Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: .455 Mark II Hand Ejector 2nd Model, Canadian Military

Serial Number: 58949

Year of Manufacture: 1915-1916

Caliber: The cylinder has been shaved and chambers reamed for .45 Colt.

Action Type: 6-Shot, Double Action / Single Action, Swing-Out, Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Barrel Length: 6 1/2”, Pinned

Sights / Optics: The front sight has been cut and its base dovetailed with a Lyman brass-beaded blade installed. The rear sight is a "U"-notch integral to the topstrap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with smooth diamonds around the grip screws and S&W medallions. The inside of each panel has the serial number hand-written in pencil. The grips have scattered light nicks and small scratches with a few more notable dings. The right panel has a crack at the top edge just behind the medallion. There are a few spots of pooled finish. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original. Numbered parts match, but the cylinder's serial number has been removed during alteration for .45 Colt.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore, mostly toward the muzzle-end. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show light handling wear, more notable on the backstrap. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation with some more notable oxidation at the muzzle-end of the barrel. There are some minor nicks and thin scratches. The action shows light operational wear including a thin turn-line on the cylinder. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition as re-chambered.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is Smith & Wesson’s .455 Hand Ejector 2nd Model. The Commonwealth nations were unable to keep up with wartime demands and purchased a number of American arms chambered for their service cartridges to help fill their backlog. About 74,000 were made between the two variants during the Great War, but only 14,500 were made for the Canadians with the remainder going to the British. The revolver has a 6 1/2" barrel with a blued finish and checkered walnut stocks. Many, likely most, of these revolvers that made it to America were re-chambered for a more common American cartridge such as .45 Colt or .45 ACP and some saw additional modifications such as shortening the barrel or altering the grip frame profile. This example has been re-chambered for .45 Colt and the front sight has been replaced with a Lyman beaded blade. After 110 years, the revolver is in quite good mechanical condition with a decent bore. For S&W, Canadian, or WWI small arms collectors, this is a neat find. It is also a well-made and sturdy revolver chambered for a potent cartridge, suitable for a hunting sidearm. Please see our photos and good luck!