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From his military record it appears that Martin Bluethner served honorably with the Canadian Expeditionary Force for over 49 months, 35 of those months as a member of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. During the more than four years he spent in the military, Martin Bluethner earned three field promotions and was twice wounded in the service of his Country.

What service Martin Bluethner’s revolver and holster might have seen during the war was already in France. His records reflect that twice during his tour in France and Belgium, he returned briefly to England (August 8 to August 18, 1917, and March 23 to April 8, 1918). It is possible that the revolver was issued to him on one of those occasions. However, the greater probability is that the gun was privately purchased from the Canadian Government by Martin Bluethner upon his promotion to lieutenant. During the First World War it was customary for commissioned officers of the British and Canadian Armies to buy their personal sidearms from Government stores. This hypothesis seems to be supported by the title “Lt. M. H. Bluethner” inscribed on the underside of the holster flap. In all likelihood, the double broad arrow marking was stamped on the gun’s frame at the time of its purchase by Lt. Bluethner.