S&W 455 NOW 45 LONG COLT

[MR HANEY]

Hi
I have a S&W military model. ? It was in 455 cal. British and now it is 45 long Colt. It has been reblued and changed to 45 long Colt. The barrel was 6 inches and now it is 4 inches. The bluing and the gun smith is great. It has a circle with a arrow. Canadian ????
The bore is mint. I hate to see a military pistol cut down. But it is a great shooter!!
I would like to know what model it is.
Sorry with the pictures of the two screw drivers.
Best Regards
Bob

 

[Jack Flash]

That looks like a broad arrow within a "C" which is (at least was) the Canadian acceptance mark. Are there other marks on it?

I too would rather that it had not been so modified, but what's done is done, especially when it probably was done decades (if not a half-century or more) ago. It looks like it has a new lease on life now.

A four inch N-Frame chambered in .45 Colt is one heck of a great combination!

Oh! You asked what model it is. It was made back in the day when they had model names, not numbers. It would be a Hand-Ejector, 2nd model, abbreviated HE2.

 

[MR HANEY]

HI
All the marking i can see is the marking on the barrel SMITH & WESSON .455 Two small flags on the frame. Also on the frame 898.
And she shoots great I had model 25-3 and the Mountain model but i like the way this old girl shoots.
Regards
Bob

 

[Jack Flash]

The two small flags are probably what is most often referred to as "crossed pennants" which is a proof mark.

 

[DWalt]

There were three methods of modifying these to .45 Colt. Which was used on yours?

 

[mkk41]

Should make a dandy shooter!

 

[Hondo44]

That's a very nice, practical shooter.

Officially, it's a ".455 Mk II HE 2nd Model", serial range beginning c. #5462 to #74755. Made 1915-17.

For your reference you can verify which of the 3 most typical methods of conversion to 45 Colt was used by checking the following:

1. If the rear face of the cyl still has the serial # stamped on it and the chambers have been recessed slightly, that is the preferred method since you can still safely chamber and shoot 455 ammo. And you still have the cyl s/n. Shown below:

2. If the rear face of the cyl still has the serial # stamped on it and the chambers have NOT been recessed, the breech face has been shaved.

3. If the serial # is missing from the rear face of the cyl, the cyl has been shaved.

 

[MR HANEY]

Hi Guys
Each cly was a proof on it. It has a crown with D C two flags and a P. Each cly. The serial number is 46653 would it have been made in late 1916? The cly were shaved alittle so it looks like that i can still fire the British 455 in her. I took her out to the range and it takes alittle time with the front sight. And she is a keeper.
I love the 45 long colt I carry a Taurus Model 450 in S.S ported barrel. She is real loud !!
Best regards
Bob

 

[Waidmann]

Dominion of Canada Proof, which should also be on the underside of the barrel.

 

[MR HANEY]

Hi
There are no markings under the barrel. Maybe because of the barrelwas cut down.
Regards
Bob