Grandfather' s Revolver

[tyree]

I recieved my Grandfather's Smith and Wesson .445 Revolver, serial number 36796. In today's terms it was his EDC. He worn it on his hip when he went hunting and fishing, it sat on the car seat whenever he traveled. Basically he never left the house without it, except for maybe going to church.

It looks very much like the one in this article:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/7/30/i-have-this-old-gun-smith-wesson-triple-lock/

But without the under-barrel protecting the extractor rod.

Not interested in the value, just the history.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

It's not a ".445," I can guarantee you-and all old S&Ws look like that.
Tell us exactly what the markings say, and post good, clear pictures of the gun and someone can help you.

 

[tyree]

Yes, it is .455, sorry, bit of a typo.

On the left side of barrel is:
Smith & Wesson .455

On top of the barrel is:
Smith Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A
Patented Oct. 8 1901 Dec. 17 1901 Feb. 6 1906

The serial number, 36796, is on the bottom of the grip frame.

Here is (hopefully) a link to some photos.

http://s347.photobucket.com/user/cdtyree/library/Smith Wesson?sort=3&page=1

 

[Jim Watson]

Grandpa's Gun is a .455 Mark II Hand Ejector Second Model (lacking the third latch and ejector rod shrould of the First Model "Triple Lock.")
69,754 of the model were made from 1915-1917 for the British, on top of about 6000 First Model "Triple Locks."
The British proof marks are typical. The roughly stamped point-to-point broad arrows on the yoke are from when it was released as surplus sometime after the War.

 

[g.willikers]

Where does one buy .455 ammo?
Apparently there were at least a couple of versions of it, too.
It would be a shame not to be able to shoot it.

 

[natman]

Fiocchi loads 455 Webley. It's a limited production item, so buy a bunch when it becomres available.

 

[Jim Watson]

He said on the S&W board that it had been reamed to .45 LC.

 

[BillM]

A lot of them had the face of the cylinder faced off to use 45 Auto
Rim or 45 ACP in clips. I've got one that they even punched down
the last 5 in .455 so it reads ".45". I shoot downloaded 45 ACP in full moon
clips---but it shoots low. Need to get some proper heavy hollow
base 455 bullets for it.

 

[Archie]

Grandfather knew what he was about...

I find a 255 grain bullet intended for .45 Colt substitutes quite well for the original 260 grain bullet.

I have a 'cut' Webley bird's head revolver. Using .45 AR cases, the 255 grain lead bullet (I use the roundnose in the Webley to distinguish those rounds from the SWC in the .45 ACP/AR revolvers) and a rather light dose of Unique, it shoots to point of aim and well within the torso of a 'filthy blighter' out to thirty five yards or so.

Even 'cut', a 2nd Model Smith in .455 is rather neat to have. I'm sure it served grandfather well.

 

[tyree]

Thanks to everyone, I greatly appreciate the information and insight.