Mike Irwin
Staff
That was a small marking on the sideplate of K frame revolvers that were converted from the old style hammer block to the new style, Springfield-armory designed block.
IIRC approximately 60,000 of the 140,000 or so revolvers in government service and in the pipeline were so marked.
But, again, that was on the sideplate, wasn't a commercial marking, and wasn't located near the serial number.
Also to the best of my knowledge, I don't believe that marking was used on an Model of 1917s. I'm not sure if M1917s were converted or not. I don't believe many, if any, were because they were virtually all in combat theaters and weren't readily obtainable.
After the war the M1917s were withdrawn from service and surplussed while many K frames were held in military stores for years after the end of the war.
IIRC approximately 60,000 of the 140,000 or so revolvers in government service and in the pipeline were so marked.
But, again, that was on the sideplate, wasn't a commercial marking, and wasn't located near the serial number.
Also to the best of my knowledge, I don't believe that marking was used on an Model of 1917s. I'm not sure if M1917s were converted or not. I don't believe many, if any, were because they were virtually all in combat theaters and weren't readily obtainable.
After the war the M1917s were withdrawn from service and surplussed while many K frames were held in military stores for years after the end of the war.