Found great grandfather's old bank issue pistol

StansfieldMcElroy

StansfieldMcElroy

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good day all,

While packing for a move for a family member I have come across what my grandmother said was her father's revolver that he was given when he was working for the Bank of Toronto in the 30s.

Its got no trigger or grips, and loaded with rust. To me, with limited knowledge of these antiques it looks to be a 38, rimfire perhaps, from the late 1800s.

I wonder if any CGNers would be willing to PM me their email address so I could send over some pictures and help with identification of this relic

Edit: there appears to be smith and wesson copyright stamp on the barrels top

Many thanks and down with trudeau
 
I've owned several different 38 cal pistols that were issued by banks, right into the seventies.

International Firearms bought a lot of them and I believe they may have been offered to some of their employees as well, when the banks divested themselves of the revolvers.

Unless you've tracked the serial number, the only way to verify your grandmother's story, will be the stamps on the frame.

For instance, I had a very nice Colt DA revolver, chambered for the 38 special. The only indication of where it came from was the CIB stamp on the receiver. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

I also had a couple of lovely, pristine Webley MkIII 380 commercial revolvers. One was issued to a Royal Bank of Canada branch and stamped RBC142, the 142 was the branch number. The other was issued by the Bank of Montreal and stamped BOM.

If you can't find any stamps, it's quite possible that your Grandfather purchased the pistol personally and took it to work with him. He may have even had a permit to do so.
 
StansfieldMcElroy said:
good day all,

While packing for a move for a family member I have come across what my grandmother said was her father's revolver that he was given when he was working for the Bank of Toronto in the 30s.

Its got no trigger or grips, and loaded with rust. To me, with limited knowledge of these antiques it looks to be a 38, rimfire perhaps, from the late 1800s.

I wonder if any CGNers would be willing to PM me their email address so I could send over some pictures and help with identification of this relic

Edit: there appears to be smith and wesson copyright stamp on the barrels top

Many thanks and down with trudeau
Click to expand...

Get it sorted out?
 
My wife worked for Scotia Bank in the 1970's and they issued her a S&W 38 Special to go pick up cash from the Post Office. She had the option to carry it in her purse or after making contact with the Post Office to put the gun in one of the money bags . The Bank wasn't concerned with someone taking the money, they just didn't want you to get shot trying to save it
 
If you upload pictures to this thread, you could help somebody in the future.
Good luck on your family heirloom restoration project.
 
can14 said:
My wife worked for Scotia Bank in the 1970's and they issued her a S&W 38 Special to go pick up cash from the Post Office. She had the option to carry it in her purse or after making contact with the Post Office to put the gun in one of the money bags . The Bank wasn't concerned with someone taking the money, they just didn't want you to get shot trying to save it
Click to expand...

Something similar with my mother in I am guessing the late 30s. I don't think it was ever loaded

cheers mooncoon
 
My father worked for CIBC in Spirit River. When they moved money to Rycroft they just used a car...and a revolver. Had to shoot up the shells every year so they were fresh.
This is about 1962 I'm guessing
 
Very interesting stories, love those! Thanks for sharing! It’s remarkable (sadly) how much society has changed. I suspect it partly has something to do with how distanced most people have become from farming, manual labor and the sources/origins of their food and snivel gear.
 
Father inlaw also did money pickups in T.O and was issued an old Webley break open. He said that he told his super it was so old and rusty and asked if it even worked. Boss told him not to worry and that it was for insurance purposes only and to give the cash over if he was held up.
 
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