Revolvers of friend & foe, Australia

Revolvers of friend and foe. (from the AWM collection)

Revolvers have long been considered a weapon for Officers, Armoured Corps personnel and Aircrew. That, like a lot of "rules" lasts until Active Service starts and then many infantrymen of all ranks "acquire" one.

1851. Adams Patent five shot, double action percussion revolver. Top frame engraved DEANE ADAMS & DEANE (MAKERS TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT) 30 KING WILLIAM STt LONDON BRIDGE with ADAMS' PATENT and the serial number on the right side.

One piece checkered walnut grips with a patch box in the butt base. The hammer has a small chip at the top. This revolver is contained in an oak case measuring 380x200x60 mm. The lid has a 1.5 inch brass disc on the top and the trade label is missing from the inside. The compartments are lined in green baize and hold a copper powder flask, a wooden handled nipple wrench, a bullet mould, a wooden ramrod, a cleaning jag, a small tin with percussion caps marked ELEY LONDON, ten lead projectiles and a small oil bottle.

1856. Adams Patent five shot percussion revolver.

Top frame engraved BLANCH & SON 29 GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON and ADAMS' PATENT No 7924 on the right side.

The grips are one piece checkered wood and the butt cap has a hinged patch box.

This revolver is contained in an oak case measuring 340x205x60 mm and has a 1.5 inch brass disc on the top lid. Inside the lid is a John Blanch trade label stating gun and pistol manufacturers. The case has compartments, lined in green baize, with a copper powder flask, a small green tin made by F JOYCE & Co containing percusion caps, a plastic bag with seven lead conical projectiles and twenty lead balls, a brass bullet mould, a wooden cleaning rod, a black wooden handled nipple wrench, a wooden handled screwdriver, a small nickel oil bottle made by Dixon & Sons and a key to the box lock.

1860. Cased Beaumont Adams Patent five shot percussion revolver. Frame is engraved on the top with the retailers name D. EGG. 4 PALL MALL. LONDON and on the right side with B.18,976 over ADAMS' PATENT with the serial number.

The proof mark under the barrel is of the London Arms Company.

The left side of the barrel has a cylinder loading lever. It has a one piece checkered wooden grip.The pistol is contained in a wooden case measuring 350x175x65 mm. The inside is lined in green baize and has compartments with a black handled screwdriver, a plain copper powder flask, a small silver plate oil bottle made by G&J.W.Hawksley, a brass bullet mold, a brass mounted wooden cleaning rod and 15 conical lead projectiles. On the lid top is a 15 mm brass disc. The case has a lock and the key is inside with the projectiles.

1880. Schofield Smith & Wesson Model 1875 Revolver.

Smith & Wesson single action, six shot 'Russian' revolver.

Break frame action marked Smith & Wesson Mod 1875 Russian.

The barrel top rib has the manufacturers address and patent dates between 1865 - 1877 and Reissue July 25, 1871. The wooden checkered grips have the remnants of Japanese characters in white paint. Barrel length: 6.5 (in); Calibre: .44 (inch); Overall length: 12.25 (in). This revolver is one of a batch purchased by the Japanese Government prior to the First World War. It was captured during the Second World War by the 26 Infantry Brigade.

1890. Belgian six shot, break open, double action revolver by Arnant.Fransouet. The frame and cylinder are nickel plated with floral engraving. The horn grips also have a carved floral design. The barrel is engraved U.ARNANT.FRANSOUET Bte and a Belgian proof mark is stamped on the cylinder. The frame has a double clip action release and a lanyard ring on the butt cap. The pistol is contained in a British brown leather service holster that is missing the top strap and stamped 2829 on the front.

It has single belt loop at the rear. Barrel length: 140 (mm); Calibre: 11 (mm); Overall length: 270 (mm). This revolver was taken from a German officer during the First World War. It was in the possession of a member of Woy Woy R.S.L. Association who asked to have it sent to Australian War Memorial.

1893. Webley "Wilkinson" Model 1892 six shot revolver.

Barrel top engraved "WILKINSON" MODEL 1892 PALL MALL LONDON and on the left side LT JOHN GELLIBRAND. Sth LANc REGt.

One piece checkered grips with the serial number stamped on the left side and a lanyard ring on the butt base.

This revolver is contained in an oak case measuring 320x205x65 mm and on the lid is a 50mm brass disc engraved ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE JULY 1893 PRIZE DRILL GENTn CADET J.GELLIBRAND. The inside of the case is lined in red felt with compartments holding a wood handled cleaning rod, two rod brushes, a rod mop, a brass cleaning rod and a small nickel oil bottle made by C&J.W.HAWKSLEY. A book plate with the Gellibrand of Pauls Cray coat of arms is also loose inside the case. This cased pistol was a prize awarded to Gentleman Cadet John Gellibrand who later became Sir John Gellibrand, KCB, DSO*.

1884. Dutch Model 1894 Army Revolver. Trigger guard marked with an 'A' and a 'Z' with 20 on the trigger. Proof mark to the right side of the frame. The revolvers were used by the Netherlands East India Company in what is now the Republic of Indonesia and a considerable number were captured by the Japanese Army. This pistol was collected by the 7th Military History Field Team at Balikpapan at the end of the Second World War.

