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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 02-10-2016, 04:16 PM
green_chile green_chile is offline
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Default Triple Lock project guns

Greetings. I know it's not uncommon to restore a TL. Anyone out there have a TL that was turned into a carry gun, regular shooter, etc. without going the restoration route? So many of these were cut, bumper chromed, etc. that there are numerous examples to work with.

I'm considering taking one in rough shape and freshening it up, not to increase the value, but to increase the enjoyment of it. I've wanted a good shooter grade TL for some time. Maybe I will take an old dog and clean her up. Any examples out there? Photos?
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Old 02-10-2016, 05:03 PM
series guy series guy is offline
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This one could be a project but it shoots so well that it's staying as is. If only it could talk. Sorry about the upside down photos. I'll try and fix them.
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Last edited by series guy; 02-10-2016 at 05:04 PM.
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Old 02-10-2016, 05:09 PM
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As much as I love the safe queens, the shooter grade guns are just so much fun. No worries on handling and using them as they were intended.

What caliber is yours SG?
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Old 02-10-2016, 05:51 PM
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Stamped 44 on the barrel, probably still is.
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Old 02-10-2016, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
Stamped 44 on the barrel, probably still is.
Would that be a .44-40? The few TLs I've examined were either marked .44 S&W Special, .455 or were unmarked .455s.
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Last edited by Muley Gil; 02-10-2016 at 08:04 PM.
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Old 02-10-2016, 07:54 PM
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Could easily be .44 S&W Russian.
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:08 PM
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I enlarged the photo. The barrel is marked 44 S&W Special.
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:22 PM
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Yep it's .44 special. For as bad as it looks it shoots great. It's so badly pitted on the right side that there wouldn't be much of anything that would make it look better. The great thing about guns like this is that they are affordable and you don't feel bad about shooting the hell out of them.
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Old 02-10-2016, 08:59 PM
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I have a 5" .44 Special TL that was Parkerized. It shoots great and doesn't look half bad.
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Old 02-10-2016, 09:16 PM
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...I {we} love them all.
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Old 02-10-2016, 09:24 PM
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Talking Project Triple Locks

Here is a project TL that I picked up from a Forum member awhile back, still a 44sp.


This is one that I had refinished (salvaged) as a project 44spl.

What it looked like before the work started.

Current project 5" in 44spl, it is almost ready for the assembly phase.
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Old 02-10-2016, 11:10 PM
green_chile green_chile is offline
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A parkerized TL...huh. Curious to see that one.

Those 5" TLs are sweet. That's exactly what I would like to do. Did someone shorten them for you? I wouldn't hand a TL to an average gunsmith.
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Old 02-10-2016, 11:41 PM
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It didn't look too bad series guy until you flipped it over. Then it lost its underwear.
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Old 02-10-2016, 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by green_chile View Post
A parkerized TL...huh. Curious to see that one.

Those 5" TLs are sweet. That's exactly what I would like to do. Did someone shorten them for you? I wouldn't hand a TL to an average gunsmith.

Mine is a factory 5". I'll see if I can find my picture.

Here tis. I didn't buy these stag grips when I bought the TL.

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Old 02-11-2016, 12:16 AM
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Interesting...stags and parkerized. Looks better than I thought it would. Very different.
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Old 02-11-2016, 12:19 AM
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If any of you would consider selling your TLs, keep me in mind. I would love to have a nice shooter grade...preferably 4-5".
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Old 02-11-2016, 12:49 AM
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Quote:
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Could easily be .44 S&W Russian.
Almost anything is possible, but a 44 Russian wouldn't be easy to find, they're extremely rare!
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Last edited by Hondo44; 02-11-2016 at 01:31 AM. Reason: Revised: misspoke.
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Old 02-11-2016, 12:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Muley Gil View Post
Would that be a .44-40? The few TLs I've examined were either marked .44 S&W Special, .455 or were unmarked .455s.
There are some factory 44-40s, but very rare, estimated less than 50.

Marked this way and most are marked, but not all:

Photo by Jim Fisher
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Old 02-11-2016, 12:59 AM
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I shouldn't have said "easily" but there were supposedly a few special order .44 Russian TLs. I've never seen one. Obviously the bulk of production was .44 Special.
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Old 02-11-2016, 01:19 AM
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455 converted to 45acp


Charlie
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Old 02-11-2016, 01:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by series guy View Post
Yep it's .44 special. For as bad as it looks it shoots great. It's so badly pitted on the right side that there wouldn't be much of anything that would make it look better. The great thing about guns like this is that they are affordable and you don't feel bad about shooting the hell out of them.
There's one treatment that would look better. It's dark because it still has rust 'cancer' on the surface. That can be removed one of two ways, both of which will not affect the gun adversely:

1. That fastest is Naval Jelly. It will remove every vestige of the rust and leave a dull, bare metal patina similar to the other side where no nickel remains. No labor involved and no shiny surface that makes the gun look like it was "cleaned" by bubba with steel wool!

