triplelock target value

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arnold ziffle

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I have a triplelock target that a friend wants. I e had it for a number of years. I'm wondering what a fair price for both parties would be. it is in 99% condition with a star next to the ser#. all the numbers match including the grips. I've searched and having a hard time finding out what this is worth.
 
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It is difficult to estimate any revolver's value without pictures. Since this is a very collectible item, Several pictures of various angles would help. The star by the S/N indicates it has been refinished, and will reduce the collectors value. Instructions on posting pictures can be found in the FAQ's.
 
I found some additional info about your revolver in earlier posts to this forum. 6.5" barrel, serial number pointing to manufacture somewhere around 1913-1915. The stamp under the stocks may indicate that it went back to the factory for refinishing in March of 1956, but without photos of the stamp it would be hard to say. Are the target sights age appropriate for the revolver? They may be original sights or postwar sights that were added as part of the return work (assuming a 1956 return).

So there are a couple of variables here. An unrefinished 99% fully original target TL could be a $5000-6000 gun to some people. 99% as refinished probably drops that price one third to one half, assuming it letters as a target model.

Can you post pics of the gun with close-ups of its sights and and any factory markings on the frame under the stocks? I get the vibe that this is at rock bottom a $1500-2000 gun, and possibly worth up to twice that. How much more will depend on some details. I would spend $50 on a letter for this one before agreeing to sell it.
 
Forgot to check: this is a .44, right? The serial number (6xxx) is wrong for a .455, but I don't know if it is one of the unusual calibers that are infrequently found in TLs.

By the way, Arnold, I followed your professional career in Hooterville several decades ago. I don't know why you retired to Sacramento, but it's nice that you relocated to California. :)
 
H Richard said:
It is difficult to estimate any revolver's value without pictures. Since this is a very collectible item, Several pictures of various angles would help. The star by the S/N indicates it has been refinished, and will reduce the collectors value. Instructions on posting pictures can be found in the FAQ's.
Click to expand...

I do not think that the star always mean the gun was refinished, only that it has had work done to it.
 
if this works I'll try some more.
3ad38ec8.jpg
 
the finish looks more like a 50's blue to me instead of the high gloss finish that were used in the early 1900's but it could just be the pictures, the sights look correct and so do the grips. excellent gun.

Dan
 
Last edited:
m-1911 said:
I do not think that the star always mean the gun was refinished, only that it has had work done to it.
Click to expand...

I agree completely; it's just that the star so often indicates refinishing that I usually consider that the likeliest explanation. I'm educable on this point if someone has statistics that point in a different direction.

In this case, it looks as though the return may have involved an ejector rod replacement in addition to refinishing. That looks like the wrong knob for a TL.

I agree with Dan about the sights and stocks. They look as original to me as they can get. I also agree about the soft, satiny blue as opposed to the deep prewar blue. The finish and the ejector rod knob make me think 1950s. (Though I may be wrong about the knob if shadow is concealing its full dimensions.)

I'm willing to learn from the TL experts, but I would think $2500-3000 is not out of line for this revolver.
 
Ditto on the "satin" blue. (Looks '50's) Also, I wonder if it was a factory refinish or not. The hammer stud appears to be polished flat. I wouldn't think the factory would do that as that's usually a sign of a refinisher that didn't have the proper tool to remove it before polishing. (Maybe by the 50's S&W didn't bother either.)

The ejector knob looks just like the one on my .455 TL.
 
the ejector knob looks the same on mine, not sure about the hammer stud issue

20100909_39.jpg
 
OK, I'm retreating on the ejector rod knob suggestion based on the last photo. It now looks original to me. I just couldn't see it well enough in the first photo to interpret it properly. (It also didn't help that I was misremembering TL ejector rod knobs as having the pre-1930s mushroom shape.)

I see the point about the hammer stud; note too that the end of the slide rebound spring retaining pin is also pretty flat. This could reflect a saved step in the refinishing process, or a newly installed stud and pin as part of the work done when the gun went back to the factory.
 
Ejector knob looks like my TL target and all others I've seen too; correct. Definitely refinished though; all three pins have been polished flat and as has been said, I concur; satin blue instead of high gloss pre-war blue. Front site blade looks shortened. It'll shoot high. Otherwise nice gun. Unless the letter reveals something different, I'd estimate $2000 tops with nice workmanship on the polish and reblue but not period correct.
 
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