455 side ejector info wanted

[boydjay]

Hello from the great white north.
I just joined. I wish to pick brains.
By good fortune I happened to talk firearms with an acquaintence one day. He was going to turn his grandad's 1st ww war revolver in to police for destruction. ( this is Canada, and this does happen). I managed to talk him into selling it to me at a modest cost.

The gun is a 455 S&W side ejector that is in good, not mint condition, with original holster.

Story is his grandad was is Canadian cavalry in 1st war. He was required to outfit self with approved firearm and bought this.

I want to know more about it.

It has 6.5" barrel and swivel on butt bottom.
On barrel's left side "SMITH & WESSON .455.
On barrel's top "Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A.
Patented Oct.8.1901Dec.17.1901.Feb.6.1906
on right side plate directly below hammer is S&W logo with"trade mark"
Revealed on main frame when cylinder is opened is number 6471.

On butt's bottom at front is ????almost like a bunny head and ears!! 00
O

All above "o"s are touching, top "o"s are upright oval and bottom "o" is sideways oval, resulting "bunny head" is almost exactly 1/8" x 1/8"

And finally identical serial numbers "52xxx" on rear bottom butt frame, on bottom of barrel above ejector, and on the face of cylinder.

Removal of the (apparently original) grips reveals nothing but the serial number pencilled on one of the grips.
It has the apparently original tan closed flap leather holster.



I understand it may be possible to get some history about this specific revolver from S&W. Can anyone direct me?

I know firearm values vary north and south of the 49th, and it is unlikely this could go south, but I am wondering about it's ballpark value?
Mechanically in very good apparently seldom used condition. A little loss of bluing both sides of the barrel end( from holster).
Grips and holster in good condition.
This firearm I will eventually sell. I have a lovely well used 6" barrelled .22 S&W revolver I will have forever!

Thanks for any info

 

[Rigmover]

Hi that bunny thing your talking about is a Crown over 30 which means the gun was purchased by the British Crown for use in the Common Wealth Countries. Canada, England, Australia and probly New Zealand also. They go for $400 up to $650 depends on condition of gun. I pick one up years ago and got it for $400 and it dont have any proof marks on it. If it was used in the war it would a C and a broad arrow running threw it that was a Canadian proof Mark. The British ones had a E and a crown over crossed guns. Sounds like that one never made it to war if it dont have proof marks. The British bought 70000 of these guns about 15000 went to Canada. I know the Railroad also used these firearms also during WWI and WWII. Bullets are very expensive to buy for this firearm which means you would have to load for it if you want to shoot it. They are fun to shoot....

Rick

 

[Waidmann]

44 Hand Ejector (.455) Second Issue. The funny bunny-head thing is the crown. If its "all Canadian" it should have an arrow point inside a C and on the barrel and at the chambers crossed scepters with itty bitty D,C,P; (Dominion of Canada Proof). A Brit would have crossed flags on the frame at chamber left, plus other stuff.

All the history S&W will sell you for $50 is Canada bought it, or England bought it, or we shipped it to Moosejaw Hardware. Your 52XXX serial is a later number. You don't mention any of the typical property/proofs other than the crown on the butt. I wonder if it shipped commercial?

Any marks you missed?

 

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum. From your description, you likely have a .455 Hand Ejector Mark II, built on the N or large frame. It uses the .455 Webley cartridge, which is still loaded by Fiocchi. The stocks are original to the gun with the matching 52000 number; the other number is a factory internal code. Its value depends greatly on its condition, but really nice examples would go in the $600-800 USD range. The gun's history probably adds to its value - too bad the grandson didn't have any appreciation for it. Hope this is helpful.

 

[A10]

You also might try a search of the forum for .455 Hand Ejector. There are some good threads here that can show you some nice pictures for comparison. FYI, many of those models that were shipped back to the US in the '20s were rechambered for the .45 Colt cartridge, much more common than the .455 Eley here in the states.

 

[zywina]

Good Day boydjay! Nice to see another Canuck here! The gun you describe(S&W 2nd model 455) run anywhere between $400-600 in decent shape, if it is 90% plus cond. they go for around $800-900, if it is a first model with enclosed ejection rod, the minumum in any state are $800-1000 due to it being a tripple lock configuration, wich is rare up here in Canada!
I also have the crown /30 mark on the but of one of my S&W 2nd model 455 that has no aceptancemarks and commercial finish, I have observed a friends marked similiarly with commercial finish. I think these were never issued and surplus to need for the most part and sold to the trade after the war department deemed them obsolete, best guess for the most part? If you need any help PM me here or [email protected] , cheers Dale Z!

