I recently came upon a British Proofed Triple Lock with a Caliber Marking on the left side of the barrel of,"45 ac" it has the british Decommissioning mark as well as a number of other proof marks that I do not have identified just yet (I don't have it in my hands at the moment, it's at my dealer until I get back from a trip) I do believe the back of the cylinder has been shaved :-( as indicated by the 45 AC marking on the barrel. The SN is 229* as marked on the butt. It is in slightly rough shape but my dealer has indicated that the discoloration is only surface and is not in fact pitting. Please take a look at these photos and let me know what you think I've got and ballpark what it's worth!

Attached Images

	triple lock 1.jpg (54.9 KB, 106 views)
	triple lock 2.jpg (60.0 KB, 100 views)
	triple lock 3.jpg (71.5 KB, 104 views)
	triple lock 4 - Version 2.jpg (53.7 KB, 139 views)

Judging by the headspace gap at the rear of the cylinder, it has been converted to .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim. Be advised that .45 ACP is about 25% higher in pressure and that the .455 cylinders were not heat treated. 1917 revolvers had heat treated cylinders, the US Gov't.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

i have the same revolver counter bored converted for 45 colt. it locks up tight but the bore has minor pitting. who cares, it shoots absolutey dead on and a blast to fire. i load .454 dia for it. i tried to sell for 400 and no offers. decided to keep it. 45 acp pressures are too much to risk, but cowboy loads for 45 colt are great. I would think 300 would be a good placw to start.

I have just taken delivery of the revolver mentioned above, and it will not accept my moon clips from my model 22. Would Half moon clips be the best bet or should I look at other options? I'm not against .45 AR but it's not my preferred course of action at this time.

Good times,
Blake

Does "will not accept" mean that the cylinder will not close? Or that they do not fit around the extractor star correctly?

Do unclipped individual .45 ACP rounds allow the cylinder to close? If yes, it would be a good idea to try half-moon clips, or even third-moon clips. (See photo below). Half-moon clips should be the most fail-safe since they work in both Colt and S&W M1917 revolvers.

I have read that not all S&W .45 ACP revolvers use the same full-moon clips. That may be your problem. I would assume that any full-moon clip that is compatible with the M1917 will work with your converted Triple Lock. Do your full-moon clips look like the ones in the picture below? Those function fine in my M1917s.

Looking at the S&W website, I see that they only offer one type of "Full moon Clip for ".45 ACP" so that surprises me a little.
Full Moon Clips - Smith & Wesson

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You're shy a few manners.

I sympathize with your problem. I too am interested in the answers to Jack Flash's questions.

And if you're not reloading 45 ACP, and loading it down, I caution about its use with its factoring loading of at least 19,000 units pressure. The increase of 5000 units over the 455 ammo's 14,000 units pressure: 5000 divided by 14,000 = a 36% increase.

I know of no 455s blowing up, but that's not the issue, it's the cumulative degradation of the revolver and cylinder over time.

Personally I can't abide using clips. And now that new 45 AR brass is available from Starline brass among others, I prefer it to ACP. But of course I understand that one must reload it.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The Moon clips I have appear to be the same as those in your photo. A loaded .45 cap cartridge will drop into a chamber but when fitted into the clip they will not drop far enough into the chambers for the cylinder to close. These clips are from a Model 22 "Thunder Ranch" and work fine in that gun. I have ordered some half moon clips and also have an eye out for Auto Rim brass/ammunition. I am aware of the differences in pressures of .45 acp and .455.

Thanks Much,
Blake

Not sure if you're has condition issues, or not, but decent ones have lately been bringing around $800. This thread was started a year ago and prices surely wouldn't have doubled in a year.