more modern one in 45 ACP that also has the original finish.

 

[jrm6142]

More pictures

After looking again, there is a serial number on the bottom of the barrel (64282) that does not match the rest of the gun. The grips have a matching serial number on them to the bottom of the grips and the cylinder 174290. Thanks

 

[jrm6142]

Yeah the inside of the grips has174290 which matches the bottom of the frame and also matches the cylinder. The barrel has a different serial number (64282)

 

[handejector]

Ok, that is the original 1917 cylinder. However, it appears to be reamed out for 45 Long Colt. If you have a 45 Colt round, see if it will go in.
If you don't have a 45 Colt round, drop a 45 ACP round in, push it as far forward as it will go, and show us a pic or measure the distance at the rear.
Bottom line, you have a 1917 with a 455 barrel on it.

 

[jrm6142]

additional picture

Here's another picture of the frame behind yoke

 

[jrm6142]

Thanks for the info Lee. I believe you are correct. The 45LC round goes in like normal so I assume thats what the cylinder was bored out to?

 

[glowe]

That was my first thought, a mis-matched barrel put on a later N frame. Serial number shows up around 1926 on the Model 1917. Gun is in nice shape, but due to a refinish as evidenced by the over-buffed serial number.