2. The other is a 50/50 solution of ATF (auto transmission fluid)/Acetone but will take longer and require soaking in a sealed container to keep the acetone from evaporating. Once again, it will remove the rust and leave a dull, bare metal patina similar to the other side. No labor involved and no shiny surface that makes the gun look like it was "cleaned" by bubba.
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Old 02-11-2016, 01:25 AM
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Talking 5" Triple Lock

My project 5" TL came to me as a barreled frame with side plate, see above photo, no lock work or cylinder. Still working on the ejector rod and center pin (last 2 parts). All other parts are awaiting fitting. Just finishing up a 2nd model with 5" barrel. Fords returned the frame last week with a really deep blue finish. It will be complete in a couple of weeks with a 1920s factory new barrel. I love project guns.
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Old 02-11-2016, 01:29 AM
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Quote:
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I shouldn't have said "easily" but there were supposedly a few special order .44 Russian TLs. I've never seen one. Obviously the bulk of production was .44 Special.
I stand corrected. Yes, what was I thinking?? A 44 Russian is a possibility.

Thanks!
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Old 02-11-2016, 02:49 AM
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Quote:
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I enlarged the photo. The barrel is marked 44 S&W Special.
Yes, the later roll mark. Early models marked like this, also with 'dingbats':


Photo by CptCurl
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Old 02-11-2016, 05:41 AM
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Here is a Triple Lock with an original 4" barrel. It was someone else's project once. Re-nickeled decades ago, and then it looks like the hammer and trigger were re-nickeled (or, worse yet chromed). The grips were replaced with the mother-of-pearl grips that are now on the gun. But it is a Triple Lock with a 4" barrel and my concealed carry weapon of choice.
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File Type: jpg 20141217_084327.jpg (53.9 KB, 69 views)
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Old 02-11-2016, 06:57 AM
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That's a neat ole' work horse!

I just wouldn't allow the rust to continue it's cancerous corrosion on the dark areas. If you can see it like that, it's still working its evil on the metal.
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Old 02-11-2016, 09:26 AM
green_chile green_chile is offline
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Original 4"...that's cool.
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Old 02-11-2016, 09:28 AM
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Quote:
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455 converted to 45acp


Charlie
Now that's spiffy. I've not seen one with the hammer cut off before. What a cool carry gun. Perfect caliber for it too.
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Old 02-11-2016, 10:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcvs View Post
Here is a Triple Lock with an original 4" barrel. It was someone else's project once. Re-nickeled decades ago, and then it looks like the hammer and trigger were re-nickeled (or, worse yet chromed). The grips were replaced with the mother-of-pearl grips that are now on the gun. But it is a Triple Lock with a 4" barrel and my concealed carry weapon of choice.
What's the caliber on your original 4" gun? Cool gun.
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Old 02-11-2016, 10:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
That's a neat ole' work horse!

I just wouldn't allow the rust to continue it's cancerous corrosion on the dark areas. If you can see it like that, it's still working its evil on the metal.
When I got it, it looked just like it looks today. I have since used oil on it.
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Old 02-11-2016, 10:34 AM
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What's the caliber on your original 4" gun? Cool gun.
.44 Smith& Wesson Special
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Old 02-11-2016, 12:22 PM
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Here's mine. Cut down to about 3 inches. Nice even wear pattern all over the blue. Front sight is likely the original sight re shaped and welded back on. Pre war magnas was a bonus. 44 special.

Last edited by ElToro; 02-13-2016 at 07:21 PM.
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Old 02-11-2016, 05:42 PM
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Very nice El Toro. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about in this thread; a gun that has character, great looks and can be used and enjoyed for what it is.
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Old 02-11-2016, 06:14 PM
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Thanks. Due to the even wear on the cut down and the nicer than average but very old grips. My dad is convinced the gunsmithing was done a very long time ago and that this was some bootleggers belly gun. I'm sure it has some tales to tell if it could. Definitely minute of across the bar accuracy is all that is needed on a beast like this.

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Very nice El Toro. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about in this thread; a gun that has character, great looks and can be used and enjoyed for what it is.

Last edited by ElToro; 02-11-2016 at 06:15 PM.
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Old 02-12-2016, 09:15 AM
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What else is interesting out there? Not as many nickled guns as I expected and the parkerized gun surprised me.
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Old 02-12-2016, 08:15 PM
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Quote:
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When I got it, it looked just like it looks today. I have since used oil on it.
You did well! I prefer to take the black corrosion off since it's not original to the finish. But not with mechanical means which would make it look like bubba did it.
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