Here are photos of a really nice S&W...it appears unfired...I am trying to establish its value....Thank You

Attached Images

	S&W .455 001 (800x450).jpg (209.5 KB, 194 views)
	S&W .455 002 (800x450).jpg (216.1 KB, 172 views)
	S&W .455 005 (800x450).jpg (208.9 KB, 214 views)
	S&W .455 004 (800x450).jpg (239.8 KB, 196 views)
	S&W .455 009 (800x450).jpg (227.9 KB, 184 views)

Here are some more photos....This gun must have been purchased, and then put away in storage....

Attached Images

	S&W .455 015 (800x450).jpg (200.5 KB, 167 views)
	S&W .455 021 (800x450).jpg (210.0 KB, 181 views)
	S&W .455 033 (800x450).jpg (189.7 KB, 151 views)
	S&W .455 031 (800x450).jpg (199.6 KB, 153 views)
	S&W .455 034 (800x450).jpg (246.5 KB, 151 views)

Good god man!!

Is there any indicators on the gun itself that it was Canadian issue?
I'm not seeing any of the normal property marks found on the Contract guns and am wondering if it was a private purchase.
What is the serial? (You can "X" out the last number or two if you are nervous about posting the whole number.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

In order to ascertain the true value of what appears to be a super revolver, I would obtain a factory letter from Roy Jinks, S&W's Historian. You can print out a letter request form by clicking on Downloads at the top of the screen.

I haven't kept up on Triple Locks lately, but given the condition, I would value the revolver at $4,000 or more. If it turns out to have unusual provenance, it may be worth quite a bit more (that is why the letter is important). I have not included the value of the holster as I don't know how much it adds to the overall value of the package.

Bill

That looks like it is in fantastic condition. What a find!

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You're shy a few manners.

Congratulations! Interesting the apparent satin finish. Is it satin and was that one of the S&W factory finished? To my perhaps faulty recollection, blue S&Ws WWI and earlier had high polish.

Thanks Gentlemen.....There are no British Proofmarks.....I think it may have been a Private Purchase!!....The Serial # is 12609....I will request a Factory letter;that would really add to the History of the Gun!!

What a fine revolver!

What round is the gun chambered for? The five digit serial number suggests it was produced in the .44 Hand Ejector series, not .455 HE. But some of the .44 HE series guns were made up in other calibers like .455 or were converted to, say, .45 Colt. It looks like the barrel may read .455 after the Smith & Wesson rollmark, but the photo is a little fuzzy and I can't be sure.

There is a known gun with a serial number not far from yours in .455 that was shipped to Canada as a commercial order.

An absolute beauty.

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David Wilson

Thank You for the information...it is .455 Caliber

Attached Images

S&W .455 007 (800x450).jpg (215.0 KB, 74 views)

lc,
Welcome aboard.
You have a very significant gun there.

First, some questions, and then I'll share some data with you.
Are you in Canada?
How far back can you trace this gun?
What do you know of Lt. A.M. Irvine?

You probably know that officers in the commonwealth armies often/usually purchased their own sidearms and accourtements. That could easily account for no acceptance marks, and Canada does not proof if I am correct?

In Apr, 1916, the factory was almost through with the 455 orders from the Empire. Around the first 5000 had been Triple Locks, the rest of the roughly 75,000 guns were second models. All were numbered in a separate serial number series. A few 44 TL's were converted early on because the Brits were desparate, so it might be possible to find two 455 TL's with the same serial number below 5000 since the 44 TL's had a separate series of numbers!

As they neared completion of the order, the factory discovered enough parts to assemble 691 455 TL's. I am sure they wanted to use them up rather quickly and get them sold while the war still raged and there was a chance of selling them amongst the commonwealth countries. It could logically be speculated that those parts would be dead inventory for a LONG time after the war ended. The commonwealth governments weren't buying them because the contracts were almost fulfilled, and they had already specified the simpler, cheaper 2nd models.

So, between Apr- Oct, 1916, those 691 guns were completed and shipped. Since they were not contract guns, they were NOT numbered in the 455 series. The numbers were a continuation of the regualr N frame (44 HE) serial series.
You most likely have one of those guns. Most probably went to Canada. It was probably purchased by Lt. Irvine when new. Perhaps he made it "over there", perhaps he was too late to make the party. It doesn't look like it had any trench time!

DO spend $50 for the letter.

I have owned the two nicest 455 TL's that I have ever seen in hand. Your gun is better than either. You may possess the NICEST 455 TL in existance, even WITH the initials. I love that, by the way, along with the marked holster.

What is it worth?
I won't really appraise a gun on that level from attached pics. It also depends on who/what Lt. Irvine was/did. You know what I mean if you are a Luger guy- a Vic Cross would mean a lot!

The gun is original and unaltered- just flat righteous.

Assuming no significant history for the Lt., the gun as-is with holster would have a minimum value of $5000, in my opinion, IF it is as nice as I think.

KUDOS to that one!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Anybody have a comment on rhmc24's observation on the satin finish vs. high polish? I have a Contract .455 TL and it is high polish. I can't recall if the 2nd Models were also....... (Or is it just a function of the photos?)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Lee....Thank You so much for the information!!..Yes,I am in Canada...I do not believe Canada proof marks Guns.....I will do some research into the Service History of Lt Irvine.....WW1 Canadian Soldiers Military records are available from Ottawa....Hopefully they will have some information about his Service Record!!.....Thanks again!!

Yes.
He is looking at dried and/or wet oil.
The gun IS high polish.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

WOW! Almost 100 years old. That is amazing.

Hi, Great looking tl you have there.Must of been his parade piece.If it was mine I would not let it touch that holster.Regards Mike

Reason I asked about the high polish vs satin, my satin looks a lot like it.

Interesting, odd coincidence. I did a little digging on a Canadian website listing of war dead and found a Lt. Andrew Balfour Irvine of the Manitoba Regiment KIA April 7, 1916.

None with a middle initial of M.

What a beautiful specimen.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Canada has of never has had military or otherwise proof laws, so it is more than likely that your beautiful TL 455 was brought into Canada for Private purchase by an Canadian officer. This is very common, my friend has a 5" TL 455 that was carried by a Canadian Chaplin bought private purchase during WW1, good god that looks as good as the S&W HE 2nnd models that were in Canadian stores that were never issued, I just picked one up as nice as your TL 455, cheers Dale Z in Canada!