Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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Though there is little doubt that many of the .455 First Model Hand Ejectors saw use in combat, few documented accounts of their service are known. One such anecdotal example, however, can be found in Elmer Keith’s book Sixguns By Keith. Keith relates the story of a Canadian soldier who was taken prisoner at night by three German troops and was being escorted back to their lines. In the darkness the Germans had overlooked a Triple Lock revolver the Canadian had under his tunic. When the four of them sought sanctuary in a shell crater during an artillery barrage, the captive took advantage of the light from exploding flares to locate the position of each of the German soldiers. He then drew his revolver and shooting double action, dispatched his captors before they had time to react.

The story recounted by Keith may very well be factual. In 1991 Mr. David Penn, who was the Keeper of Exhibits and Firearms at London’s Imperial War Museum, gave a presentation to members of the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association. A transcript of his lecture was published in the SWCA 1992 Winter Newsletter. According to Mr. Penn: “The First World War was the only period in which British forces treated the revolver as an offensive weapon. It was very effective for trench fighting in skilled hands and by the end of the war, training was very sophisticated indeed, with a plethora of rapid fire, long range, trench clearance, quick draw and quick reloading techniques being taught at the Southern Revolver School at Wareham. The final test was a trench clearance at night, the only illumination being provided by exploding thunderflashes.” Apparently “thunderflashes” is another term for flash grenades or some similar type of ordnance.