Is it a New Century??

Grunner · #1 09-01-2013, 10:15 AM

My friend brought this to me to possibly sell for him. Because it was in such good condition I was confused. After researching as much as I could, I concluded this is a New Century Triple lock. It has 1080 stamped inside and 1973 stamped on the butt and cylinder and inside. I think it was mfg, 1911. Am I correct? Any info and help would be appreciated. I believe I've talked him out of selling it unless, of course it's to me.

rhmc24 · #2 09-01-2013, 11:19 AM

Yes, it's a New Century

beagleye · #3 09-01-2013, 11:35 AM

Definitely a triple lock. 1973 is the serial number, the other is just a factory assembly number. Take the grips off and look for a date, something like "5-23", indicating a trip back to the factory (first number month, second year). That blue is really slick, I wonder if it got a factory re-blue.

I can't quite see the proof marks well but that probably means it was a british military gun, is it marked ".455" on the barrel?

handejector · #4 09-01-2013, 11:45 AM

Yep- a 455 Triple Lock.
It is a beauty.
#1973 is on the list of 44 TL's that were converted to .455, so that means that there were most likely TWO built with #1973- one in the regular 455 series that ran from 1 to 5000+, and one in the 44 series that was converted.
I have no clue which one you have.

It would be a great gun to get a letter on!

Muley Gil · #5 09-01-2013, 11:45 AM

Welcome to the Forum.

Yes, it is a New Century aka the Triple Lock.

It appears to have been converted to .45 Colt. Should be a great shooter. My 5" .44 Special TL is a very accurate revolver.

DCWilson · #6 09-01-2013, 11:47 AM

I think that is a .455 Hand Ejector, First Model. These were made for the British Military in the early days of WWI and utilized the triple lock design. That one was probably shipped in late 1914/early 1915. The .455 has its own serial number sequence, so there are duplicated numbers between the .44 TL and .455 version.

Can't quite be sure because of focus issues, but it looks like that one may have been modified to take .45 Colt cartridges in addition to the .455 Mk II. Seems like the chambers may have been countersunk slightly to accommodate the thicker .45 Colt rim and deepened to accept the longer case. But I could be wrong.

EDITED TO ADD: Hmm, while I was writing a couple of knowledgeable guys got in first. At least we all said pretty much the same thing!

Nice gun. If your friend decides to sell it, I hope you do manage to acquire it.

SECOND EDIT: The 1080 stamped on the inner frame surface is a soft fitting number and has no meaning for identification purposes. But note that the serial number 1973 is also stamped at the front end of the ejector rod shroud to show that the barrel assembly matches the frame and cylinder. If you look through one of the charge holes and use side illumination, you should also be able to see 1973 stamped on the face of the yoke arm that lies parallel to the face of the cylinder. Look at the underside of the ejector star as well.

Grunner · #7 09-01-2013, 12:31 PM

It does not have .455 on the barrel

Muley Gil · #8 09-01-2013, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grunner

It does not have .455 on the barrel

A lot of them weren't caliber marked. They were being shipped to the UK or one of the commonwealth nations and .455 was the standard caliber.

murphydog · #9 09-01-2013, 12:52 PM

In photo 3 of the cylinder bores, it appears they 'may' have been altered to fire .45 Colt by removing the shoulders for the (shorter) .455 Mk II, a common modification. If it chambers .45 Colt it has been altered. A photo of the recoil shield may also provide information about this.

beagleye · #10 09-01-2013, 02:47 PM

I do no see the counter bore but the chambers do look long and the throats look short, and it kind of seems like theres a little rough area at the end of the chamber. I would also like to see a picture of the recoil shield.

Hondo44 · #11 09-01-2013, 03:20 PM

Here's an unmodified .455 chamber pic from handejector for comparison:

handejector · #12 09-01-2013, 03:37 PM

I'll bet a dollar against a doughnut that the OP's gun has NOT been reamed to 45 Colt.

Andy Griffith · #13 09-01-2013, 05:14 PM

I pulled out my Canadian to compare.

I don't think it has been modified.

Dad-blame it- now I want a doughnut!!!

beagleye · #14 09-01-2013, 11:33 PM

Is dollars to doughnuts still good odds? Seems like doughnuts might be getting expensive.

murphydog · #15 09-02-2013, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

I'll bet a dollar against a doughnut that the OP's gun has NOT been reamed to 45 Colt.

Glad to be wrong if so...

