Nice unmolested .44 Special Triplelock, s/n 13823, shipped November 14, 1916 to W. G. Walz Co., El Paso, Texas (more info at post #12 further down). Found it in the local sporting goods classifieds among plastic pistols and black rifles. All numbers match, stocks are my replacements.

It received a much needed spa treatment to remove a hundred years of internal grit and grime, and a timing adjustment. It came out great, has no pitting in the bore or chambers, and the timing is spot-on. I found a set of pre-1920 stocks in the wood pile and to my surprise they are a perfect fit. How 'bout that honest holster wear! The holster is an ebay find and from a later period.

Attached Images

	TL 13823 Right.jpg (71.4 KB, 289 views)
	TL 13823 Left.jpg (74.0 KB, 250 views)
	TL 13823 w Heiser 916.jpg (73.0 KB, 225 views)

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I'm crazy about these old N-Frames and the pre 1920's dished stocks are my favorite S&W wood. I gotta figure out how to get hold of those Gila Bend classifieds.
Congrats Sir,

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Jeb

Nice gun. It's durn near broke in.. Enjoy it.

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Eccentric old coot

That's a great looking gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I admire guns with character and honest wear. I much prefer them to new mint guns. This old warrior has character in spades.

Tom:

Congrats!!! What is the caliber?

Thanks for sharing,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

.44 Special. I'll bring to the Crossroads show in December for show and tell.
TL 13823 w Heiser 916.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Nice! Another one of those "if it could talk" guns.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

A fine, original, shootable Triple Lock. What's not to love?

You'll have to settle for a "like". (There isn't a "love it!!!" button!)

Tom,

Great find! I just love it when the stars align like you having the missing stocks it needed.

From the later cartridge marking on the barrel, it appears that the gold medallion stocks may also be the correct vintage for the gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The historical letter arrived today.
Shipped November 14, 1916 to W. G. Walz Co., El Paso, Texas. I'm inclined to think that over the course of 100 years it wandered across New Mexico to its last known owner in Tucson and then to the great grandnephew in Phoenix. I'd really like to find a weathered and worn 1915-1920 period holster made in El Paso, Cruces, Demming, or Tucson.

Funny thing, though. The letter states that this TL had a nickel finish. I don't believe it for a couple reasons. First, no "N" is stamped on the frame or barrel lug channel. Question for the Forum: Were nickel TL's stamped to indicate nickel finish? Second, I've seen quite a few early HE's, and this blue finish, what's left of it, appears genuine to me. No discoloration, dished screw holes, flattened pins, or rework/refinish markings or dates. I believe that it has always been blue.

It's still a great shooter, too!

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

My nickel triple lock has no N on it. My understanding is at that time blued guns had a B preceding the serial number in the barrel shroud and nickel guns were unmarked. After WW2 the opposite is the rule with nickel guns marked and blued guns unmarked.

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Tim
SWCA #2697

One of my favorite guns in my favorite caliber.
As much as I love mint guns, I also love being able to shoot
a gun without having to worry about ruining that brand new finish.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Great tip, KSG, thank you. There is a "B" prefix in the barrel shroud, and another "B" prefix on the yoke. This is awesome, learning more about the venerable Triplelock.

Attached Images

B13823 confirmation.jpg (52.5 KB, 65 views)

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

NOTE:

'B' or 'N' stamped:
ahead of pre war serial #s on the barrel flat (or in shroud),
rear face of yoke,
on rear face of cyl by itself,
behind the extractor star,
and by itself on right side grip frame on commercial guns (only on left side grip frame on post war models*), indicates an original Blue finish or an original Nickel finish based upon the corresponding letter.

The occasional absence (more prevalent after 1930) of either the 'B' or 'N' can also indicate that it left the factory nickeled.

“I've seen nickel Triple Locks with N stamps. I've seen them without it, too. Pre-war nickel guns MAY have an N, or they may simply lack B's. Regards, Lee Jarrett”

“Ever wondered why the parts were marked for blue or nickel?
I mean, like, really- the guys in the plating department knew they were supposed to plate the parts brought to them, and the guys in the bluing department knew they were supposed to blue the parts brought to them.
The markings were for the polishers. The nickel parts received a higher polish than the blue parts.” Lee Jarrett

*The post war and the 1950s period, was one of much evolution. There was the usual transition when finish code letter stamps waned and frame letter s/n prefixes began.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Closer examination reveals a "B" in the barrel shroud, on the face of the yoke, on the cylinder face under the extractor star (directly beneath the serial number), and the right side of the frame at the base near the pin.

Thanks Hondo44, Kansasgunner, and Lee. I learned a lot tonight.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Tom,

Here's the likely answer to the mystery of why the letter verifies your gun was shipped nickel plated, yet it is stamped with Bs:

When S&W received an order for a gun that was not in inventory, for example: a nickel plated gun, a gun with shorter barrel, etc., they usually sent a completed gun to the Service Dept, which made the changes. Then the gun was shipped.

They did not make another gun from scratch configured to the special order.

The main evidence of this, is that there's no rework date on the left side of the grip frame or star following the butt serial #. Guns were only dated and star stamped if they were returned to the factory for refinish/rework.

It's also why the gun has such a nice polish on it, is was polished for nickel plate at the factory. When it was re-blued wherever, all it needed was the nickel removed by reverse electrolysis with only minimal surface prep needed before bluing it.

There is possibly other evidence that it was plated as a new gun in the service dept: look for an S, O or R on the left side of the grip frame near the bottom or any of the main parts.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Very nice 44 special. I would not put it in an unlined holster, not for a moment. Perhaps the holster you picture is lines and we can't see it. Shotgunner

Hondo44,
On the right side of the grip frame left of the pin an "A" is stamped. The "B" is to the right of the pin.
On the left side of the grip frame an "H" is stamped left of the pin.
On the inside face of the extractor star an "H" is stamped.
Assembly number "7499" appears on the yoke and frame.

I may have made an error on the request form. Roy tells me that this shipment was ten guns, blue and nickel finished (probably five each), and the invoice did not list the serial numbers with finish type. So, I'm satisfied that 13823 left the factory as a blued gun.

Again, thanks for your help. I learned a great deal about identifying marks.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat