Historical Canadian Colt New service

[Sharps '63]

I don't have anything else on the revolver or the owner. My initial post included information that I picked up from several internet searches. I could take some lessons from yourselves as you found more information than I ever did. I picked the revolver up at auction last year and there was no accompanying paperwork. Being a soldier myself, anything with Canadian military provenance catches my attention, so I ended up paying more than a New Service is worth based on that.

Zipperhead - Don't let any discussion here dissuade you from the pleasure of owning your Colt New Service. Purple and I just like to pick fly sh!t out of pepper at times, but basically we're on the same pages of history. We all enjoy Canadian militaria immensely and re-fighting battles.

If you are happy with the gun and the provenance, then it is worth every dollar you spent on it! I've over paid (the going rate plus) more than once for something I wanted badly because it was available and I didn't want to lose out on it. Occasionally, we all get a sweet deal others can only dream of. Sellers either over value an item or the reverse. If everyone is happy, it's a win-win. That's part of the game.

 

[GrantR]

.... Australian born .... Arthur Currie who commanded the Canadian Corps.

Although the birthplace of Arthur Currie is sometimes given as "Adelaide", it wasn't in Australia! The reference is actually to Adelaide Township, which abuts the Town of Strathroy, Ontario (the other usual birthplace given for him) located a bit west of London, Ontario ....

(Quote from The Canadian Encyclopedia: "Sir Arthur William Currie (changed from Curry in 1897), soldier, educator (born 5 December 1875 in Adelaide (near Strathroy), ON; died 30 November 1933 in Montréal, QC)."

 

[purple]

To the OP. I hope that you take the time to drill down on this and come up with more on McLaughlin, and maybe his Colt. You should be able to locate his service records and medal citations w/o too much difficulty. I'd get hold of the book on the 2nd Bn CEF that I mentioned and also take a look at the Cdn official history of WW1 for starters. It would be nice to keep this documentation with the revolver.

The Cdn official history of WW1 is a great source. I once owned a regimentally marked and 1916 dated DWM P08 Luger. I looked thru an old intelligence publication in the NDHQ Library which gave the detailed order of battle for the German Army in WW1 and was able to ID the German division to which the German regiment belonged. Next, I checked the Cdn official history of WW1 and was able to ID when the German division had been in contact with the Cdn Corps. From that I was able to surmise just when and where a Cdn soldier might have picked up the Luger.

For those wanting to know a bit more about General Arthur Currie there is a recent TV documentary put out by Norm Christie called, "Arthur Currie: Master of War".

 

[can14]

I have a 1929 colt 38 super with the guys name and rcaf engraved on the slide. I got it with a mint colt 45 military.
Always wanted to know who he was.

 

[GrantR]

I would concur that you will find great satisfaction in following up on Maj/LtCol McLaughlin, and seeking his service records, to be kept with this lovely revolver and holster! Having such documentation can only add to the collector value.

In fact, here is a link to his entry on the Library and Archives Canada Great War Canadian Expeditionary Force database -
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=161343

All that you can access there are the front and back of his "Attestation Paper" (by means of which he volunteered for overseas service with the C.E.F. - which I post here for convenience (click on each thumbnail .... to see a "readable" version you may have to click again on the image which then comes up in my Photobucket album, then select "View Image" or whatever similar command you get in your browser ....) -



Using the Reference and Item numbers given at the above link, you can order a complete copy of his C.E.F. service file by following the instructions given here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/canadian-expeditionary-force.aspx#f

I have obtained the full C.E.F. service file for both of the officers who owned identified WWI handguns in my collection -

Webley Mark VI revolver owned by Lieutenant Samuel William Seago, wounded while serving with the 116th Battalion, C.E.F., as they went into action on August 8th, 1918, the opening day of the Amiens Offensive, during which the Australian Division and the entire 4-Division Canadian Corps advanced miles into German-held territory, breaking the enemy lines and beginning what has been called "Canada's 100 Days", during which the Germans were continuously pushed back until the Armistice on November 11th ....

Colt Government Model pistol (i.e. "Model 1911", although strictly speaking that is only a U.S. Military designation) owned by Major William Arthur Mitchell, who served at the Front with the 2nd Divisional Train of the C.E.F. until his health failed in November of 1917 -

 

[live4therut]

Great provenance you have Grant to go along with a pair of fantastic pistols. It's fairly easy to acquire info to the pistols when named, I've got binders for my two commercial cdn contract 1911's with service record and personnel files that's released. Again great pistols and pieces of history guys.

 

[GrantR]

As is perhaps evident from my composite photo of the Webley, it is engraved with the owner's name on the back-strap. Ironically, I was so intent on examining the revolver at the gun show where I acquired it, to ensure that it was complete, functional and matching, had a good bore and was not "shaved" that I completely missed the engraving and only noticed it after I had bought it!

The gorgeous Colt Government Model bears neither Canadian not private owner's markings, although a Colt Factory Letter confirms it was sold to the Canadian Government in 1914, so it "fits the mould" of many (perhaps most) such pistols having in turn being sold to officers by the Government, and thus not being Government marked since they would be private property. (As you may know, officers were required to provide all of their own jkit, including uniforms and weapons, at personal expense .... which is why they could engrave, or otherwise personalize, them.) The leather holster for it is marked, both under the flap and on the belt-loop on the back, with Mitchell's rank and name, together with: "O/C No. 5 Coy., 2nd Divisional Train, CEF". The pistol and holster were acquired by me from the chap who purchased it (directly from Maj. Mitchell) in 1943, when he was a newly commissioned Lieutenant in the Canadian Army ....