A Marine’s Gun

I bought this Smith & Wesson Model 1917 revolver in .45 ACP several years back. It had been reblued at some point and the rebluing was wearing off in places. Eventually I replaced the original grips with the Pearlites ’cause I like the look.

While doing so, I was surprised to notice that someone had stippled some writing along the backstrap. I’m sure it was once very obvious to the naked eye, but a LOT of use over the years seems to have faded the marks:

It reads “O.A. Bierkle, USMC.” (Originally I didn’t even notice the “O.”)

It had been over a year since I bought the gun on consignment, but when I brought it back to the gun shop they didn’t remember who’d brought it in, and I stupidly forgot that they’d have the info buried in their paperwork, so I counted that as a dead end.

A few more years went by, and then a few days ago I halfheartedly posted an inquiry on Calguns in the C&R forum. Imagine my astonishment when in mere minutes a Calgunner responded with

Turned up this. From the Korean War.Easy Co 2d Bn 7th Marines / ORVILLE A. BIERKLE

So now I get to contact the unit historian to see if I can find out more about this Marine. It’s an honor already to own and care for his gun. It will be even more exciting and meaningful when I’ve learned some of the history of the man himself.

Very Kewl!

UPDATE A YEAR LATER: OMG!