Smith & Wesson .455 Hand Ejector Mk11 Screw needed

[450RPG]

Please help
I collect private purchase sidearms that British Officers were required to self fund (very often via the Army & Navy Store) before entering combat in the first World War. Indicating private purchase these firearms are devoid of the military acceptance markings.
To date I have a broad selection including Government Model 1911 in .455 Webley automatic and Webley Fosbery in .455 Webley.
I had been searching for a Smith & Wesson Triple Lock in .455 when I came across a Mk11 Hand Ejector #49836 which, unusually, did not bear the British Government acceptance marks, indicating that it had been a (late) private purchase. It is in condition excellent, with the backstrap engraved with the officers name BUT it is fitted with a vintage "Wondersight" using a custom retaining screw to the top sideplate screw hole. I have searched most of England for an original screw, without success.
can anyone suggest where I might find such an item?

 

[glowe]

I had always thought that any imported firearm to England had to be Nitro proofed no matter what it's purpose, so a minimum of the proof mark applied? As rigid as the proof houses were in England, it seems that a gun which went into service without at least the nitro-proof stamp would have been unlikely. Totally unmarked 455s were often considered surplus revolvers that were sold commercially in the US. How can one tell if an unmarked example even left this country??

Some of these revolvers have lettered as shipped to distributors and gun stores in the US to be sold commercially, while a handful that went to some companies did get shipped to Canada, but do not know if all were stamped indicating Canadian acceptance or not? Historical letter would tell you where the gun was shipped. I believe all S&W 455s bound for England would have been shipped to Remington Arms.

 

[450RPG]

Dear Glowe
I did not say that the firearms are un-proven I stated that they did not have military acceptance. An example of this will be seen on Government Model .455 Webley Auto pistols, some of which have the RAF stamp and British government acceptance markings, whilst earlier one do not, but they do have London proof house acceptance markings.

Do you have an upper sideplate screw?

 

[HeloMt]

I'm sure you have ebay over there. Type in "smith wesson screw" and scroll down. You'll find some listed around $10.00 US. I hope that helps!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! IIRC, the upper sideplate screw is the same on all N and K frame revolvers made up to 1956. That includes the Models 1917, .44 HE, .455 HE MKII, and .38 M&P WWII Victory revolvers. If you can't find parts for any of those guns, they are available in the US via eBay and several gun parts suppliers. The problem is most if not all of them won't ship internationally.

 

[steelslaver]

I don't see any legal problem with sticking a small screw in a piece of cardboard then and envelope and mailing it to merry old England. If you need help PM me.

Smith & Wesson 5 Screw Revolver Large Head (Top) Side Plate Screw - NEW | eBay

WWII S&W Smith & Wesson M&P Victory Revolver Upper Sideplate Screw P-248 | eBay

Hope you had a nice day at work. July 4th 2024

 

[bruce5781]

Try contacting the current owners of the "Wondersight".

https://hollowpointmold.com/wondersight/

 

[450RPG]

HE screw

Thanks for the thought.
Did that.
No reply as yet

 

[steelslaver]

The OP sent me photos of the engraving on the back strap.

and with a little searching I found this guy
Patrick S St Pierre Bunbury
a second LT in the Suffolk Regiment

Here Search for "Bunbury" in lastname | Lives of the First World War

The Bunbury name is well represented in WWI with 64, Interestingly it appears that there may havebeen 2 of them, one a Lance corporal the other a LT. The LT being in the Suffolk Reg

Possibly some confusion somewhere with the R middle initial.

I doubt it belonged to the lance corporal, not being an officer and in the wrong regiment, but possibly he was promoted and transferred?

I think it makes the OPs gun far more interesting than either of mine

 

[quietman123]

I have an Army & Navy purchased revolver that was private purchase by a British officer. Serial #44XX Webley No. 2 .450 made 1883. I have a copy of the log book page stating the officer's name.