Canadian Contract .455 S &W H-E WWI revolver

[1780inn]

Here for your perusal is Canadian WWI contract .455 (still in orginal chambering) S&W H-E pistol serial number 17464. Any help in deciphering the unit designation on backstrap appreciated.

 

[1780inn]

a few more to show inspection marks and side view.

 

[Jack Flash]

Here is a thread on another forum that may help with the proof marks on the cylinder:
http://www.*************************/forum/s-w-revolvers-1857-1945/8998-455-h-e-proof-marks.html

Very nice historical revolver!

 

[Nframecollector]

Very nice. You gonna leave it as is or refinish it?

 

[Jack Flash]

"Here is a thread on another forum that may help with the proof marks on the cylinder:"

The link I tried to post seems to be unacceptable to the Forum's software(?) A banned site(?)

I will not try to circumvent the rules here so let me say that I just Googled "Canadian proof marks on guns" and got a site where someone posted --
"the Crown/D/C/P interspersed with flags is a Dominion of Canada proof mark."

I by no means want to violate the rules of this site. If I did something wrong, I will be happy to delete this post.

Very nice historical revolver!

 

[Hondo44]

I believe the markings on the backstrap indicate the unit it was issued to. IIRC, it got the hash marks thru the numbers and letters to indicate it was decommissioned and was then sold as surplus.

 

[wlp624]

I would agree that the markings at the top of the backstrap are army unit designations. Canadian forces in WWI initially consisted of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, formed in 1914, with regiments in those divisions made up of provisional units named for their province of origin. So a good guess for "1. H.R. 2." might be 1st Batallion, Halifax (or possibly Highland) Regiment, 2nd Division. At least that would be a good starting point for more in-depth research. Great historical piece, good luck with it.

Bill

 

[1780inn]

I'll leave it as is to keep it's historical significance.

 

[1780inn]

I would agree that the markings at the top of the backstrap are army unit designations. Canadian forces in WWI initially consisted of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, formed in 1914, with regiments in those divisions made up of provisional units named for their province of origin. So a good guess for "1. H.R. 2." might be 1st Batallion, Halifax (or possibly Highland) Regiment, 2nd Division. At least that would be a good starting point for more in-depth research. Great historical piece, good luck with it.

Bill

Thanks for the info Bill; I'll do some more research.

 

[Doug M.]

While they have no utility to me in either form, I tend to have a lot more regard for the original caliber HEs in .455 than I do for the ones converted to .45 Colt. I understand the logic of the conversion, made perfect sense, but for some reason it turns me off. Most odd since I am not one of the purists who howl at every change, different grips, etc.

 

[1780inn]

According to the Smith & Wesson letter this revolver was shipped from their factory on September 23, 1915 and delivered to Remington Arms -Union Metallic Cartridge Company, New York City, agents for the British Government.