WWI British Triple Lock and accruments

[Texas Star]

Ed-


As officers purchased their own arms, he would have bought it for service use. It wouldn't have been sold to his family after his death. Just returned to them, with his other property...


And RFC = Royal Flying Corps. I'm sure you just had a momentary lapse when you wrote, "Squadron" instead of
"Corps." The RFC became the Royal Air Force in 1918. I think this was the first major nation to create an independent air force.


I knew a British university prof. who died recently and who told me many things about the UK. She mentioned that many English towns have WWI memorials and that the annual remembrance day ceremonies are taken very seriously. You can see this in the face of the Queen as she lays wreaths at the Cenotaph in London. Her Majesty is joined in this by other members of the Royal family.

 

[Texas Star]

Note the lead ammo. This was normal in .455 until 1939, Germany having complained the previous year about lead bullets. This led to adoption of the MK VI .455 round in 1939, the year when WW II began.


I think .38-200 ammo was changed to a 178 grain jacketed bullet in 1938. That was by then the official preferred issue load. But many .455's served in WWII.

 

[M1A]

Moosedog, that is one of the nicest collections I've seen. Please post any new info.

 

[Jack Flash]

By coincidence, the picture below looks like it has the same column of marks as those on the revolver in this thread:
Broad Arrow ... the firearm was accepted into British military service
Crown over A2 over E ... it was accepted by "Inspector A2" at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.

The column is also high on the frame near the rear of the cylinder. That must be where they put them early in the war. Later on they were applied on the same side but down near the stocks.

The crossed pennants are a British proof mark. The "Sold Out of Military Stores" marking is actually two Broad Arrow marks, point to point. Again, see the picture below. It has this mark next to the aforementioned column.

URL to the entire thread I referenced, posted by Juan455TL:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ndfathers-triple-lock.html?highlight=asterisk

My guess is that the revolver and sword made it back to the Captain's family in England after he died. If they were indeed his personal property, that seems only natural. Obviously his family lovingly cared for his sidearms for over a century.

 

[moosedog]

Thanks to all for the comments and helpful information. I should have noted that the grips are indeed original, numbered to the gun.

 

[Troystat]

Very impressive collection, thank you for showing us.

 

[jebstuart]

Outstanding group. Anyone would be proud to own it.
Congrats.

 

[rhmc24]

My British Triple Lock - converted to .45 Colt, may not have been military, doesn't have the
usual mess of proof stamps all over it altho lower right of frame has 'Not English Make'.