Grunner · #16 10-31-2013, 04:55 PM

Thank to all who responded to my post/thread. I know quite a bit but I'm learning more and more each time I read through these. Dan

Sebago Son · #17 10-31-2013, 05:15 PM

In your last photo I see what appears to be a "star" marking on the barrel. If so, this can mean a repair / replacement or some other signifigant factory rework post shipment. It is also possible that the marking is something else entirely and I just can't see it that well...

Also, the blue looks a little on the bright side to me. Look at the triple lock lug/ramp on the frame and yoke. These would be color hardened when origional, as seen here ...

This .455 is a very late 1917 Commercial. You can compare the color of the blueing between yours and mine...

Gun 4 Fun · #18 10-31-2013, 06:47 PM

Sebago Son-

you beat me to it, but posted the same thing I was going to.
there is definitely a couple stars on the barrel and frame. I'd bet money on a factory re-blue.

OP- is there a rectangle with R-B inside it on the left side of the grip frame neat the bottom?

glowe · #19 10-31-2013, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun

Sebago Son-

you beat me to it, but posted the same thing I was going to.
there is definitely a couple stars on the barrel and frame. I'd bet money on a factory re-blue.

OP- is there a rectangle with R-B inside it on the left side of the grip frame neat the bottom?

Enlarge the image and you will see it is not a star. Looks like inspector marks to me, maybe with a crown over initial.

Same goes for the chambers. My guess is that they are not altered and the revolver remains a 455.

Sebago Son · #20 10-31-2013, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun

Sebago Son-

you beat me to it, but posted the same thing I was going to.
there is definitely a couple stars on the barrel and frame. I'd bet money on a factory re-blue.

OP- is there a rectangle with R-B inside it on the left side of the grip frame near the bottom?

The marking Gun 4 Fun refers to MAY look like this...

Or it could look like this...

Gun 4 Fun · #21 10-31-2013, 07:30 PM

By clicking on the pictures, then clicking again, and then one more time, you can really enlarge them- like to full screen size.

In doing that it doesn't look like a star, but I still bet on a re-blue. You can clearly see pitting in behind the third latch plate that has been blued over.

Gun 4 Fun · #22 10-31-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebago Son

The marking Gun 4 Fun refers to MAY look like this...

Or it could look like this...

Yes, like those or a full on rectangle with R-B inside it. My TL has the star and date stamp in the same place as yours. Mine went back to the factory for a refinish on 3 62.

glowe · #23 10-31-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun

By clicking on the pictures, then clicking again, and then one more time, you can really enlarge them- like to full screen size.

In doing that it doesn't look like a star, but I still bet on a re-blue. You can clearly see pitting in behind the third latch plate that has been blued over.

Good eye, I forgot to mention that when I enlarged the markings, you can see the pitted area under the yoke that looks to be blued.

Try this - when you want to enlarge a photo, click to open it and then keep hitting Control and + at the same time until you can see the details you want.

Gun 4 Fun · #24 10-31-2013, 07:46 PM

With my mouse I hold control, and scroll the wheel to do the same thing.

Sebago Son · #25 10-31-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun

Yes, like those or a full on rectangle with R-B inside it. My TL has the star and date stamp in the same place as yours. Mine went back to the factory for a refinish on 3 62.

I think you'll find that the marking you describe is a much later iteration.

This gun is actually a .455 HE2nd Model.

It went back to the factory in May, 1936 for a new cylinder in .45 Colt.

rhmc24 · #26 11-03-2013, 08:46 AM

For comparison, here's my recent acquisition, .45 Colt converted from .455. Original blue close to 100%
but for rust patch left side of barrel about 3" from muzzle.

Dosgatos · #27 11-04-2013, 06:07 PM

[QUOTE=
SECOND EDIT: The 1080 stamped on the inner frame surface is a soft fitting number and has no meaning for identification purposes. But note that the serial number 1973 is also stamped at the front end of the ejector rod shroud to show that the barrel assembly matches the frame and cylinder. If you look through one of the charge holes and use side illumination, you should also be able to see 1973 stamped on the face of the yoke arm that lies parallel to the face of the cylinder. Look at the underside of the ejector star as well.[/QUOTE]

The number is also on the back of the third locking lug, facing the cylinder. I found it there while looking through a cylinder charge hole at the yoke arm. To my surprise I saw the same number on the lug through an adjacent charge hole in the cylinder!

Hondo44 · #28 11-04-2013, 08:53 PM

Yes, 7 serial # locations on fixed sight triple locks and 10 on targets.