Please help identify my HE 2nd model

[Capnball]

Hello everyone! I'm hoping that someone out there can help me determine whether my 455 Mark II Hand Ejector Second Model is one of the roughly 69,000 shipped to the British Army between 1915 and 1917 or whether this pistol is perhaps one of the apparently 1105 copies which were destined for the commercial market.
Other than factory markings there are no other stampings or other insignia anywhere on the gun with the exception of one mark on the butt above the swivel and serial number. (see photos attached). This may be a British proof mark but there is nothing, to my very limited knowledge, on the gun to suggest it was used in the military. Hence I am wondering whether this pistol was originally sold on the commercial market.
Alternatively, it's possible I haven't a clue what I'm talking about but would be most grateful if someone could set me straight.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

That is indeed a British Commonwealth military mark. Just don't remember what it means. (duh)

 

[opoefc]

I looks like a Canadian military stamp. This gun, serial number 66171 ( or a similar one ) was in the Dec. 8, 2007, Rock Island Auction as Lot # 2728. Sold for $431. The auction description shows a photo of the butt stamp, however no explanation stated, except " These revolvers were built for English and Canadian service.." Ed.

 

[Skeetr57]

That doesn't look like any proof mark that I have ever seen. Proof marks are normally seen on the cylinder and barrel when they are present. British law requires that guns be proofed before being sold on the civilian market, but guns made or obtained by the military must be exempt, as I have seen many with no proof markings. There are two proof houses in England, London and Birmingham, each with their own rules and marks. They are not government entities, but are operated by the gunmaker's guilds. Some military guns do have military inspection/inspection marks such a the stamp near the knuckle of the WWI S&W's that have an Enfield arsenal stamp. When guns were sold out of government ownership into the civilian market in England, they then got the proof marks as required.
The mark on this gun is either a military acceptance mark or a unit marking.

 

[glowe]

I seem to remember that the "30" has something to do with those revolvers shipped to Canada?? Is there a C and 30 stamped anywhere else on the frame?

Someone will get to the bottom of this soon, but I am sure that you have a legit S&W.

 

[JustinL]

Yours appears to be one of the 14,500 shipped to Canada between 1915-17.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...k-ii-hand-ejector-markings.html#post138098432

 

[Capnball]

Gary, absolutely no post-factory markings anywhere on the gun except as picture shows.

 

[glowe]

Gary, absolutely no post-factory markings anywhere on the gun except as picture shows.

That might well be consistent with the possibility that it went to Canada. It would be likely that Canada might be more accepting of US manufactured guns than England. It seems that the English stamped everything that did not move and then some on everything they got their hands on.

It seems that several 455s got through the system with only a couple of stamps and some have shown up on this Forum. Afterall, England was at war and probably rushed as many firearms into service as quickly as they could.

 

[jmace57]

It is possible that this is a regimental mark (30th Regiment, British Columbia Horse?)