Canadian Issue Colt M1917 revolver

[x westie]

I’m a member of Canadian Military Photos Lost & Found group on Facebook, there is a photo of a RCASC dispatch rider in Holland ,,1944 wearing a Pattern 37 holster , with a large revolver, as the butt is sticking out , i mentioned that it looked like it might be a Smith & Wesson 1917 revolver , as Canada did acquire these revolvers in WW1 , the fellow who posted the photo of his father wearing the holster said it was. Colt 1917 using .45 acp ammo with the half moon clips , I always thought any revolvers , Smith & Wesson or Colt revolvers that Canada or British purchased were chambered in the .455 Webley cartridge, and only US troops used revolvers with the half moon clips

 

[hobophobe]

I think we used a mish mash of equipment. Thompsons here and there, 45 1911s. enfields for front line guys, but im guessing if you were anything but Frontline you may have got other stuff. I think I read m1 carbines too.

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

The 1917 revolvers were not purchased by Canada or Britain in .455. That was the First and 2nd Model Hand Ejector. The 1917 US revolver was a modification of that design which included some upgrades like a heat treated cylinder suitable for hotter 45ACP and a parkerized finish. People get things mixed up over time, could it possibly be a 1917? Maybe, but unlikely.

 

[purple]

Cdn troops used S&W victory revolvers chambered in .38 S&W quite extensively in NW Europe. It's more likely that this is what you are looking at. I have my uncle's personal issue S&W which he carried from Normandy thru to VE Day.

 

[x westie]

The 1917 revolvers were not purchased by Canada or Britain in .455. That was the First and 2nd Model Hand Ejector. The 1917 US revolver was a modification of that design which included some upgrades like a heat treated cylinder suitable for hotter 45ACP and a parkerized finish. People get things mixed up over time, could it possibly be a 1917? Maybe, but unlikely.

Actually on the website , www.canadiansoldiers
.com states that Canada acquired 14,500 Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolvers chambered in .455 Webley

 

[x westie]

Cdn troops used S&W victory revolvers chambered in .38 S&W quite extensively in NW Europe. It's more likely that this is what you are looking at. I have my uncle's personal issue S&W which he carried from Normandy thru to VE Day.

I understand what you are are saying , and that the Smith & Wesson.38 was standard issue , but this is a much larger revolver in the holster , suggesting a 6 inch or 6.5 inch barrel, the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver was a smaller frame with a 5 inch barrel , and it’s butt didn’t stick out of the holster flap, as the revolver in the photo

 

[Hitzy]

I understand what you are are saying , and that the Smith & Wesson.38 was standard issue , but this is a much larger revolver in the holster , suggesting a 6 inch or 6.5 inch barrel, the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver was a smaller frame with a 5 inch barrel , and it’s butt didn’t stick out of the holster flap, as the revolver in the photo

Pre-victory 38&W had 6 inch barrels.
1917's had 5.5 inch barrels.

 

[9.3 Hunter]

I have both - one of each: Colt 1917 marked US Army and Cdn Broad Arrow in both 455 and 45 Colt stamped, and a S&W 1917 Hand Ejector in 455 and Cdn Broad Arrow marked. Both WWI revolvers and saw service.

 

[dan belisle]

I have both - one of each: Colt 1917 marked US Army and Cdn Broad Arrow in both 455 and 45 Colt stamped, and a S&W 1917 Hand Ejector in 455 and Cdn Broad Arrow marked. Both WWI revolvers and saw service.

Interesting. Ive had multiple examples of both, (NS and 1917's), and havent come across that yet. Thanks for the info. - dan

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

Actually on the website , www.canadiansoldiers
.com states that Canada acquired 14,500 Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolvers chambered in .455 Webley

From your own source:

"Smith & Wesson 2nd Model "Hand Ejector" Revolver
All further official-issue pistols purchased for Canadian WWI service were this model of revolver (also referred to as the "New Century" model) chambered for the British .455 service cartridge. [Note: in the beginning, Smith & Wesson actually supplied, and Canada accepted, a number of "First Model" (or "Triple Lock") Hand Ejector revolvers.] A total of 14,500 S&W Hand Ejectors were acquired in 1915 and 1916, which makes this model Canada's primary Great War handgun. It was also designated a "substitute standard" sidearm by the British War Department, which acquired thousands of them to supplement inadequate supplies of the official Webley revolver (discussed below). (The example of S&W Hand ejector shown, though it has no Canadian acceptance or ownership stamps or proofmarks, is documented as having been shipped by Smith & Wesson on December 24, 1915, to "Canadian Government, Ottawa, Canada". The lack of official markings would suggest that it was purchased from the government by an Officer.)

Configuration of Canadian-issue arms: Double-action revolver; blued finish; walnut grips; 6.5" barrel; chambered for .455 British service cartridge; 6-round capacity; cylinder swings out to left side for loading and extraction. In service 1915-1951."

This is not the S&W M1917 as I mentioned in my first response to you.

 

[NAA]

For info here's examples of:

WWII S&W victory model in .38 S&W with 5" barrel:



WWI S&W Hand Ejector in .455 with 6.5" barrel [this one named to a Lt in the 29th CEF]:



I added the grip adapter on the S&W .455 to make it fit my hand better for shooting [sorry purists!].

The Victory model was on what would become the K frame; the .455 is on the larger "N" frame.

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NAA.