"The Pistol in British Military Service during the Great War"

[josquin]

While looking for something else, I came across this 2010 dissertation from The Centre for First World War Studies of the University of Birmingham (UK) and thought it might be of interest to others on CGN. Being confined to The Great War I decided to post it here rather than in the Pistols and Revolvers section.

It's 38 pages long, so not an onerous read but has a lot of interesting information and anecdotes.

 

[mikerock]

Thanks for posting, looks really interesting

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

A very interesting read! Thanks for posting!

 

[Juster]

Fascinating, clearly a revolver would be a great thing to have in trench clearing.

 

[sailor723]

Thanks for posting. I have 3 WW I era revolvers in .455 and I hadn't realized how relatively few Colt and S&W were produced.

 

[Baal]

Thanks for posting this. About 8 pages in so far.

 

[lister]

Smith & Wesson were given an initial contract for 5,000 of the so-called .44 Triple Lock Model revolver, re chambered and re-barrelled for the .455 Mark 2 cartridge. These were known as .455 Hand Ejector First Model to Smith & Wesson, and in British service as the Pistol Smith & Wesson .455 with 6½ inch barrel Mark 1, or Old Model.

I have a commercial Officer bought TL with 5 inch barrel. Apparently one of one hundred made. Nice gun.
Good writeup, will have to finish it later.