I can assure you the 1917 revolvers both Colt and SW made it to the front lines.
There is a famous Frank Capra photo of a paratrooper in North Africa showing off all his goodies on a blanket. In addition to his non regulation 50 rd drum on his 1927 Thompason (NOT an M1), there is a knuckle duster trench knife and a BIG 1917 on his belt.
In a book about cavalry scouts in WW2, a young seargent reports that when pistols were issued, the officers all immediately seized the COLT revolvers, leaving the grunts with a new-fangled automatic (which he later loses and replaces with a p-38 and a BHP, both captured in Italy). It should be noted, when this guy joined up he was a stable boy for the Horse cavalry in the late 30's, so the revolvers being here should not be a surprise. Apparently the 1917 wasn't that scarce in armor crews:
On the history channel, in a special talking about WW2 tankers, in a letter home voiced over, a young corporal describes having qualified with a .45 cal revolver along with his promotion.
I recall reading one article about a guy cleaning out his dad's "attic" and finding his "war guns". His dad was in the OSS, and an operative. Dad's war guns included a luger and a 45 caliber 2 inch snubnosed revolver. The idiot claims he wants to "yank the firing pins because he doesn't believe in guns". He lets these heirlooms rust. jerk. Anyway, that could only be a Colt, as the SW has the shrouded cylinder pin. A Fitz made for OSS use? Thats GOT to be a collector's item
On other revolvers:
The germans had a number of 38 cal revolvers, which were made or captured. I know because my Aunt Marie took a shot at some bikers with the one her husband brought home. It's a 38 SW, not special, 6 shot looks like a smith but no markings as a smith, it was faded to patina and had some pitting on the outside of the barrel. Also featured a dime sized rusty spot on the cylinder from being stored in steel drawer. Took two hours to scrub the rust off it, but I never did see anything resembling lettering or a logo on the weapon. Shoots just fine last I heard. Was thinking maybe its an Astra?
Band of Brothers, Stepehen Ambrose tells a story of a young GI being sent a SW model 10 as he's getting ready to jump over normandy. That happened in every war up to Vietnam and pre GCA of 1968. Anyone could send a soldier a pistol, and it happened a lot. (Ive heard numerous anecdotal stories, and most guns sent were the SW model 10)
Tales of the Gun told of one Model 10 changing hands 8 times as it went island hopping with the marines.
Pistols were coveted items, and everybody wanted one not just as a trophy.
The Victory model SW revolver spoent most of its time in the hands of MP's and Britsh aircrews, as far as I can tell by reading, as most that come up for sale are marked as such. An RAF marked Victory model isn't that rare, most of them are unissued it seems.
The 38 "Commando" had two offerings a small lot of 2 inch models earmarked for OSS use, and a the 4 inch model which was earmarked for 'homeguard" use, by civil defense personnel and power plant guards etc. the 4 inch is widely available, the 2 inch is scarce. some 50,000 commando models were made for the war effort. All other Colt revolvers it seems were made during wartime, but in far fewer numbers. 12,000 new service models, 6,000 Police Positive Specials, etc.
The .38 cal Webly bobbed hammer modelwas not just issued to tankers but all over then British services where, if i read it right it was universally despised. The tankers were issued different holsters than the air crews and infantry. Lanyards were still standard.
Did see an oddball at a gunshow: Colt New Service 38 special, 4 inch barrel, parkerized with British proofs. Have to bet that was lend/lease era or one of the wartime New Service Models. Biggest 38 I've ever seen, price wasn't too bad either.
You can imagine that some where in some GI's collection is a SW Model 3 Russian, in 44 Russian, captured by the Japanese, or used against them. Wouldn't that be a find?