	1900. St Etienne Arsenal, French Model 1892 six shot, double action army revolver. Frame stamped Mre d'Armes St Etienne and the serial number. The barrel top is engraved Mle 1892. The grips are two piece checkered wood and the butt has a lanyard ring at the base. Barrel length: 117 (mm); Calibre: 8 (mm); Overall length: 236 (mm); Weight: 84 (kg).
This revolver was commonly known as the 'Lebel' after the president of the commission responsible for its adoption.

1902. Mle 1892 Revolver by St Etienne Arsenal. French Model 1892 six shot, double action army revolver. Frame stamped Mre d'Armes St Etienne and the serial number. The barrel top is engraved Mle 1892 and S1902. The grips are two piece checkered wood and the butt has a lanyard ring at the base. This revolver is contained in a presentation case. This revolver was presented to The Honorable Kim Beazley, Minister for Defence, in 1988 by the French Government.

1910. Belgian five shot, double action pocket revolver and holster. The nickel plated frame has various Belgian proof marks. The two piece black plastic checkered grips have a star in the top quarter. The pistol is in a brown, ribbed leather open top holster. Hand stitched down one edge with a belt loop at the back. The front edge has some letters and numbers stamped into the leather. Calibre: .32 (in); Overall length: 175 (mm). This pistol was carried by 2nd Lt F. Birks, VC during the First World War.

1910. French, five shot, hammerless pocket revolver with a folding trigger. The frame and cylinder are nickel plated and there are no manufacturer marks except for the serial number. The grips are two piece mother of pearl.

The rear of the frame has a safety catch. There is no ejector rod fitted to the octagonal barrel. Barrel length: 60 (mm); Calibre: 8 (mm); Overall length: 165 (mm).

The donor, Colonel Wikner, was intelligence officer with the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade, stated that approximately early November, 1917, the 2nd L.H. Brigade was faced, on the plain outside Jaffa, by a numerically stronger Turkish force. Both sides had resorted to patrol activities and it was on one of these patrols that the Australians had on one night seen a signal light originating from a mud hut in the vicinity. Investigation resulted in the capture of a Turk dressed in Arab robes. This revolver was taken from the Turk by an interpreter who presented it to Colonel Wikner.

Circa 1912. French hammerless six shot revolver.

Frame marked with TCA Trade Mark on the right side and an elephant within a circle on the left with CARTOUCHE "LEBEL".

Ivory grips and has a black plaited cord attached to the lanyard ring. The donor, Warrant Officer R H Lee, stated that he took the pistol from a Turkish officer on Gallipoli in May 1915.

Circa 1914. Smith & Wesson Service Revolver. The barrel is stamped with Smith & Wesson patent details and SMITH & WESSON 455. The frame has AK and 5709 scratched on the left side and the S&W logo on the right.

It has a khaki lanyard attached to the butt ring. This type of revolver was made in the United States during the First World War for the British Government.

Circa 1915. Webley Mark IV revolver. Frame stamped MARK'IV' WEBLEY MARK IV PATENTS, a double arrow sale mark, WA over an arrow and the serial number.

The barrel is also stamped with WA and an arrow mark. This revolver belonged to Lieutenant Throssell, VC.

1915. Webley Mark V double action, six shot revolver by Webley & Scott Ltd. Frame stamped WEBLEY MARK V PATENTS 1915. The grips are black checkered bone with the right side bottom broken. The back strap is stamped 2.16 and it has a lanyard ring at the butt.

This service revolver and the accompanying holster were carried by Sergeant Percy Clyde Statton VC, MM, of the 40th Battalion, AIF near Proyart, France on 12 August 1918 where he won the Victoria Cross.

1917. Colt New Service M1917 Revolver. Barrel stamped with the Colt's patent dates and NEW SERVICE 455 ELEY. The right black plastic grip is chipped on the bottom edge.

This revolver is claimed to have belonged to Captain Albert Jacka VC, MC and came into the Powell family after the 1914-18 War.

1925. Model 26 double action, six shot revolver by Kokura Arsenal, Japan. The blued frame is stamped with the Kokura arsenal stamp, the model identification in Japanese characters and the serial number. The grips are wooden with horizontal ribs and there is a lanyard ring on the butt plate. This type of pistol was virtually obsolete by the time of the Second World War but they were often issued to non commissioned officers of the Japanese Army.

1941. HAC No 2 Mk 1* six shot, double action revolver by Howard Auto Cultivator Company, Australia.

Frame stamped H.A.C. No2 N MKI* over 1941 and D arrow D.

The grips are black plastic with the right side having a brass three quarter inch disc superimposed in the centre.

There is a lanyard ring in the butt cap. The HAC revolver was the Australian derivation of the British Enfield No2 MkI .38 service revolver. This pistol was issued to the Australian Military Forces.

Circa 1941. Hopkins & Allan X.L.3 double action, five shot revolver by Hopkins & Allen Arms Co.

The frame is stamped HOPKINS & ALLEN MFG Co X.L.3 DOUBLE ACTION.32 CAL CENTRE FIRE with Japanese characters on the left side Meiji 28 (1898) and ?4303.

The revolver is nickel plated and has black checkered horn grips.

Circa 1941. Smith & Wesson Model 49 five shot revolver. Barrel stamped left side SMITH & WESSON and on the right 38 S&W SPL. The frame is marked MADE IN U.S.A. MARCAS REGISTRADAS, SMITH & WESSON, SPRINGFIELD MASS. The S&W trade mark is on the left side of the frame. The grips are two piece checkered wood with the S&W mark in the top quarter on a small silver disc. MOD-49 is stamped with 28722 on the inside frame when the cylinder is opened.