Remembering Brazil in WWII: S&W 1917

[Douglas Jr.]

I know this is an old topic, but I prefer to concentrate as much information as possible in the same topic in order to make it easier for those researching our data. Besides that it is the same gun, but with an upgrade regarding its respective rig: I finally managed to get one example of each of two models that were issued to Brazilian troops right after the S&W Model 1917 revolver adoption.

At the time of the M1917 adoption by the Brazilian Army, in 1917, our field equipment had a strong influence of the British Mills field gear, using mostly canvas to built holsters, suspenders, belts and ammo pouches. So, when the revolvers were first issued to troops, a typical olive drab canvas holster came with the guns. The flap was closed by a press button with the capital letter EUB (“Estados Unidos do Brasil”, country’s official name from 1891 to 1967) and had two straps in the back to accept the belt (mine has lost of the straps though). These first holsters were extremely well built and able to endure several years of use and abuse.

Later holsters, probably made from 1945 on, were also built in canvas, but had a suspension system identical to the used by the US Armed Forces, to allow its wear in American-style belts, adopted here as a consequence of the Lend Lease Program after 1944. My impression is that such later holsters were not so sturdy, as my example seems to have shrunk. Another feature of the latter holsters is the different button on the flap, the same from the US rifle ammo belt.

The additional material seen in the pictures are the Brazilian Mauser bayonet (with canvas frog), an illustration of M1917 internal view from the Military Academy booklet and two military belts (the most faded one came with the holster and I believe it is from WWII, the other, darker, was wore by my father in 1965-66).

While common in the past, this kind of surplus material is becoming increasingly scarce and it took me two and half years to gather what you see here. But I did.

Hope you enjoy it.