COLT New Service 455 ELEY Markings? *PICS*

[olivestab]

hello,
I am still green to the firearm world after owning my first handgun (passed down by the family) just over 2 months ago.
however Ownership and various military related things have been part of my lifestyle since childhood,
and i am always eager to learn new things.

I recently obtained a New Service 455 ELEY revolver pistol.
At first i tried to do some research online about where its from, and all i could uncover was that it was used in WW1 and for Boarder Patrol.
(i don't even know if this is correct)

There are some strange stamps on the gun, and i have always wondered what they mean,
I read that they where certain stamps issued by different armies as firearms circulate through the military, but thats about all i know.

Also, i watched a video of someone using the gun, its a 45btw, and he was very satisfied with the performance of the 100yo gun.
However one thing he said struck me, he mentioned that it only fires "45 COLT".
Isn't "45 COLT" just a brand?? I figure i could purchase any normal 45ammo.

reason why I'm so concerned is because i would hate to dish out the extra bucks just because of the brand name.
Idk about you guys, but Ammunition sold at walmarts is a STEAL! and i would hate to pass up this luxury if this gun cannot fire normal 45 ammunition.


one last thing, my grandmother in law told me that she tried to sell the gun back (30 some odd years ago)
and they told her they couldn't do anything with it, so she kept it in her house for defense.

Im wondering why they would say that? i think the gun is only worth like 50-100$ -would that be the reason?


anyways, if someone could confirm my 45 ammo question, and possibly let me know what these marking mean, i would be very grateful.

here is the gun at full view:

here is the gun with cylinder facing out. (if anyone notices anything wrong please inform me)

Another view of cylinder for diagnostic purposes: (courtesy of my wife helping to hold it for me!)

View of the guns service name:

View of the guns markings (what to they mean)

 

[SDC]

These are Birmingham view and proof marks, showing that this Colt revolver was exported to Britain and used in their army; the point-to-point "broad arrows" on the sideplate and crane show that this revolver was then sold out of service, almost certainly to the officer that carried it as his service revolver. The British ordered these revolvers in their standard service cartridge of the time, 455 Eley revolver, which is hard to get and fairly expensive today, and you shouldn't try to fire anything else in it; most of the people who own a revolver in this calibre today will reload it themselves. Someone with the proper reference books on Colts can probably tell you exactly when this revolver was originally sold. HTH.

 

[olivestab]

thank you for your reply.
How can i tell if the cylinder was modded for 45 ACP?
I see many posts where these new service have been re-modified, I'm no gunsmith so i couldn't tell.

My grandfather in-law (whom i never met and passed away 4years ago)
was a skilled gunsmith.
Apparently do to old age he lost his smarts and ended up having to sell his inventory and shop.
This revolver that i own was his choice out of his inventory that he decided to keep.

The gun is in working condition, and i am going to have it prepared for use,
but i have read too many sources claiming the the New Service Revolvers can fire 45 ACP or Cannot fire 45 ACP ect,
and i am hoping that by all the markings on the gun, someone could tell if it has been modified.

Lastly, is there a website that has a legend of all military markings that i can cross reference with the ones on my revolver?

Thank you very much for your time and help.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Welcome to TFL, Olive.

Please post your questions in one forum only. That way all of the discussion is concentrated in one thread instead of being spread out over two or more.

Since your post in revolvers has more responses, I'm going to close this one.