S&W N-frame 455 Eley commercial!

[zywina]

A friend asked if I could load up some loads for his old Wobbly Webley as they are generally refered to here in Canada(even if it is a COLT or S&W), so it took a few months before I remembered, so today loaded up some short cases that has small pistol primer pockets, real weird? Any way took them to our club to shoot tonight and asked for the revolver to shoot the first round, as I did not want the gun blowing up on him with my reload(even though it was mild!) So he hands over the revolver, and it turns out to be a Commercial N frame Hand Ejector ,with beautiful bluing ,original grips, lanyard and all serial # matching! 90%+++ condition! WOW! So I act calm at first and load one round, run the target out to 15metre's, take a centre hold down the fixed sights, and let her rip in a bullseye one hand hold! I cannot see any hole, so return target it is 1/4" right of dead BULLSEYE! I eventually let the owner shoot, and he placed the same point of aim, and it went 1/4" to left of bulleye! He was surprised the recoil the gun produced for such a heavy gun! I then proceeded to offer good sum for the gun, NO was the responce, I pouted, but to no avail, only a promise to give me first right of refusal! My friends Dad owned a gunshop and died about 5-7 years ago, this gun came from the estate! it even had a price tag stuck to it ,saying $400, I said sold!! Anyway have to do some research on what exact model threw the serial # later Just thought this would be an interesting little story, cheers Dale Z in Canada

 

[opoefc]

Are you sure it's a Commercial and not a Military contract order for Canada? Many of those did not get the Canadian "C" stamp on them to denote a military gun, so a factory letter is the only way to be sure what it is. Both the Commercial & military guns had the bright blue finish, checkered wood grips, and the military guns had the lanyard swivels, while most of the Commercial guns did not. ( I'm defining a Commercial gun as a gun shipped to a distributor and not a gun shipped to a military purchsing destination or entity. ) Ed.

 

[zywina]

I have seen a zillion contract guns over the years here in Canada they are everywhere lately ! This gun has no marks except serial# on but, barrel and cylinyder. I am hoping to convince him to buy a new S&W that has factory available ammo, and take this gun off his hand, it will be a hard sell!! I have a 1919 Colt officers model 38special, with lanyard and everyone told me it was added later, factory letter confirmed ordered as "EXTRA". Even if this is a military contract, it is the nicest Smith I have seen of this vintage! it has a finish as good as or better than my REG MAG! I am going to get the ser# and do more research, thanks for all who respond on this 1917 455 Eley HE with lanyard!Dale Z in Canada

 

[Jack Flash]

Colt offered their New Service chambered in .455 Eley right up to WWII. I think you could special order a S&W so chambered, but you may have had to make some minimum order (not one or two). Someone else here may have knowledge of S&W's practices at the time. Lord knows, some members are old enough!

I'm sure you could buy both American- and Canadian-made factory .455 ammunition prior to WWII. You may not want your friend to know this, but Hornady currently makes .455 Webley Mark II. I bought some at Cabella's recently. It sells for over a buck a round, so there's still that angle...

 

[zywina]

The Hornady ammo is an american available only load. This is not for sale or even offered to distributers of Hornady products, as my friends gunshop checked into it, and Hornady is not selling either loaded 455 or brass here in Canada! I had a look threw my big S&W reference book, now I think the gun my friend had was a New Century! Dale Z in Canada! Just found one for sale, just waiting pictures to confirm new like finish!

 

[MajorD]

fiocchi also makes 455 ammo. if you don't mind a lot of hand work you can trim down and thin the rims of 45 auto rim brass in a lathe/drill press to make 455 brass

 

[Jack Flash]

Good point about Fiocchi ammo. I have some I bought years ago, but I wasn't sure they still offered it. You would sure think they would get someone to import it into Canada!

About thinning the rim on .45 AR:
I think it would be better to start with .45 Colt cases, even though you would have to shorten the case as well as thin the rim. The .45 AR has quite a bevel on the head stamp side of the rim, and thinning the proper way, from the body side of the rim, you would probably cut so much of the rim away you would have functioning problems with it. Of course, if you cut from the other side, you are compromising the primer pocket. Buffalo Arms used to sell .455 cases they made from .45 Colt, maybe they still do.

I don't know why Hornady loaded ammo can't be imported into Canada, but it doesn't surprise me. Not allowing the empty brass in, however, is really ridiculous. Can you get any American brass in Canada?

 

[zywina]

Fiocchi ammo is imported into Cananda, but at $50 a box I think not! I shoot 45 Auto rim, and just got a metal lathe, might be a good way to wittle away the rest of winter!

We can buy Hornady products here in Canada, but was told some US distributer bought up all the 455 loaded ammo and brass! ALso we are very dependant on US for ammo, but homeland Stupidity is getting in the way, we here in Canada are treated worse than terrorists!Dale Z!

 

[Dave_n]

Graf's sell the Hornady 0.455 Mk II cases and you might be able to buy from them. They also sell the MK II loaded ammo for Hornady. As far as i know,Graf's are the only "non-Hornady named" supplier of these cases. I use them for reloading for a 1936 commercial Webley Mk VI and an ex-Canadian Hand Ejector Mk II in 0.455. Dave_n

 

[zywina]

Dave I new about Grafs fine bulk empty brass, the problem right now is Home Land Stupidity! Can't be in possesion of any gun parts, ammo and loading components or powder on US soil! Most USA companies will not even deal with us Cannucks as they are afraid of losing there buisness to the federal authourities! Most companied just hang up on us! Even if we get proper form 6 forms from ATF to posses such items in the USA, it takes atleast 3 months and alot of aggravation! Once we get to Canadian customs, we can bring everthing we want into our country, we do not have FREE TRADE it is a one way street, where all are lumber,oil and steel is bought by US companies, but there is no return by US goverment. We feel in Canada that we have been getting screwed for the last 10 years and have nothing to show in return? I leave it at that as I am getting worked up as I write this! We love to buy products from the USA, but your goverment is stopping us shootere in getting parts for the US guns we buy here in Canda, does this make sence? Dale Z