New to me Colt M1917

Good evening:
I recently added a Colt .45 acp M 1917 revolver to my collection. I am looking to learn as much as I can about this piece. The serial number decodes to 1918 production. It is marked "US Property" and has the Army # near the lanyard ring on the butt.
1- would this have been blued initially, and has it been refinished? I would imagine that after 100 the dull finish is too intact to be original.
2- Can anyone here help me decode the other markings on the frame?
I am specifically interested in these two...
"S20" or "520" underneath a small logo of some sort.
And the "3" near the trigger guard.
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Thanks in advance for any insight you guys can offer.
Mike

The eagle is the acceptance mark. It could have been refinished in time for the second war...

They were blued originally but as Jim stated, many were refinished with Parkerizing and issued during WWII. Nice revolver.

Thanks...I am very pleased. So now that I have had a chance to fondle her for a few days..a few more questions about the markings pop up....
The mark above the serial # "I" or "H"?
The "1" below the serial number...does it signify anything?
Does anyone know what the mark is on the rear face of the cylinder? "I" or "H"?
How about on the butt frame.."G" and "O" or "Q"?
But here is the best part...pencil writing on the inside of the grips...what do you guys think of this?
Looks like the serial #, a name "John/Jacob Shea" and "Chateau Thierry".....
Any significance? or a hoax somewhere along her 101 year history?

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Originally Posted by 82Trooper

pencil writing on the inside of the grips

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Nice. Very special and irreplaceable...

The extraneous markings "1" is likely a fitter marking. Colt worked on a piece work system and if there was a problem with an individual gun it was traceable to the fitter, who fixed it on his own time.

I suspect "G" is a coded marking referring to the US government - sort of a contract marking.

The marking above the serial and on the cylinder is the eagle inspection marking.

Most of the .455 guns will have an "E" which is believed to refer to "England" or "English".

Other stamped markings may have referred to the forging dies used, or a specific material.

Also as discussed the fact that it's parkerized indicates that it has been refinished or possibly rebuilt - usually that would be stamped with coded markings to indicate who/when/why ect.

Any thoughts on the writing on the grips?

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

usually that would be stamped with coded markings to indicate who/when/why etc.

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Could have been done by a guy since release. We did lots of that sort.

Look up the battle of Chateau-Thierry 18 July 1918.

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Originally Posted by gsimmons

Look up the battle of Chateau-Thierry 18 July 1918.

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Of course I did this....one of the first major engagements by the American Expeditionary Force in WWI, and a precursor to the battle at Belleau Wood. Generally, these two battles are identified as America's "baptism of fire" during the Great War.
I guess what I was really asking was if writing a name or battle locations and dates was "a thing" soldiers did, in those days, on the grips. Has anyone seen this before? Does it potentially lend credibility to this pistol's provenance (or at least the grips!) that they were at Chateau-Thierry?
Thanks again for any thoughtful insight....

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Originally Posted by 82Trooper

I guess what I was really asking was if writing a name or battle locations and dates was "a thing" soldiers did, Has anyone seen this before?

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I had a Krag school gun that had obviously been a rifle before and it had names of ports and Chinese cities written inside the stock under the barrel.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice. Very special and irreplaceable...

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Seeing the writing there did make my heart beat a little faster....for me, I don't care if it add's any monetary value to this piece. The value comes from holding this in my hand and wondering if some long forgotten dough boy (forgotten until now) carried this with him across no man's land.... they physical link to history is priceless.

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Originally Posted by 82Trooper

some long forgotten dough boy

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Then it came home in his duffle...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Then it came home in his duffle...

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Seems like a fair trade for what he and his comrades survived!

I have a few Colt Model 1917 and S&W Model 1917 revolvers that were parkerized and rebuilt for WW2 service, that also had inspectors stamps
such as GHD and others.

What a unique piece of history, a true piece of American and WW1 history.

I would say the grip inscription adds considerably to its value.