S&W .44 Hand Ejector captured by Lawrence of Arabia!

[Paul1948A]

Smith and Wesson .44 inch calibre revolver given to Captain Lionel Gray by Lieutenant-Colonel T E Lawrence, 1918 (c)

The revolver has the name of 'Ashraf Bey', a senior Turkish Army officer, inscribed upon it. A label attached to the weapon, in Captain Gray's handwriting, refers to it being 'presented to W L Gray by Colonel Lawrence'.
It is not surprising that an Ottoman officer might have owned the American-made revolver which was a popular model with the British Army. He may have purchased it before World War One or it could have been acquired from a British officer during the War.
The label also refers to Bey's role in the 'the death of some 2000 Armenians', information which may have featured in the two officers' discussions.

The full article is here:
Revolver captured by Lawrence of Arabia donated to the National Army Museum | National Army Museum
[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

[FONT=&quot]©[/FONT] National Army Museum

© National Army Museum

 

[6518John]

That's one to get a lettered! I wonder how it wound it's way all the way to Turkey?

 

[Mk VII]

Meanwhile, British police launch yet another appeal to the public to hand in all firearms for destruction.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare

 

[RCL-09]

Meanwhile, British police launch yet another appeal to the public to hand in all firearms for destruction.
Attention Required! | Cloudflare

How tragically sad....

The aim of the operation, supported by Surrey and Sussex Police, is to reduce the number of illegally held firearms in circulation which could fall into the hands of criminals.

This includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, antique guns, component parts, stun guns, Taser, cs/pepper spray and other ballistic items.

Furthermore, lawful gun licence-holders can be reassured that these measures merely enhance their rights and privileges to own firearms, by removing the dangerous ones from the wrong hands. They are also encouraged to use this campaign to consider the surrender of weapons they no longer have any use for.


It's like I'm reading a press release from Joseph Goebbels

 

[Storyforu]

Ha! I signed in after a year's hiatus to share this same URL and you beat me by two hours!

 

[Storyforu]

PS - Ashraf Bey was probably this dude.
Ashraf Bey , 1917. LC-DIG-ppmsca-13709-00195 (digital file from original on page 55, no.194) | Library of Congress

 

[Mbrgr1]

Then......

it is written....