S&W 1917 US Military in .38 Special with Matching Numbers

[StrawHat]

I wish I could remember where I read this. I had it saved at one time, but with several computer crashes through the years, stuff disappears.

But why else would the military stockpile parts like frames if not to replace them, at the armorer level or at Springfield Armory? It's not like the army is going to send a faulty revolver back to S&W.

My thoughts only, if the revolver is damaged to the point the frame needs to be replaced, issue a new one from supply and salvage what can be salvaged off the damaged one. But… I was a LE Armorer, not military.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

But in the case of this gun it is serial numbered on the butt and also marked US Property there and also has 2 separate Springfield Armory acceptance marks on the frame. So this gun was accepted into the US Military for the start of its life.

While I do not collect 44 S&W Special revolvers, I know there are more than a few with acceptance marks on the frame. Someone with more experience there may be able to provide an image or more information.

Kevin

 

[CJS57]

I would guess the .44's with military acceptance proofs are guns like this one that was a military redone by someone into a commercial caliber. Pictures of the OP's gun in question.