 

[DCWilson]

Just a few further stats for your edification: S&W made about 75000 .455 Hand Ejectors (which is the actual model designation, not side ejector) for the British Govt and Commonwealth Countries in 1915-1916 -- about 5000 of the first model, with the ejector rod shroud under the barrel, and the rest second model, with no shroud under the barrel.

In general, it is not a good idea to store a revolver in a holster because tanning chemicals can affect the finish and even promote corrosion. Even if your gun does not show ill effects from such storage, I would separate it from the holster. You can store it in a silicone-impregnated gun sock or wrapped in a silicone cleaning cloth.

 

[Jack Flash]

One thing to keep in mind is that family stories often go through a metamorphosis as they are told by one generation to the next. I'm not impugning your friend's honesty, just saying the "family history" has had almost a hundred years of possible embellishments. The old saying is "Buy the gun, not the story."

That said, I would assume that if it was a private purchase, it could have gone "over there" and back without having any proof or acceptance marks applied.

 

[Waidmann]

Additional note: British officers of that era were indeed required to buy all their own kit, including approved pattern firearms. If that may explain a crowned 30 without proof okay, but the late serial sticks on my brain.

 

[boydjay]

Thanks all. Why does it say "moved" ...I looked yesterday and assumed there were no responses because there is a blank spot in "replies".
Did I do something wrong?? Already!!

Anyway. This is Canada and guns are bad enough to a lot of folks, handguns are worse....

Tightly regulated, if you had hundreds of acres you still wouldn't be legal shooting a handgun there ( there are some exceptions, precious few, and heavily regulated at that). People start to feel they are a bit of a liability, and often the police crusher is the answer.

I am quite sure I did not miss any markings. I am inclined to totally believe the story. H e bought, took it oversees where he carried it and brought it back. To me ( definitetly no expert) the condition of holster and handgun seem to match, ie similarily worn. Even in the 1920s Canada I don't think these things were carried about much. The holster and gun did not get this worn sitting in the sock drawer.
At first glance the gun seems in very good condition, but close inspection shows pinpoint size (ie really small) specks of rust on what otherwise looks like good bluing. But it is very tight. I would guess it has seen limited use. It has a lovely trigger and the few shots I've done are on the money. Thanks for the help. I will check that other forum.

Boyd

 

[glowe]

No big deal - our administrator moves things to proper locations so more of the right people will see it. You should post all gun related inquiries in either the top break or hand ejector sections to assure the best response.

 

[boydjay]

a missed mark

44 Hand Ejector (.455) Second Issue. The funny bunny-head thing is the crown. If its "all Canadian" it should have an arrow point inside a C and on the barrel and at the chambers crossed scepters with itty bitty D,C,P; (Dominion of Canada Proof). A Brit would have crossed flags on the frame at chamber left, plus other stuff.

All the history S&W will sell you for $50 is Canada bought it, or England bought it, or we shipped it to Moosejaw Hardware. Your 52XXX serial is a later number. You don't mention any of the typical property/proofs other than the crown on the butt. I wonder if it shipped commercial?

Any marks you missed?

I missed a mark ..sort of.. I was so preoccupied with the "bunny" I forgot to say....almost touching it just below and to left is perhaps a "1" and next to that on right appears to be the same (1) but bottom 1/2 is gone, possibly because is a " ." that may have disturbed it? But more likely appears to be simply a poor stamping of the 2nd "1"

Did I mention there was a "B" followed by a 1/4" space then serial number on bottom side of barrel?

And that number 6471 revealed when cylinder is swung out, I had not noticed that same number nearby on the part that holds cylinder and ejector. This time I am quite sure I haven't missed a number.
Boyd

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum.

The "B" under the barrel merely indicates that the gun was shipped as a blue gun. The number on the yoke and matching number on the frame are factory assembly numbers and are used internally at S&W to keep parts together during the building process. There should also be the same number stamped on the back of the sideplate. They mean nothing today other than to show that the parts are original to the gun.

We love pictures if you have the ability to post them.