Hello to all, have not posted in some time as I have been on a Colt/Smith binge. However, last week I purchased a 1916 DWM with all matching numbers except the mag. Grip strap also has LN stamped on it (I do not know what this indicates). Pistol is in remarkable condition showing only very minor wear. It is the nicest I have personally held. Now the interesting part, the pistol is engraved with a Canadian soldier's name. Engraving reads: A.W. Bowser 25th Canadian Battalion. After googling his name, I was fortunate to find reference to him on the Canadian Archives website that lists soldiers from Canada who were memebers of the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force. The following link goes to info on him:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/d...f&id_nbr=58055
The records show he was a captain in the 25th which from Nova Scotia and was a Highland Battalion but did not wear kilts except for the pipe band. There is a lot of info on the 25th Battalion. As to the pistol, I believe this provenance proves the legitimacy of the engraving and clearly identifies the soldier to whom it was engraved. The interesting part is how this Canadian soldier obtained this pistol and who engraved it. Would anyone care to chime in? I would appreciate the help. Dan