I recently found this while wasting time on the internet (according to my lovely wife).

It is a circa 1910 production 44 Special also referred to as a triple lock. It came to me with really neat mother of pearl stocks with a steer head carved into the right panel, along with ruby eyes, and Mexican gold pesos inset into the tops.

The serial is 53xx with a star at the end. The frame has factory a service date of 11/1945.

It appears to have a factory four inch barrel with matching serial number and the absence of a 'b' leads me to believe that this gun was nickel from day one. A letter from Roy Jinks will tell the whole tale.

My dad says that this gun has 'out BBQ'd' his BBQ gun. He has me beat on the leather, so I guess that it is a wash.

Without further ado....here are the photos (and if you know where a suitable vintage holster to match this 1st model might be found, please drop me a line).





Judging by the wear and the previous re-finish, I am guessing that this was a using gun for a good portion of it's life. If it could only talk, what stories do you think that it could tell? maybe tales of western lawmen from the early part of the 20th century?

I can hardly wait to take it out to see what it can do on the steel plates

*** Update - 4-20-2016 - I received the history letter from Roy Jinks this morning - the gun shipped with a FOUR inch barrel , in NICKEL , to Warren Brothers Co, Birmingham, AL on 11-27-1911.

It is fantastic to learn that the four inch barrel is original

While I hoped that it went to Wolf & Klar, I am optimistic that some research will prove interesting on the Warren Brothers Company.

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On the Oak Savannah

Cool old piece.
Has the hammer spur been ground off, or was it broken?

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Does the barrel measure 4" from the front face of the cylinder ? I would have
guessed 3 1/2".

Mike Priwer

I will trade you some Pachmeyers for those
old "Cow grips."
Straight up.......
Ok, OK..I will kick and extra $10.00

Some fellers can go out walkin in the bull pasture and come back with a rose. All I ever got was dirty boots.

That is a dandy!!!

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Eccentric old coot

It is ground smooth, but it is still in the 'white'

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On the Oak Savannah

Mike, I had to drag out a tape and double check. It is just a hair under 3.75 (with a cheapo Chinese tape measure). If we need to get a super accurate measurement, I can drag out the calipers.

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On the Oak Savannah

That is sweet!!
I would love to have that gun, I bet it will be a blast to shoot.

Congrats!

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Paul
SWCA #2864

Man...if you brought an open carry handgun to most BBQs in my neck of the woods you'd cause heart attacks. But it means there are lots of used old guns in shops here since the bleeding hearts get rid of them when Dad or Grandpa passes away.

My wife has a 1911 with flame grips that would serve well...I would probably have to "settle" with my 629 5"

Pretty sure it will letter as a longer gun. Neat carry gun.

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No life story has happy end.

WOW!!!!

That one would look really nice riding some leather by Heiser or maybe A.W.Brill.

How do you know it's a steer? By looking at the other side of the grip?

Or Dave Keith!!!!!!!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Because for some reason the bulls usually didn't grow as long as horns as the steers

No. By the expression on his face.

SAFireman, you have done good. Truly a very neat find.

I got to look at the sight base really close and it does look forged to me. I think the letter will be interesting. We couldn't find a date on the coins, either and couldn't get an exact match to them on fleabay though they look similar to the 2-1/2 peso piece. I'd also bet the TL spent part of its earlier life in Texas. This does 'one up' my W&K 3rd model with the same stocks minus coins. Mine does have Keith leather...

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Randy
Provenance nerd

SAFireman....Check with a guy on Gunbroker that goes by Lunker1999 he has thousands of vintage holsters of all the older makers...................M*

Very cool piece of history. I'd love to hear what it would say if it could talk.


If you can't find a vintage Heiser, contact 05CarbonDRZ. Alex can and will custom make you the perfect BBQ rig for that TL.

Here's the rig he made for me

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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435

Thanks for the tip. I checked him out and he has over 1000 holsters listed right now. I do wish that his titles were more specific so that searching was not a big chore.

This rig may require a Keith44 special holster with matching belt and cartridge slide.

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On the Oak Savannah

LOL! Sounds like my luck! Thanks for sharing the pics of that beautiful piece of history.

I had a few free moments this morning and decided that I would try and track down an ID for the coins that are set into the stocks. Neither coin is faced so that the date shows, but from what I can deduce from internet searches and photos is that the coins are Mexican 2 Pesos from c1919-1945. They measure 13mm as best I can do with calipers.

If anyone has intimate coin knowledge as wishes to share, I would appreciate the input.

I have attached a photo of the coin in question.

Attached Images

DSCF0422.jpg (87.9 KB, 237 views)

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On the Oak Savannah

Those are two Peso Coins. They were minted from 1919 through 1948 and were 1.666 grams of 90% gold and were 13 mm in diameter.
As with most of the Mexican gold coins many were re-strikes with the 1945 date. During 1951 - 1972 a total of 4,590,493 were re-struck with the 1945 date.
Hope that helps, Higbee

Thanks for the info Higbee and welcome to the forum

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On the Oak Savannah

Yeah, he does have some nice stuff, but and I agree, it is a HUGE pain in the tail to search his listings for anything specific. Seems like he would want to make it easy on people to search his stuff. I always wondered if he was a member here.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Ship date update - This is a November 1911 gun.

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On the Oak Savannah

I'd drive to San Antone just to look at that one...or...Maybe I ought to have a barbecue down here

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Halfway and one more step

Why don't you start a guest list. Put me and my dad at the top. I will bring some BBQ brisket and smoked venison sausage. I might even have some 15 year Scotch for after the BBQ guns are put up

And heck, if you are in my area, drop me a line....I will let you shoot it

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On the Oak Savannah

Nice revolver!

Does the barrel have a 3 line address/patent date roll stamp on the right side and a one line caliber roll stamp on the left side. If the roll stamps are on top of the barrel then it most likely has a cut down barrel, I have one with a cut barrel to about 3.75" plus one factory 4", also a factory 4" that had all of the roll marks polished off when BUBBA refinished it. I love them all! You have a great Texas BBQ ticket, enjoy!

It looks like a gun a Ranger or other Peace Officer would have carried. Cross your fingers on that letter. I got to handle a Ranger Captain's revolver that was being sold for $40,000.

Note to Lee: I need a button for about 25 "LIKES"

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Halfway and one more step

I've posted this gun before, but here's its close kin: #5290 from August, 1911.

Attached Images

Triple Lock 2.jpg (75.1 KB, 95 views)

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Peter #2091

I'll buy the brisket and might even be convinced to bring the pit.

hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Delta - the patent markings and caliber are sadly removed by refinishing. I am betting on more than one re-finishing.

To be fair, the side of the barrel patent marks were fairly small and shallow from what I have seen.

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On the Oak Savannah

Maybe I oughta take a look at my schedule and think about a springtime get together. Just see how many .44 specials we can muster here on Mustang Island.

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Halfway and one more step

Could we become the south Texas chapter of the Southwest Bunch?

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Let's do it!

Preferably before it gets gawdawful hot

You have a place we can set up camp, BBQ, and shoot? maybe with a nice view?

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On the Oak Savannah

Factory letter arrived - details in first post.

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On the Oak Savannah

I have a .38 spec. HE, #315083 made in 1919. The barrel measures 3 5/8 inches from cylinder and only partial address/patent roll on top of barrel are left. Very good handling shooter. You sure have a pretty .44.

Attached Images

	004.jpg (37.6 KB, 26 views)
	barright.jpg (59.5 KB, 25 views)
	barleft.jpg (57.2 KB, 24 views)

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Just a shooter