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While the condition of the revolver alone seemed good enough to justify its purchase, the added bonus of the holster, coupled with the prospect of linking both items to a major chapter in history, were too much to pass up. Enticed by the possibility that further research might uncover additional details of their provenance, I bought the gun and holster. Upon receiving them, an inquiry was sent to Roy Jinks, who advised that the revolver was a Canadian Government Contract gun and had been shipped to Ottawa, Canada, on May 19, 1916. Having ascertained the factory background of the gun, the next step was to see what could be learned about Lieutenant M. H. Bluethner. Who was he? Had he been actively involved in combat, and if so, had he survived?

A bit more computer sleuthing led to the website of LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA, a Government-sponsored resource offering a wealth of information on a variety of subjects, including soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. A phone call to their offices in Ottawa confirmed that Martin Herman Bluethner, born April 26, 1892, had indeed been a member of the CEF. Furthermore, for a very reasonable processing fee, copies of his complete military records were available. Little time was lost in placing a request for Martin Bluethner’s files. With a planned vacation trip to Europe just a few weeks away, the hope was to have the records in hand before leaving. Depending on the information contained in them, it might be possible to visit places where Martin Bluethner had been some ninety years earlier. If he had fought in France or Belgium, his files might list those locations. In the event he had not survived the War, perhaps they would disclose his resting place.